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Weekend Edition | August 15-17, 2025 | Issue #54

Weekend Edition | August 15-17, 2025 | Issue #54

Dirk Lauf
August 15, 2025

📬 HAPPY FRIDAY, FABULOUS FOLK!

The mid-August madness is upon us, and while the rest of Ireland is frantically googling "last-minute staycation ideas," we're sitting pretty with a weekend lineup that makes us the envy of the entire island! From mushroom mysteries in the woodlands to ukulele mayhem taking over our streets, this weekend proves once again that DLR is where summer reaches its crescendo.

You know that sweet spot in August where the weather's still glorious, the tourists are thinning out, and locals reclaim their beloved haunts? That's exactly where we are right now. Plus, with the brand new Woodbrook DART station fresh off its opening last Sunday, getting around our coastal paradise has never been easier (even if the 40-year-old DART fleet is being held together with hope and regular maintenance).

☀️ WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK: Partly cloudy with sunny intervals, temperatures hitting a pleasant 20°C – perfect for woodland foraging without breaking into a full sweat, and ideal for outdoor markets without needing Arctic expedition gear!

🎯 THIS WEEKEND'S UNMISSABLE MOMENTS:

Why Sunday's mushroom foraging adventure could change your dinner game forever
The African braai that's bringing Zimbabwean vibes to Dundrum
Property prices that continue to prove we're sitting on gold mines
The library events turning kids into manga artists and Spanish speakers
Plus: Transport updates that actually affect your Monday morning

Ready your weekend warrior spirit and let's dive into what makes this corner of Dublin absolutely unbeatable...

🎪 WEEKEND EVENTS: THE AUGUST AWAKENING

SATURDAY'S SENSATIONAL LINEUP

📚 MANGA MAGIC AT CABINTEELY LIBRARY

Saturday, August 16 | Cabinteely Library

What: Comic Workshop with Amy Louise O'Callaghan – where young artists discover their inner manga master

Why It's Brilliant: Your kids will learn to create actual Japanese-style comics, not just doodle stick figures (though we love those too)

Insider Tip: Limited spaces and these workshops fill fast – arrive early or book ahead to avoid disappointed faces

📍 More Info: DLR Libraries Events

🎭 PAVILION THEATRE'S AUGUST OFFERINGS

All Weekend | Pavilion Theatre, Marine Road

While specific shows for this exact weekend are being finalized, the Pavilion continues its summer season with world-class performances. The venue just announced their autumn "Between the Notes 2025" lineup featuring Crash Ensemble performing Philip Glass.

Pro Move: Check their website Friday morning for any last-minute ticket releases – cancellations often mean premium seats at standard prices

📍 Box Office: Pavilion Theatre

SUNDAY'S SPECTACULAR SELECTIONS

🍄 MUSHROOM FORAGING ADVENTURE

Sunday, August 17 | Meeting Point TBC

What: Learn to forage safely with Bill and his trusty dog Musha through our local woodlands

Why You Need This: Transform from someone who buys overpriced shiitakes to someone who casually mentions "Oh, these chanterelles? Just foraged them this morning"

The Reality: Limited tickets still available for this date – these sessions have been selling out all summer

What You'll Learn: Safe identification, sustainable harvesting, and which mushrooms won't land you in A&E

📍 Book Now: DLR Tourism Events

🔥 BRAAI: SUMMER'S END

Sunday, August 17 | 1:00 PM | Airfield Estate

What: Pamwechete Collective's celebration of Zimbabwean culture with authentic braai (that's BBQ for the uninitiated)

Why It's Special: Following their successful Independence Day braai in April, this promises music, mini markets with craft vendors, and food prepared by actual chefs who know their boerewors from their biltong

Family Factor: Set in Airfield's gorgeous 38-acre estate – kids can meet farm animals while adults enjoy proper grilled meat

Note: Ticket covers entry only – bring cash for food and market purchases

📍 Tickets: Eventbrite - Braai Summer's End

🏠 PROPERTY PULSE: THE NUMBERS THAT KEEP US SMILING

THE DLR DOMINANCE CONTINUES 📈

Latest CSO figures cementing our status as property royalty:

The Headline Numbers:

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown median price: €662,349 (highest in the nation)
Blackrock (A94) median: €743,500 (most expensive Eircode area in Ireland)
Glenageary (A96) median: €725,000 (because sea views aren't free)
DLR annual growth: 6.4% (steady and sustainable, unlike some cowboys up north)

National Context:

Dublin prices up 7.5% year-on-year
National median hitting €359,999
Only 9,300 second-hand homes available nationwide (lowest since 2007)

Translation: If you bought here five years ago, you're basically Warren Buffett. If you're buying now, you're still getting in before it gets really silly.

