Weekend Loves: Irish design, literature and podcasting

Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s Irish Design Week launches this Monday in Cork City Hall with guests including Minister Simon Coveney and Tim Marlow, CEO of the Design Museum London. 

This year’s theme is ‘Is Folklore the Future?’ and the week sees a brilliant array of (mostly free) events countrywide focusing on folklore and storytelling as well as fashion, design, textiles and jewellery. Events include an ‘Aran Hedge School’ in Galway and a jewellery workshop in
Carlow. 

Highlights include a panel discussion with Sinéad Burke, founder of Tilting the Lens, on ‘Co-Designing Equitable Opportunities’ in workplaces and public spaces; ‘Hail Thee – We Come in Reveries of Change’ - Connemara designer Alison Conneely’s project in partnership with the UN’s Population Fund; and internationally-renowned fashion designer Simone Rocha in conversation with acclaimed photographer Perry Ogden.

• dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week

Celebrate a wealth of Irish literature at the Dublin Book Festival

The Dublin Book Festival continues this weekend with a packed schedule of events for all ages, from walking tours and conversations to book launches and seminars for emerging writers. 

Check out the festival hub in the Winter Garden at The Printworks in Dublin Castle if you’re in the city this weekend for events for all the family. 

On the schedule today is inspiration on winter feasts with co-authors of Soup, Dee Laffan and Blanca Valencia, as well as PJ Gallagher in conversation with Aoife Barry.

Tomorrow, meanwhile, journalist and author Martin Doyle will discuss his new book, Dirty Linen with Joe Duffy and you can take a Wildlife Photography Walking Tour with Carsten Krieger in the Botanic Gardens.

• Full details can be found at: dublinbookfestival.com.

Affordable, on-trend, inclusive fashion at Oxendales

A big shout out to Oxendales for their inclusive fashion range in sizes 8 to 32 as well as their use of diverse models, including older models, in their campaign imagery. 

A recent chat with the Oxendales’ team reveals a new Dublin office where you’ll find (stop the press!) actual humans who can answer queries over the phone as well as send out print catalogues to customers who aren’t quite down with shopping online. 

For those who are, the online store stocks tonnes of fashion favourites, including Ted Baker and Tommy Hilfiger. 

Oxendales’ own brands are excellent too. Look to Joanna Hope for beautiful, great quality and affordable occasionwear and their Anthology line for wardrobe staples such as blazers, shirts and trousers. 

They also stock on-trend, wide-fitting shoes and boots for the ‘curvy calf’ perfect for this time of year.

• oxendales.ie

Festive family favourite Wild Lights launches at Dublin Zoo

Winter in Dublin promises to be a glittering affair this year with everything from ‘Nights at the Museum’ in the National Gallery and Little Museum of Dublin to ice skating in Dún Laoghaire. 

An event that has become a real family favourite in the past few years is Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo, always a spectacular and very special night for people of all ages.

Opening on Thursday, this year’s theme is ‘The Enchanted Zoo’ and features incredible silk lanterns in the shapes of mythical creatures, magical fairies, vibrant animals and even a giant candy land — serious photo fodder! 

Tickets are on sale now. €24.50 for adults. €20 for children. Children under 3 go free. Discounts are available for OAPS, students and those with an annual Dublin Zoo pass.

• dublinzoo.ie

Ireland’s largest H&M Home store launches in Liffey Valley

The new H&M store in Liffey Valley, Dublin has had a total overhaul just in time for Christmas with a fresh new look and the much-anticipated arrival of H&M Home following its recent launch in Cork. 

Spread over three floors, the store now has click-and-collect lockers and self-checkouts as well as the largest H&M Home selection in the country with a huge array of products including those perfect for entertaining, for the bed and bathroom and for children’s rooms. 

The shop also carries a great seasonal range for Christmas including glassware and serveware, festive table linens, gleaming candlesticks, cutlery and cocktail kits.

• liffeyvalley.ie

‘Small World’ podcast gives voice to refugees in Ireland

Next week we’ll be tuning into ‘Small World’, the new podcast from The Useless Project and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, giving voice to those from refugee backgrounds living in Ireland ahead of the Global Refugee Forum in December. 

The eight-episode series pairs well-known personalities such as comedian Joanne McNally, designer/ broadcaster Brendan Courtney and DJ Tara Kumar with people with common interests who are refugees. 

The result is a series of fun, thought-provoking conversations which highlight our shared humanity. A prescient podcast in today’s climate. 

Available from November 14 wherever you get your podcasts.

• unhcr.org/ie