Sightsavers Ireland Film Festival is an evening of powerful storytelling, advocacy, and awareness through a special Film Festival presented to mark World Sight Day in 2025. The festival  features a compelling selection of short films and documentaries exploring the global impact of avoidable blindness and the importance of inclusive eye health. Through the lens of filmmakers, activists, and those with lived experience, the festival invites audiences to see the world differently, and be inspired to take action for a future where no one is left behind, inspiring meaningful action towards disability inclusion and equality.

We are delighted to present an Irish in Resistance during World War II event featuring artist talks, storytelling, poetry readings and chat. Join us as we explore the stories that feature in the Irish in Resistance During World War II exhibition - stories of Irish people in resistance during the Holocaust and World War II who stood up against fascism and totalitarianism, and spoke out for the rights of others. 

Join us for the Smashing Times Creative Arts Eco-Conference, a major international gathering that unites the arts and environmental awareness. Taking place at the historic Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, from 10am to 4pm, as part of the annual, international Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival, this event explores how the performing, visual, and digital arts can inspire action and advocacy around climate change, biodiversity, and marine conservation.

Two international performances from Serbia and the Netherlands. Enjoy ‘25 GLASSES OF WINE’ a live lecture-performance by Dijana Milošević from Dah Theatre, Belgrade, Serbia followed by ‘Not Only One’ a performance by Nivin Baranbo from ZID Theatre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Join us for a panel discussion with Dan Lambert, manager of Kneecap, Claire Mc Evoy, Head of Research and Policy at ICCL, and Una Mullally, writer and journalist. This ICCL event for the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival will explore limitations on freedom of expression in Ireland and abroad, and the impact of these policies on artistic censorship, particularly in relation to Palestine, and what impact this is having on Ireland’s arts community.

Humanism in the Arts with Ed Byrne is an online talk hosted by the Humanist Association of Ireland featuring acclaimed Irish comedian, presenter and actor Ed Byrne. The event takes place online on Tuesday 14 October, 7.30pm.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

Enjoy two special broadcasts of the Arts and Human Rights radio show for the seventh annual Irish Arts and Human Rights festival featuring interviews, chat and discussion on all things arts and human rights. The show features interviews with guest speakers and artists from Ireland and across the world celebrating all the action from this year’s Irish Arts and Human Rights festival taking place in Ireland from 10 to 19 October 2025.

Queen Dragon is gig theatre by multidisciplinary artist Deirdre Murphy - song, movement, spoken word, and monologue based on a vision of matriotism, of devotion to the motherland, and to making it all feel wildly sexy. It takes place on 15 October at 7pm at 30 Sandycove Road, Sandycove, A96V9P1.

Boyfriends is a theatre performance following a three-month affair between two anonymous men. Boyfriends, charts the ups and downs and roundabouts of a modern ‘situationship’. This production is presented as part of the LASTA festival, a unique, youth-led national arts festival with programmes created by young curators chosen through a competitive annual open call.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

Domestic Abuse experts from Haven Horizons, Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid, and Reclaim the Agenda examine the destructive impact of coercive control and discuss ‘Five Books That Could Save Your Life’ with Sarah Harte, Irish Examiner columnist. The event is presented in collaboration with National Women’s Council of Ireland.

Mother Tongues’ Language Explorer workshops provide a unique creative experience for parents and their children based on storytelling, play, visual arts and music. While the workshops will be guided in English, we encourage families to embrace their home languages.  This workshop with Fernanda Ferrari, multidisciplinary artist and workshop facilitator, focuses on the crafting of vintage toys with multidisciplinary artist Fernanda Ferrari. Unleash creativity using simple everyday materials, make friends from all over the world, and create a special bond with your child through the magic of art-making.

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality are delighted to commission award-winning writer Áine Ní Ghlinn to translate into Irish the original highly successful stage script The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of World War II. The Irish language translation includes new poetry in Irish by writer Áine Ní Ghlinn and a translation of At Summer’s End by Féilim James.

Open mic night is an evening featuring live poetry and music relating to themes of social issues, human rights, social justice, and solidarity presented at Curve Ball, Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin on Thursday 16 October 2025, 7-10.30pm. The evening features special guests presenting curated poetry and music and is open to anyone who would like to sign up to perform.

MEN IN MOTION is an evening of three athletic and hilarious dance pieces, earning rave reviews and standing ovations in the Abbey, Edinburgh Fringe and New York, presented by Irish Modern Dance Theatre on tour to Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo; Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford, and Ramor Arts Centre, Cavan.  Artists include John Scott, choreographer and dancer, Boris Charrion, dancer and Vini Martins Araujo, dancer.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

This walking tour explores the architectural and social landscape of Rathmines and Ranelagh through the lives of four revolutionary women — Constance (Countess) Markievicz (1868–1927), Dr Kathleen Lynn (1874–1955), Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, and Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett (1888–1955) — who lived, worked, and resisted in Rathmines and Ranelagh during Ireland’s struggle for independence from 1916 on.

