Spark a weekend of Gaeilge, joy and community: Féile AerachAiteachGaelach brings six Irish-language events to Dublin’s north-east inner city during the Five Lamps Arts Festival, offering workshops, music, storytelling and dance for LGBTQ+ people and allies , tickets from €10 and festival passes available.

Essential Takeaways

  • Six events over two days: poetry, storytelling, Sean-nós singing, songwriting, dance and a Snatch Game social.
  • Mostly in Irish: all sessions are conducted in Gaeilge except the dance workshop, which includes Portuguese.
  • Accessible pricing: single-event tickets €10, full-festival pass €50, member pass €40.
  • Inclusive vibe: organised by queer social group AerachAiteachGaelach, everyone is welcome regardless of orientation.
  • Hands-on and spirited: expect intimate workshops with practical takeaways and a lively closing dance session.

Why this festival matters now: a joyful space in Gaeilge

This weekend-long programme feels like a breath of fresh air , warm, queer and unapologetically Irish-language. AerachAiteachGaelach are inserting queer joy and creativity into the Five Lamps Arts Festival, putting Gaeilge front and centre in a way that’s both celebratory and practical. For anyone curious about learning or using Irish in social spaces, it’s a rare chance to do so alongside workshops that leave you with something tangible , a poem, a song, or new steps to dance.

What to expect: workshops that teach, spark and entertain

The schedule mixes skill-building and performance with playful social events. Saturday kicks off with a poetry workshop and a storytelling session in the charity shop on North Strand Road, then flips into a Snatch Game evening , a queer party format that’s as much about laughs as it is about community. Sunday turns musical, with Sean-nós singing to warm the voice and a songwriting session led by SexyTadhg, followed by a dance workshop that blends Irish set-dance with Brazilian funk.

Practical tips for first-timers and learners

If your Gaeilge is rusty, don’t let that put you off , organisers say the festival is open to all. Arrive a little early to introduce yourself and say which level of Irish you’re comfortable with; workshop leaders are used to adapting on the fly. Bring a notebook for lyrics and phrases, wear comfy shoes for the dance session, and budget for a full-day pass if you want to hop between events without missing anything.

The scene and the people: community-led and welcoming

AerachAiteachGaelach are a queer social group who’ve built this line-up to be both culturally rooted and queer-forward. Events take place across neighbourhood venues , from the Five Lamps charity shop to Cathal Brugha FET and Annesley House , which keeps everything intimate and local. It’s a reminder that grassroots culture still thrives when people organise with care, and that language can be a living, social thing rather than only a classroom subject.

Tickets, logistics and a little planning

Tickets are intentionally affordable: single events cost €10, a full festival pass is €50 and members get €40, which makes it easy to join for one session or immerse yourself over the weekend. Check the official event page for exact times and any accessibility notes, and follow AerachAiteachGaelach on Instagram for last-minute updates. If transport or timing’s tight, pick the sessions that best match your mood , poetry and storytelling for quiet creativity, Sean-nós and songwriting for singers, or the dance workshop for something energetic and cross-cultural.

It's a small change that can make your weekend feel brighter and more connected.

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