WHAT'S ACTUALLY SELLING

The "Lottery Winner" Bracket:

Premium Blackrock properties commanding €750k+
Coastal gems in Dalkey and Killiney reaching astronomical heights

The "Achievable Dreams" Range:

Two-bed apartments: €450,000-€550,000
Family homes needing TLC: Starting €600,000

Expert Forecast: Property experts predict 5% growth for 2025, with supply shortages keeping our area in high demand until at least 2030.

📍 Source: Central Statistics Office

🚆 TRANSPORT TALK: MOVING & SHAKING

WOODBROOK STATION: ONE WEEK OLD AND ALREADY A HERO

The newest addition to our DART network opened last Sunday (August 10), and residents between Bray and Shankill are already wondering how they lived without it.

The Game Changer:

40-minute journey to city centre
No more €70 taxi fares after nights out
174m platforms with full accessibility features
Finally serves the Shanganagh and Woodbrook developments properly

Weekend Service: Every 30 minutes on Sundays – plan accordingly!

DART FLEET DRAMA CONTINUES

The Good: New battery-electric carriages arriving (eventually)

The Bad: Our 41-year-old original fleet being held together with engineering brilliance and prayers

The Reality: Third review now underway for fleet replacement worth €250 million – expect updates "in the coming months" (bureaucrat speak for "don't hold your breath")

WEEKEND ENGINEERING WORKS

This Weekend's Status: No major disruptions planned for DART services

Bank Holiday Note: Last weekend's August Bank Holiday chaos is behind us – normal weekend service resumes

📍 Live Updates: Transport for Ireland

🛒 MARKET MANIA: SUNDAY SHOPPING PARADISE

DÚN LAOGHAIRE COCO MARKET

Sunday | 10am-4pm | People's Park & The LexIcon area

The Setup: 50+ vendors split between two locations

Food Village (near LexIcon): Hot food, baked goods, artisan products
People's Park: Arts, crafts, seasonal produce

Local Legends to Look For:

McNally Family Farm (proper farmers market vibes)
The Irish Charcoal BBQ (Dan Murphy's pride and joy)
Organic Delights (10 years at the market and still going strong)

Insider Intelligence: Arrive before 11am for best selection, after 2pm for bargain deals

BLACKROCK MARKET

Weekend | 11am-5:30pm

Why It's Still Relevant: 30+ stalls ranging from vintage treasures to that Michelin-starred Liath Restaurant hiding in plain sight

This Week's Hot Tip: The fortune teller is apparently on fire with predictions lately (though she didn't see the property boom coming, so...)

📍 Market Info: DLR Markets

🍴 FOODIE FLASH: DINING DEVELOPMENTS

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION UPDATE (STILL)

Remember those Romanian éclairs we've been promised? Still "coming soon" to Dún Laoghaire. At this rate, they're becoming our version of the Berlin Airport – much anticipated, constantly delayed, probably worth it in the end.

WEEKEND DINING WINNERS

Airfield Estate Farmers Market

When: Friday & Saturday, 9am-2:30pm
What's Hot: End-of-summer produce, artisan breads, local meats
Pro Tip: The estate's own produce is available – doesn't get more local than that

Summer Evening Special at Airfield

Daily After 5pm: Just €5 entry
Perfect For: Pre-dinner stroll before heading to a local restaurant

🎭 COMING ATTRACTIONS: LATE AUGUST SIZZLERS

NEXT WEEK'S BLOCKBUSTERS

🦞 DALKEY LOBSTER FESTIVAL

August 23-24 | Dalkey Village

The festival that makes Galway's Oyster Festival look like a church bake sale returns! Sponsored by Guinness and Tanqueray (because lobster needs appropriate liquid accompaniment).

What to Expect:

Culinary indulgence that'll ruin you for frozen prawns
Live music across multiple venues
Street entertainment that doesn't involve crusties juggling
Artisan exhibits (translation: expensive things you'll definitely buy after a few pints)

📍 Details: Dalkey Lobster Festival

🎸 UKULELE HOOLEY 2025

August 23-24 | Various Venues

Europe's longest-running ukulele festival (yes, that's a thing) takes over Dún Laoghaire for the 14th year.

