The clocks have gone back and the dark comes in early now, which is as good a reason as any to make a plan. This weekend Leinster leans into its festive run-up, with everything from a city-centre Santa to a four-course dinner under the roof of St Patrick’s Cathedral. Here’s what’s worth leaving the house for.
Town of the week
Living in Balgriffin, Co. Dublin, the median house price is €559,945 across 42 registered sales, average rent is €1,929 a month and the nearest DART rail stop is 2.0 km away.
Events This Week
A spread for the days ahead, from a wartime drama to glitter and ABBA.
Pressure, This one’s a film screening, a tense wartime drama built around the meteorologist who had to make the call on the D-Day landings.
Mon 16 November · Pavilion Theatre · Dublin · €10
ABBA Forever, Expect a high-energy run through the hits with a festive sheen, led by Dennis Scally, a former musical director for The Supremes.
Tue 17 November · Draiocht Blanchardstown · Dublin · €32
Jonathan Swift Festival: Craicademia, Short, funny TED-style talks riffing on Swift’s satire and the absurdities he skewered.
Wed 18 November · Rascals Brewing Company · Dublin · €18
Jonathan Swift Festival: Gulliver’s Travels Gala Dinner, Four courses, each channelling one of Gulliver’s lands, from Lilliput to the Houyhnhnms, marking the tale’s 300th year.
Thu 19 November · St Patrick’s Cathedral · Dublin · €89
Jervis Shopping Centre’s Magical Santa Grotto 2026, A proper city-centre visit with the big man, gift included, easy to fold into a Christmas shopping run.
Sat 14 November · Jervis Shopping Centre · Dublin
Dr Rangan Chatterjee: Thrive Tour Live, The GP turned broadcaster brings his live take on sleep, stress and the small habits that actually stick.
Sun 15 November · Bord Gais Energy Theatre · Dublin
What’s Happening
One for the diary if you fancy meeting a few new faces.
Meet New People in Wexford: Mixed Speed Friending Social, A relaxed, structured way to meet a few new people, with none of the dating-app pressure.
Wexford
Planning near you
502 homes at Dundalk, Co. Louth, lodged with Louth County Council on 30 October.
248 homes at Bray, Co. Wicklow, lodged with Wicklow County Council on 4 November.
41 homes at Drogheda, Co. Louth, lodged with Louth County Council on 6 November.
Get new applications in your county by email, free: Dublin · Carlow · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Louth · Meath · Offaly · Westmeath · Wexford · Wicklow
Building, fitting, or supplying trades? Get granted planning permissions by trade in your county (Planning Pro).
Planning: Irish Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (CC-BY 4.0), via the weekly leinsterinsider.ie snapshot.
Making a night of the Swift Festival?
If the Gulliver’s gala or Craicademia has you tempted to stay over rather than brave the late trip home, book a room near the city centre and turn it into a proper Dublin evening. A quick search sorts a bed within walking distance of St Patrick’s. Find a Dublin stay
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Events & attractions: Fáilte Ireland Open Data (failteireland.ie), CC BY 4.0.