Bewley’s Grafton Street is calling on Dubliners to fully embrace St Patrick’s weekend as it hosts an exciting programme of events to celebrate our national day.

A bilingual spoken word night, a performance by the world-renowned Kane Sisters and a community-based choir are among the star attractions at the iconic venue.

“We want to make Dublin proud and ensure that St Patrick’s weekend is a true community celebration for everyone who calls this city home,” said Cól Campbell, Managing Director of Bewley’s Grafton Street.

“Dubliners sometimes think St Patrick’s Day festivities are just for tourists, but the festival programme is packed with incredible experiences for all to enjoy.

“The whole weekend presents a chance to celebrate our culture and a contemporary take on what it means to be Irish.

“People can come to Bewley’s Grafton Street for a bit of atmosphere and a great programme of events – it could even become an annual tradition.”

For Gaeilgeoir Ciara Ní É, the festival will mark a very special anniversary.

“I started up REIC (a bilingual spoken word event) 10 years ago, where people could share their writing i nGaeilge,” said the Clontarf-born poet.

“I felt we needed a space where we could use our own language in front of an audience who want to hear it.

“REIC is called a bilingual night but people are welcome to perform in any language – it’s Gaeilge agus fáilte.

“Everyone is encouraged to use Irish and everyone attending knows they will be hearing Irish.”

At Bewley’s on Saturday, (March 15) attendees can listen to or participate in poetry, rap, music, storytelling and more.

Participants will include poets Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Cormac Fitz and Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin, along with the musician Ush Mush, who mixes trad with reggaeton and dancehall.

“We welcome performers who are just starting out, as well as established performers and it’s really nice how the different generations mix,” said Ciara.

“You can have people who are retired and sharing their poetry in public for the first time and then there are people who are younger, who have been performing for longer.”

Also on Saturday, The Forget Me Nots, an inclusive community choir based in Baldoyle, Co Dublin, will perform.

The choir draws its membership from neighbouring areas with a special welcome for people affected by memory loss.

On Sunday, The Kane Sisters will take to the stage at Bewley’s.

Liz and Yvonne Kane from Connemara have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Royal Albert Hall in London and will be in the café from 3-5pm.

Also on Sunday and in a sold out show, The Lovely Show podcast, featuring top comedians Justine Stafford and Kevin McGahern, will host their first ever live podcast from the venue.

To find out more about these events and others included in the St Patrick’s Day Festival, visit: https://stpatricksfestival.ie/events/citywide-events