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Weekend Edition | July 25-27, 2025 | Issue #52

Weekend Edition | July 25-27, 2025 | Issue #52

Dirk Lauf
July 25, 2025

📬 FRIDAY FEELS, FABULOUS NEIGHBOURS!

The magic of summer weekends has officially peaked, and we're about to witness something absolutely legendary happening in our backyard! While the rest of Dublin is still recovering from Summerfest memories, we've got fresh adventures calling our names this weekend that'll remind you exactly why living in DLR means you've basically won the lifestyle lottery.

From mythology coming alive on Bray's golden sands to the housing opportunity that could change everything for someone you know, this weekend is serving up the perfect blend of family fun, community spirit, and that distinctly southside sophistication we all secretly love about ourselves.

☀️ WEEKEND WEATHER CHECK: Partly cloudy with sunny spells and temperatures reaching 20°C – absolutely perfect for festival adventures and those coastal walks that make our Instagram feeds look effortlessly enviable!

🎯 THIS WEEKEND'S UNMISSABLE LINEUP:

Why Bray's legendary family festival will make you the coolest parent/adult in your circle
The affordable housing deadline that's causing serious FOMO across the county
Weekend market secrets that prove shopping local isn't just trendy – it's genius
Plus: The summer activities that are making our neighbourhood the envy of Dublin

So grab your weekend essentials (reusable coffee cup, optimistic parking attitude, and that smug satisfaction of living somewhere spectacular) and let's dive into what's making our corner of Dublin absolutely irresistible...

🎪 WEEKEND EVENTS: THE LEGEND COMES ALIVE

SATURDAY & SUNDAY'S MYTHICAL ADVENTURE

🧚‍♀️ BRAVE MAEVE FAMILY FESTIVAL
Saturday & Sunday, July 26-27 | Bray Seafront | 12pm-6pm

Hold onto your weekend plans, because Bray is about to transform into something straight out of Irish legend! The Brave Maeve Family Festival is back this year, honouring family, folklore, and enjoyment drawn from the legendary story of Brave Maeve, and it's completely free with no tickets required.

Why You'll Want to Be There: The festival promises a magical experience for all and will take place on Saturday, July 26th, and Sunday, July 27th, 2025, daily from noon until 6 pm. Inspired by the legendary tale of Brave Maeve, a giant heroine awakening from her ancient slumber, this free, family-friendly festival blends folklore and fun across five immersive themed zones.

The Five Zones You Can't Miss:

Beach Theatre Area: Explore the Beach Theatre Area with friends Doris and Mabel, showcasing enchanting aerial shows courtesy of Sanita Circus. Additionally, a vibrant street theatre show celebrates movement, myth, and creativity
Crafty Cave: In the Crafty Cave, kids can dive into puppet making and arts and crafts
Showtime Stage: The Showtime Stage features vibrant entertainment, including ever-popular Ruben the Entertainer, dynamic dance displays, and interactive dance classes
Seafront Funfair: Enjoy the vibrant Seafront Funfair, open from noon until 10 pm, featuring classic rides, games, and attractions for thrill-seekers and families alike
Imagination Station & Zen by the Sea Zone: Perfect for those mindful moments between all the excitement

Insider Tip: This is part of the #SummerInBray campaign, so expect serious production values and the kind of attention to detail that makes local festivals feel like destination events.

📍 More Info: bravemaeve.bray.ie

🏠 PROPERTY PULSE: THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE DECADE

SHANGANAGH CASTLE PHASE 2: THE COUNTDOWN IS ON

The Application Window Everyone's Talking About

The online application portal for Affordable Purchase Apartments in Shanganagh Castle Estate (Shanganagh Castle Estate Phase Two) opens for applications at 12:00 on Wednesday July 23rd, 2025 and closes at 17:00 Wednesday August 13th, 2025. That means you have just 19 days left to get your application in!

What's Actually Available: The homes, which include 10 one-bed apartments and 30 two-bed apartments ranging in size from 50 to 84 square metres, were directly delivered by the LDA in partnership with DLR at the award-winning Shanganagh Castle Estate.