Saturday Highlights:

Workshops at the Eblana and dlr LexIcon
Flashmob at 2pm (location TBA – probably somewhere mortifying)
Open Mic Night at the Lighthouse Bar (€15 entry)

Sunday Spectacular:

Main concert in People's Park from 11:30am
Free entry to the park concert
The Big Jam with transport-themed songs (because nothing says "ukulele" like singing about the DART)

📍 Full Programme: Ukulele Hooley

📚 COMMUNITY CORNER: LOCAL LEGENDS

LIBRARY LOVE CONTINUES

Our libraries are absolutely killing it this August with events beyond the usual "shush and read" stereotype:

This Week's Offerings:

Storytime in Spanish: Because raising bilingual kids is the ultimate flex
Harry Potter Science Workshop: Where magic meets STEM
Summer Stars Programme: Running through August 21st

The Best Part: Everything's free, air-conditioned, and walking distance from decent coffee

RANDOM ACTS OF AUGUST AWESOME

Spotted This Week:

Neighbours organizing carpools for mushroom foraging adventures
Local cafés creating "forager's breakfast" specials
Someone left "Free Courgettes" boxes outside their house (it's that time of year)
Woodbrook station already has its own WhatsApp group for commuters

🎯 WEEKEND WISDOM: YOUR AUGUST ACTION PLAN

SATURDAY STRATEGY

Morning Mission (9-11am):

Hit Airfield Farmers Market for picnic supplies
Grab coffee from your local (avoid Dundrum shopping chaos)
Secure library workshop spots for the kids

Afternoon Adventure (12-4pm):

Explore the new Woodbrook station area (because we're all transport nerds now)
Beach time while weather holds
Prep for Sunday's foraging adventure

SUNDAY SUCCESS FORMULA

The Perfect Pipeline:

10am: People's Park Market reconnaissance mission
1pm: Braai at Airfield Estate OR
Morning: Mushroom foraging expedition
Evening: Cook your foraged finds (or order takeaway when you realize you found nothing edible)

🔥 Hot Takes:

"Is Woodbrook station the best thing since sliced bread or just regular bread?"
"Mushroom foraging: sustainable living or middle-class nonsense?"
"Why does every August event involve ukuleles or lobsters?"

📸 Instagram Gold:

Woodbrook station opening week photos (#NewStationWho)
Foraged mushroom humble brags (#ForagedNotBought)
Market haul flat lays (#SupportLocal)

💌 CLOSING THOUGHTS

Here's what I love about mid-August in DLR – we're past the tourist tsunami but still deep in summer mode. While others are panic-booking overpriced hotels in Westport, we're casually choosing between foraging expeditions and African braais, between new DART stations and ancient market traditions.

This weekend perfectly captures why we're the smartest property investors in Ireland (even if we bought just to live here). We've got culture from Zimbabwe to Japan (via our libraries), transport infrastructure actually improving, and property values that make our mortgages look like genius moves.

Whether you're hunting mushrooms in our surprisingly extensive woodlands, grooving at an African braai, or just enjoying a Sunday market coffee while casually mentioning your home's value has increased by the price of a small car this year, remember: we're not just living in Dublin's best neighborhood – we're living our best lives.

Weekend Challenge: Try something completely new this weekend – forage a mushroom, attempt a manga drawing, or just take the DART to Woodbrook for no reason other than you can. Share your adventure with someone still stuck in traffic on the M50.

Here's to the weekend that proves August in DLR is anything but sleepy! 🌊

🔔 STAY CONNECTED WITH SOUTHSIDE SCOOP

Spotted rare mushrooms? Know the real French Revolution opening date? Overheard Woodbrook station gossip? Have insider info on the Lobster Festival?

📧 Drop us a line: [email protected]
📱 Follow us: @SouthSideScoop
🔄 Share this newsletter: Because good neighbours keep each other informed

Next week: Dalkey Lobster Festival survival guide, Ukulele Hooley insider tips, and why September in DLR is actually better than summer.

Until then, forage responsibly! 🍄

SouthSide Scoop is written by locals, for locals, with just enough insider knowledge to make you feel like a mycologist and just enough community spirit to share your foraging spots (but not the really good ones).