News
News | 16 June 2025
Summer Workshops and Community Celebration Events in DCC Sports Centres
At Poppintree Community Sports Centre, Dublin 11 be the first to see a new mural and art room at the Community Art and Sport Launch on Saturday 19 July with visual artist in residence Mark Joyce. Try out art workshops, have a go at badminton and bowls, and take a tour of your community sports centre. Refreshments will be provided.
View the full programme at Poppintree Community Sports Centre below.
At Ballybough Youth, Community and Fitness Centre, Dublin 3 join visual artist in residence Siobhan O’Callaghan for drop-in art and craft workshops on Thursdays.
View the full programme at Ballybough Youth, Community and Fitness Centre below.
At Bluebell Recreation Centre, Dublin 12, dance artist in residence Justine Doswell held a Bluebell Community Celebration on 5 July, an afternoon of dance, music and games to celebrate the community spirit and creativity of Bluebell and its neighbouring areas. Including performances by the Diamond Twirlers and local music group The Bluebell Brothers, dance workshops, music bingo, and free food and refreshments. Justine also runs weekly beginner-friendly dance workshops on Thursdays at 6.30pm.
View the full programme at Bluebell Recreation Centre below.
At Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre join visual artist in residence Sharon Kelly for art workshops, coffee mornings and walk and sketch tours of Ringsend Park.
View the full programme at Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre below.
The Creative Residency in Sport & Recreation Centres 2024-25 is a partnership between Dublin City Council Sports Section and Dublin City Council Culture Company. The residency is an opportunity to try out ideas, develop and share new ways of working, and facilitate the introduction of new audiences to Dublin’s sports and cultural offer.
Please note: The nature of the Residencies mean that workshops and events may be subject to change, so please check back regularly as the page will be updated whenever necessary.
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287
What's on
Community Art and Sport Launch
Saturday 19 July, 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm
Join us for the launch of the new astroturf pitch, mural and art room at Poppintree Community Sports Centre.
On the day you can try out art workshops, have a go at bowls and badminton, and take a tour of your community sports centre.
Refreshments will be provided.
Check back here for more details.
Colour Connecting at Poppintree Community Sports Centre in Dublin 11
Visual artist Mark Joyce has worked with groups including Crosscare Ballymun Youth Block and the Aisling Project, and made a collaborative mural with a group from Poppintree Youth Project. He is developing a dedicated ‘Art Room’ in the centre, which will be decorated by community groups, and is also working with groups in the centre on designs for murals in the sports hall.
Mark will be running workshops at Poppintree Community Sports Centre until end of July 2025.
Bluebell Community Celebration and dance workshops at Bluebell Recreation Centre, Dublin 12
Dance artist in residence Justine Doswell runs a series of regular workshops with four groups: weekly ‘Dance with Justine’ drop-in beginner-friendly social dance workshops; weekly chair exercise workshops with the CDP Ladies Group; fortnightly workshops with the Bluebell Sister Shed group; and three weekly workshops involving all students in Wayside National School.
Justine will be running workshops at Bluebell Recreation Centre until July 2025.
What's on
Bluebell Community Celebration
Saturday 5 July, 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
An afternoon of dance, music and games to celebrate the community spirit and creativity of Bluebell and its neighbouring areas.
Family-friendly free event
Performances by Diamond Twirlers
Music by The Bluebell Brothers
Dance workshops with artist in residence Justine Doswell
Hip Hop dancing featuring Casey Ronan (The Funktion Room/Raw Edge Crew)
Music Bingo
Free refreshments
'Dance with Justine' social dance workshop
Thursdays until 24 July, 6.30 pm; duration 1 hour
Join artist in residence Justine Doswell for free weekly dance sessions. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, you can try something new! Together, we’ll try out lots of different styles and explore easy-to-learn moves. No prior experience of dance is needed and you can move at your own pace. You can join as many or as few workshops as you like. Suitable for all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult. No booking required.
How to find us
Bluebell Recreation Centre, 12 Bluebell Road, D12 RT27.
Buses 13, 68 and 69 to Muirfield drive via City Centre. Red Line Luas to Blackhorse or Bluebell.
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287
How to find us
Poppintree Community Sports Centre, Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11, D11 E7WR.
19 bus to Gallaun Road, from Parnell Square or Old Airport Road.
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287
Getting Creative in Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre, Dublin 4
Visual artist Sharon Kelly runs weekly coffee mornings and creative workshops, and regular ‘Walk and Sketch’ tours of Ringsend Park. She has also worked with Ringsend Girl Guides, Neurodiverse Irishtown, Ringsend & Pearse Street group and ALONE, a health and social support charity for older people.
Sharon will be running workshops at Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre until August 2025.
What's on
Creative Coffee Morning
Friday 20th June, drop in any time between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm
Join Artist in Residence Sharon Kelly for a free hot drink and a chat and have a go at making some art if you wish. Suitable for all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult.
No booking required.
Gasworks: Stories & Memories
Friday 27th June, 10.30 am to 12 pm
Explore the history of the South Lotts Gasworks with Artist in Residence, Sharon Kelly. If you have historical information or personal stories to share, we'd love to hear it! Join to discuss the history of this local iconic building with free hot drinks and biscuits. No booking required.
How to find us
Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre, Ringsend, Dublin 4, D04 KN77.
Buses 47, C1 or C2 via city centre, 6 minute walk.
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287
Arts and Crafts in Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre Dublin 3
Visual artist in residence Siobhán O’Callaghan has developed a programme of regular drop-in arts and craft workshops. She is also working with the Tuesday Club seniors group based nearby in Fairview, and youth groups HAY Foróige and Crosscare Ballybough Youth Service to deliver regular workshops and projects.
Siobhán will be running workshops at Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre until July 2025.
What's on
Free Walking Tour of Ballybough
Tuesday 1 July, 12 pm to 1.30 pm
Explore art, sport & heritage in this guided walking tour of Ballybough, led by tour guide Seán Deegan in collaboration with artist in residence Siobhán O'Callaghan. This tour will cover interesting sites to do with sporting history in the neighbourhood as well as looking at some public art along the way.
Thursday Art Workshops
Thursday 19 June, Thursday 3 July, and Thursday 17 July
Join artist in residence Siobhan O’Callaghan for free drop-in art workshops. Each workshop covers something different, so you can come to one workshop or as many as you like. They are suitable for all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Drop in any time between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm or 5.30 pm and 7 pm.
How to find us:
Ballybough Youth, Community & Fitness Centre, 49 Ballybough Road, D03 C995
123 bus to Clonliffe Avenue via City Centre or 6, 14, 15, 27 or 27a bus to East Wall Road (6 minute walk)
For more details contact Evan Musgrave on neighbourhood@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie or 083 010 5287