The Numbers That Matter:

One-bed apartments: Starting from €263,500
Two-bed apartments: Starting from €348,750
The Sweet Deal: With the help of Government supports and equity contributions, prices for the new apartments start from as low as €263,500 for the one-beds and €348,750 for the two-beds

Why This is Huge: All of the apartments at Shanganagh Castle Estate are built to Passive House standard, which means the homes are better insulated and designed to be more energy efficient. This also means they have low running costs.

Local Advantage: 30% of the dwellings will be reserved for applicants who have been ordinarily resident in the functional area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for at least 8 years.

Application Deadline: August 13th, 2025 at 5pm

📍 Apply Here: DLR Affordable Housing Scheme

🌱 FAMILY FUN: SUMMER PROGRAMME PERFECTION

AIRFIELD ESTATE'S SUMMER MAGIC CONTINUES

Tuesday & Thursday Family Adventures

This summer, make magical memories with your little ones at Airfield Estate! From Tuesday, 1st July to Thursday, 14th August, we're running a special Summer Programme every Tuesday and Thursday, designed especially for families.

What's Happening Every Tuesday & Thursday: Alongside our much-loved daily farm activities, you can enjoy a fun-packed schedule of seasonal treats including: 🎨 Face Painting 🌿 Discovery Playtime 🎭 Puppet Shows 🎉 Surprise pop-up activities and so much more!

Summer Evening Special: Summer Evenings at Airfield Estate – Just €5 After 5pm! Looking for a refreshing way to spend your summer evenings? Whether you're flying solo, catching up with friends, or simply craving something different – Airfield Estate has the perfect way to wind down your day.

Weekend Warriors: Don't forget Airfield Estate's Farmers Market is open every Friday and Saturday. Produce ranging from locally grown fruit, veg, preserves, chutneys, jams, bread, pastries, meats and much more are on offer to sample, enjoy or take home. Open every Friday & Saturday from 9 am – 2.30 pm with free entry.

📍 Book Activities: Airfield Estate Events

🛒 MARKET MADNESS: WHERE LOCALS SHOP SMART

WEEKEND MARKET ROUNDUP

SATURDAY & SUNDAY OPTIONS

Marlay Park CoCo Market: These Dublin markets take place every Saturday & Sunday from 11am-4pm at Marlay Park and Sunday from 11am-4pm at Dún Laoghaire People's Park. This picturesque location in Rathfarnham, overlooked by the historic 18th Century Marlay House and within the grounds of the 247 acre park is home to a playground, a par-3 golf course, running and walking trails and various sports facilities.

People's Park Market, Dún Laoghaire: The Dún Laoghaire CoCo Market is a popular spot, attracting enthusiastic shoppers every weekend. Over 50 vendors trade each Sunday selling a wide range of products including hot food, baked goods, art and crafts, artisan food products and seasonal produce.

Blackrock Market: Weekend staple featuring everything from antiques to that tiny Michelin-starred dining room that makes us feel impossibly sophisticated.

Friday & Saturday Favourites:

Airfield Estate Farmers Market: Already mentioned above, but worth repeating – the Friday & Saturday gem in Dundrum.

Leopardstown Market: Taking place on Friday afternoon from 10am-4pm, Leopardstown has all the ingredients for a perfect treat. More than 20 stalls serve up organic fruit and veg, bread, meat, fish and plenty more. There's Italian, Lebanese, Portuguese, Thai, Indian and many other ethnic cuisines to choose from too.

🎭 COMING ATTRACTIONS: AUGUST ANTICIPATION

DALKEY LOBSTER FESTIVAL UPDATE

Mark Your Calendars: August 23-24, 2025

The renowned Dalkey Lobster Festival, proudly sponsored for the second time by Guinness and Tanqueray, is set to return to the picturesque coastal town in south Dublin from the 23rd – 24th August. Prepare for a weekend of culinary indulgence, live music, street entertainment, and artisan exhibits, all before the children go back to school.

Why It Matters: This year, the festival proudly supports the RNLI, the lifeboat charity which celebrates 200 years saving lives at sea this year.

