Insider Tips

NYF Dublin

By Visit Dublin

It’s the time of year to remember the past and look forward to the future, a time to celebrate life and a time to party! Dublin invites you to join a three day celebration as we wave goodbye to 2015 and welcome the New Year in style.

Dublin’s New Year’s Festival kicks off on 30 December and celebrates Irish heritage and culture in style. The festival takes in all aspects of Irish life with numerous events happening all over the city. Here are some of the highlights...


NYF Dublin

Taxis with a tale

As you dart from party to event on the night, look out for the specially marked NYF taxies – step aboard to be regaled with the kind of true stories and tall tales that only a taxi driver can tell. Story@work – behind the steering wheel is happening on 30 December. Sit back and absorb the banter as you’re ferried to your destination: some of the cars will have cameras and you may end up as a star of your own New Year’s Eve film!

Love Dublin

Enjoy Discovery trails, lunchtime discos, craft beer and whiskey classes and a masquerade ball, among other Love Dublin-organised events, starting on 30 December and running until the end of the festival. Check out the Art Trail to discover new artists and Irish greats while admiring Dublin’s famous architecture. Finish your evening off with some partying at Dublin’s exclusive nightspot, Lillie’s Bordello or head to one of their Oscar Wilde evenings in their library room with Wilde-expert Patrick Walsh. For a truly unique cocktail making experience, do some experimentation in Lillie’s Laboratory with the help of some top mixologists.

Speak out

The much-loved Spoken Word Festival (in association with Lingo) is back – it runs for three days with poets and hip hop artists popping up in venues throughout the city. From slam poetry competitions, children’s poetry, Lingo Bingo and the Poets of the City brunch, there’s something for every spoken word fan. 

Floor-fillers

If it’s music you’re after, you’ll be spoiled for choice by the NYF Music Trail that will see local and international artists take to stages and venues for two days of musical bliss. The Ruby Sessions move from their usual home at Doyle’s on College Street to the stunning Smock Alley Theatre on 30 and 31 December with surprise artists, while Hard Working Class Heroes spreads out across 15 venues to showcase some of Ireland’s newest bands. If you want a more spiritual experience, head to Christchurch Cathedral and ring in the New Year with the superb Dublin Gospel Choir.

NYF Dublin
NYF Dublin

Light up for NYE

For a truly spectacular vision, make sure to catch the Luminosity show. Using lights and 3D projections, the show brings stories to life on the front of buildings. Starting at 5.30pm each day of the festival, this show is a fun-filled free event, perfect for all the family. 

Dance to a different beat

One of the most exciting events of NYF is the Procession of Light on New Year’s Eve. Dublin’s streets will become a flowing river of light, music and entertainment as the procession winds its way through the city. This year the Procession of Light is also trying to break a world record for the World’s Largest Bodhrán Session: the current record is 980 and the organisers need your help to smash it.  

To take part in the Procession of Light and the World’s Largest Bodhrán Session record attempt, sign up online on the NYF Dublin website, learn the chosen rhythm and bring your bodrhán! (Special NYF bodhráns are on sale in Carroll’s Irish Gifts in case you don’t have one.) This event will raise much-needed funds for Irish homeless charity Focus Ireland, so you’ll be putting the fun into fundraising by taking part! 

After the buzz of beating your bodhrán while raising lots of money and creating a new world record, make your way to St Stephen’s Green for Street Fest. A new addition to NYF for 2015, Street Fest will bring top bands and entertainment to the crowds as 2016 approaches.

3, 2, 1...

Or if you prefer to be indoors to see in the New Year, the Three Countdown Concert is the place for you.  The 3 Arena will play host to some of Ireland’s finest acts, including The Coronas, Kíla and Ryan Sheridan as well as international superstar DJ Fat Boy Slim, all culminating in a big countdown to 2016.

Bring the kids

The festival winds down with Resolution Day – a series of events organised by First Fortnight Events. A children’s storytelling and art workshop, a 5km fun run, 10km city kayak tour and a “Ted Talks” style event called Proclamation are among the highlights of the 1 January events. 

So, what are you waiting for? Dublin is the place to be this NYE and don't just take our word for it – National Geographic has listed Dublin and its New Year's Festival as one of its top winter trips for 2015/2016. Warm up your vocal chords for renditions of Auld Lang Syne, get practicing on the bodhrán and snap up tickets to your chosen events – prepare to take the party to the streets of Dublin and start 2016 in the best possible way!

NYF Dublin

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