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality are delighted to commission award-winning writer Áine Ní Ghlinn to translate into Irish the original highly successful stage script The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of World War II. The Irish language translation includes new poetry in Irish by writer Áine Ní Ghlinn and a translation of At Summer’s End by Féilim James.

Join us for a series of creative multilingual workshop for families with children three to six years hosted by Mother Tongues and conducted by artist Margot A. Jones who is a puppeteer, performer and facilitator living in Co, Wicklow. Mother Tongues’ Language Explorer workshops provide a unique creative experience for parents and their children based on storytelling, play, visual arts and music. While the workshops will be guided in English, we encourage families to embrace their home languages.

Dublin City Council are unveiling a plaque in memory of Deirdre O’Connell (1939-2001), an actor, teacher and director, founder of the Dublin Stanislavski Acting Studio, 1963-2001 and founding member and Artistic Director of Dublin Focus Theatre from 1967 until 2001. Launch by Councillor Ray McAdam, Lord Mayor of Dublin.

A screening of the film Mother City and panel discussion on land and housing in Dublin and Cape Town, presented by Front Line Defenders in partnership with Community Action Tenants Union. Exploring Cape Town's history with Apartheid, the story follows a social movement over a few years fighting for affordable housing to make the city more inclusive for people of colour. The event aims to spark discussion and draw parallels between housing issues and movements in Cape Town and Dublin, and more broadly, Ireland.

The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

This walking tour explores the architectural and social landscape of Rathmines and Ranelagh through the lives of four revolutionary women — Constance (Countess) Markievicz (1868–1927), Dr Kathleen Lynn (1874–1955), Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, and Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett (1888–1955) — who lived, worked, and resisted in Rathmines and Ranelagh during Ireland’s struggle for independence from 1916 on.

Language Explorer – Out of This World Workshops are a series of workshops designed for curious young explorers, presented by visual artist Paola Invernizzi. The sessions provide a unique creative experience for parents and their children based on storytelling, play, visual arts and music. Language Explorers is Mother Tongues’ award-winning programme, designed for children aged 3 to 6 and their families.

The Journey is a powerful and emotionally charged play exploring themes of migration, survival, betrayal, and resilience presented by Clondalkin Tower Drama Group at the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality at 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin on 18 October from 3 to 4pm. Through intense dialogue, raw emotion, and layered storytelling, The Journey sheds light on the lived experiences of migrants navigating uncertainty, trauma, and hope in their search for safety and belonging.

A live interview presented by Front Line Defenders on the life and work of Human Rights Defenders Natalia Estemirova, featuring her daughter Lana Estemirova, presenter of the Trouble with the Truth podcast, and working for the Justice for Journalists Foundation.  Lana Estemirova talks about her book ‘Please Live: The Chechen Wars, My Mother and Me’ and the story of her mother, Natalya Estemirova, who was a human rights defender murdered in Chechnya for her human rights work in 2009.

Following a successful international tour to Greece, Germany and Spain, The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan returns to Sandycove for two performances only. The Art of Trees is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature, featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

MEN IN MOTION is an evening of three athletic and hilarious dance pieces, earning rave reviews and standing ovations in the Abbey, Edinburgh Fringe and New York, presented by Irish Modern Dance Theatre on tour to Ballina Arts Centre, Mayo; Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford, and Ramor Arts Centre, Cavan.  Artists include John Scott, choreographer and dancer, Boris Charrion, dancer and Vini Martins Araujo, dancer.

In partnership with Open House 2025, Smashing Times offer a guided tour and talk in the new Smashing Times space titled “Architecture and Activism: What values do we embed into the spaces we leave behind?”.  The talk explores how we are making innovative use of an intimate space in an inclusive, accessible way and explores what future heritage looks like when it embeds a human rights approach reflecting on justice for all. Presented by Freda Manweiler.

Around the world, communities are resisting destructive extractive projects that threaten their ancestral lands, access to water, livelihoods and the planet. In this live panel discussion, the woman Human Right Defender Grecia Eugenia Rodríguez Navarro, from the Zacatecas Mining Conflict Observatory, Mexico will share her testimony of resistance and resilience from the front lines.

Following a successful international tour to Greece, Germany and Spain, The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan returns to Sandycove for two performances only. The Art of Trees is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature, featuring theatre, poetry and movement.

Join us for the grand closing celebration of the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival with an unforgettable evening of music, conversation and refreshments.  Enjoy a fantastic and vibrant evening of music with CAS – the acclaimed trio of Sebastian Luthers, Carol Scott, and Andy McMenamin. Drawing inspiration from the landscapes ranging from Connaught to Auvergne, CAS weaves intricate melodies and spirited rhythms into their music, creating a unique sound with a blend of original and traditional Irish music that is both authentic and fresh.