Free Events: Dalkey Lobster Festival will take place on 23rd and 24th August. This is a free event with no ticket required.

📍 More Info: dalkeylobsterfestival.com

This Week's Local Conversation Starters

🔥 TRENDING TOPICS:

"Anyone else think the Brave Maeve Festival looks better than half the paid festivals this summer?"
"Shanganagh applications opened and I'm suddenly rethinking my entire life plan"
"Why does every weekend market in DLR make me feel like I'm living in a lifestyle magazine?"

📸 INSTAGRAM GOLD:

Sunset shots over Dublin Bay with festival prep in the background (#BraveMaeve #BrayMagic)
Farmers market haul photos that make grocery shopping look like art (#LocalAndProud)
Airfield Estate farm animal pics that remind us why countryside living works in the city (#AirfieldLife)

🎯 WEEKEND STRATEGY GUIDE

SATURDAY'S PERFECT PLAN

Morning Mission (9-11am):

Hit Airfield Estate Farmers Market while it's still peaceful
Grab supplies for the day from local vendors who actually know where their produce comes from
Coffee somewhere with a view (because you can)

Midday Adventure (12-5pm):

Head to Bray for the Brave Maeve Festival opening
Explore all five themed zones at your own pace
Let the kids (or your inner child) run wild in the Crafty Cave

Evening Excellence (5-10pm):

Stay for the Seafront Funfair as it gets busy
Dinner at one of Bray's local spots
Night cap somewhere with sea views

SUNDAY'S SMART MOVES

The Perfect Sunday Formula:

Sleep in (festival days are exhausting)
People's Park Market for weekend supplies and community vibes
Return to Brave Maeve Festival for Day 2 experiences
Sunday roast somewhere that makes Monday feel manageable

🌟 COMMUNITY CORNER

RANDOM ACTS OF LOCAL BRILLIANCE

This Week's Feel-Good Moments:

Local cafés extending outdoor seating to accommodate festival crowds
Neighbours sharing parking tips for weekend events
Someone spotted organizing an impromptu clean-up after market day

LOST & FOUND

Because We Look Out for Each Other:

Found: Set of house keys with Shanganagh Castle keyring near Shankill DART (contact local Gardaí)
Lost: Small dog jacket near People's Park – check with DLR Tourism if spotted

🎪 NEXT WEEK PREVIEW

Why You Should Stick Around

Coming Up:

Final week countdown for Shanganagh Castle applications
August festival season planning begins
Secret location scouting for mystery summer events

Rumour Mill:

Whispers of additional affordable housing announcements
Possible expansion of Airfield Estate summer programming
Talk of new weekend market vendors joining the rotation

💌 CLOSING THOUGHTS

Here's what makes this weekend special – while other parts of Dublin are planning expensive day trips and fighting traffic to reach "authentic" experiences, we're walking to world-class family festivals, cycling to farmers markets that actually know our names, and accessing affordable housing opportunities that could change lives.

The Brave Maeve Festival isn't just entertainment; it's a reminder that the best community events happen when locals create something magical for locals. The Shanganagh housing opportunity isn't just about property; it's about keeping our community accessible to people who understand why living here is worth the wait.

Weekend Challenge: Take someone to the Brave Maeve Festival who's never been to Bray before. Watch them realize what we've known all along – that living in DLR means having the best of everything right outside your door.

Whether you're chasing mythical creatures on the beach, hunting for treasures at weekend markets, or just enjoying a coffee with that view that never gets old, remember that thousands of people spend their weekends traveling to visit what we call home.

🔔 Stay Connected with SouthSide Scoop

Spot something epic happening in our neighbourhood? See a new opening? Have gossip about local developments?

📧 Drop us a line: [email protected]
📱 Follow us: @SouthSideScoop
🔄 Share this newsletter: Because good neighbours share good news

Next week: Dalkey Lobster Festival countdown, August events guide, and the housing stories everyone's talking about.

Until then, live your best legendary weekend! 🌊

SouthSide Scoop is written by locals, for locals, with just enough insider knowledge to make you feel special and just enough community spirit to make you want to share it.