Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT) plans a different way to celebrate St Valentine’s Night: why not swap dinners and diamonds for cultural gems!
TBCT has unveiled a new programme of events to celebrate Valentine’s Day called ‘A Date With Dublin’. From 12 noon until 12 midnight on February 14th, cultural organisations across the city will light up with love, offering lovers and friends an adventure to the cultural heart of the city. TBCT and partners have arranged a programme of affordable and free events that promise discovery, beauty, fun and great value.
Highlights of the programme include an outdoor dinner and movie experience starting at 6.30pm in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar. Under the cover of the beautifully illuminated umbrellas, Meeting House Square will be transformed into an atmospheric haven especially for Valentine’s Day. In the square, filled with couches, bean bags and rugs in Valentine’s colours, one of the most romantic films of all time, Casablanca, will be screened and beforehand movie lovers can enjoy some hot and spicy, Thai red chicken curry for only €5.
Lorraine Maye, Cultural Events Programmer for Temple Bar Cultural Trust said, “We want to give people a great experience and offer great value throughout the day. We’re delighted to be partnering with so many excellent cultural organisations to offer people such a fun, affordable, alternative to traditional Valentine’s Day activities.”
There are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved and get interactive. TBCT is calling all film lovers to log on to www.templebar.ie and choose, from a shortlist of six, the final film to be screened in Meeting House Square at 11pm; Project Arts Centre is asking people to join in an interactive, anti-Valentine’s Day game called ‘Love Sucks’ at 5.30pm, and all aspiring dancers should make their way to Dance House for 8.30pm where Viva Dance School will be demonstrating ballroom basics!
St Valentine himself gets special billing to remind us all of his unique connection with Dublin at Whitefriar Street Church. During the day, St Valentine will be celebrated through special programmes of choral music at the church, where some of his remains are contained within the Shrine of St Valentine.
At 2pm the National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square will be offering a special tour of romantic imagery in the Gallery’s collection, while across town at 3pm, art lovers will get a free Valentine’s Day tour of the Francis Bacon studio at Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane on Parnell Square.
Have your caricature drawn by Seán Drawn and attend the world premiere of his graphic novel ‘Cupid’s Last Arrows’ in the Exchange Dublin from 12pm; meet your perfect book match with book speed dating at The Gutter Bookshop where the book experts will match you with your ideal book from 6.30pm or head to the Gallery of Photography from 1pm to capture your romance with a vintage style photo portrait which will then be presented as part of a special Valentine’s night screening in Meeting House Square.
Most events are free and some require booking in advance. Further information is available from Temple Bar Cultural Trust at www.templebar.ie. Tickets for the movies at Meeting House Square are available from http://entertainment.ie/tickets/meeting-house-square.asp