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Weekend Edition | July 4-6, 2025 | Issue #50

Weekend Edition | July 4-6, 2025 | Issue #50

Dirk Lauf
July 04, 2025

📬 HELLO THERE, GORGEOUS NEIGHBOUR!

Welcome to the weekend that kicks off summer proper – and boy, do we have treats in store! While the rest of Dublin is still figuring out their holiday plans, we're sitting pretty with the best festival lineup Ireland has seen in years happening right on our doorstep.

This weekend marks the grand opening of Dún Laoghaire Summerfest 2025, and trust us when we say this isn't your average local music festival. With over 70 acts across two weeks, from legendary headliners to comedy gold, it's basically Christmas morning for anyone who appreciates good vibes and great music by the sea.

☀️ QUICK WEEKEND WEATHER CHECK: Sunny spells with temperatures hitting 21°C – perfect festival weather that'll make you grateful you live where the action is!

🎯 THIS WEEKEND'S MUST-KNOWS:

Why tonight's festival opening will have you cancelling all other weekend plans
The cycling revolution that's about to transform how we get around
Property prices that continue to make us look like investment geniuses
Plus: The hidden summer gems that tourists haven't discovered yet

Grab your festival gear (and maybe a responsible adult) and let's dive in...

🎪 WEEKEND EVENTS: THE FESTIVAL SPECTACULAR

SUMMERFEST KICKS OFF TONIGHT! 🎵

Friday, July 4 | Multiple Venues Across Dún Laoghaire

The moment we've all been waiting for – Dún Laoghaire Summerfest 2025 officially launches tonight with over 70 acts performing across various venues around Dún Laoghaire over a two week period from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th July 2025!

Why You'll Want to Be There: This isn't just any music festival – we're talking headline acts like The Beat (UK), The 4 of Us, Mik Pyro, and The Frank & Walters. If you love a great tribute, the Daft Punk Experience and George Michael Experience will blow you away.

Tonight's Highlights:

Mik Pyro (Full Band Show) + Special Guests The Animal Gang
Vinyl & Wine Live at Volume Records
Opening Night Spectacular at multiple venues

Insider Tip: Some of the finest stand-up talent — Joe Rooney, Enya Martin, Aideen McQueen, Pat McDonnell, Emma Doran, and more — are ready to have you laughing all night long. This is the rare festival that nails both music AND comedy.

📍 More Info: Visit Dublin - Summerfest 2025

SATURDAY'S SUMMER VIBES ☀️

Saturday, July 5 | Continuing the Festival Magic

George Michael's Greatest Hits Live – Because nothing says summer weekend like belting out "Freedom" with a crowd of equally enthusiastic neighbours.

The Blooze Brothers + Flying Monkeys at Walters Venue – Blues with a side of brilliant madness.

Market Day Magic: Don't forget our beloved Blackrock Market is in full summer swing – the market hosts over 30 stalls, ranging from antiques, bric-and-brac, clothing, home furnishing, Swim Robes, Body Care, Cosmetics, Candles, Toys, Jewlery as well as International food stalls, cafes and even a Michelin Star restaurant.

🚴 TRANSPORT TALK: THE DLR CONNECTOR UPDATE

CYCLING REVOLUTION IN PROGRESS 🚲

The future of getting around our neighbourhood without a car just got a major boost! The DLR Connector will connect neighbourhoods and villages east to west across the county via a safe and accessible walking and cycling route.

What's Actually Happening:

6km of new, high-quality, segregated cycle lanes, joining up with existing infrastructure to create an 8.5km continuous route
Ten significant junction upgrades along the route with improved layouts for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and general vehicular flow
10,000 m2 of new or enhanced green space will be created for tree planting, recreation, biodiversity and Sustainable Urban Drainage/Rain Gardens

The Timeline: A non-statutory public consultation is being held on the scheme from 3rd June to 15th July 2025 – which means you still have time to have your say!

Why This Matters: Soon you'll be able to cycle safely from Dundrum to the coast without playing traffic roulette. It's the kind of infrastructure that makes property values smile and commute stress disappear.

📍 Have Your Say: DLR Council Consultation

🏠 PROPERTY PULSE: THE MARKET THAT KEEPS DELIVERING

THE NUMBERS THAT MAKE US FEEL CLEVER 📈

Remember when people said "buying by the sea is too risky"? Well, those people are probably still renting...

The Latest Reality Check:

Residential property prices rose by 8.1% in the 12 months to January 2025
The highest median price for a dwelling in the 12 months to January 2025 was €662,349 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to January 2025 was A94 'Blackrock' with a median price of €743,500

What This Means for You: If you already own in DLR, you're basically riding a very expensive, very satisfying wave. Taking all of these factors into account, we forecast average price growth in the region of 5 per cent in the residential market for 2025.

WHAT'S ACTUALLY MOVING 🏡

The "Worth Dreaming About" Bracket:

Blackrock stunners: €743,500 median (because location, location, location)
Quality coastal living continues to command premium prices

The "Attainable Dreams" Reality:

Dublin remains Ireland's most expensive market, with prices rising 12.2% year-on-year—the sharpest increase in years. The average asking price in Dublin is now around €450,000

The Bottom Line: Supply shortages will remain a key constraint until annual housing completions exceed 40,000 units. Translation: our neighborhood's desirability isn't changing anytime soon.

📍 Source: Central Statistics Office

🍴 FOODIE FLASH: SUMMER DINING DECODED

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION UPDATE 🥐

Remember that whisper about French Revolution éclairs coming to Dún Laoghaire? Well, The French Revolution is all about that, and they're touching down in Dublin in 2025. The Romanian chain will serve indulgent eclairs in various flavours from coffee to salted caramel and beyond.

What to Expect: Think Instagram-worthy pastry perfection that'll make your morning coffee situation significantly more sophisticated.

ALREADY AMAZING AND GETTING BETTER 🌟

Liath Restaurant in Blackrock Market continues to be the neighborhood's Michelin-worthy secret. We are not a normal restaurant business model. We are small and intimate, only seating 14 guests per service.

Pro Tip: Our next release for reservations is September 2025 on the 1st of August at 12pm – mark your calendars now!

Volpe Nera in Blackrock keeps delivering that contemporary Mediterranean cuisine we can't get enough of.

📍 Book Now: Summer weekend tables are disappearing faster than ice cream in July heat.

🏖️ SUMMER SECRETS: HIDDEN GEMS EDITION

DALKEY QUARRY: MORE THAN JUST ROCKS 🧗‍♀️

While everyone's fighting for parking at Killiney Beach, the smart locals are rediscovering Dalkey Quarry. Dalkey Quarry is a favourite for climbers of all capabilities. For those just looking for a ramble, the three levels of the Quarry provide pleasant walking, the lower level accessed by a gate on Ardbrugh Road, being the shortest and easiest.

Why You'll Love It: Stunning views with rock climbing, dog walking and walking in the gorse. The stone from the Quarry was used to build the piers in Dunlaoghaire. It's like a workout with a history lesson and killer views.

VICO BATHS: THE CELEBRITY-APPROVED SWIM SPOT 🏊‍♀️

Although it earned global fame in recent years thanks to visits from the likes of Harry Styles and Matt Damon, this is far from a new addition to Dublin.

Parking Reality Check: While the cliff-hugging Vico Road is beautiful and riviera-esque, it's also very narrow with zero places to stop or park. Your best bet? The hassle free Vico Baths car park is the one in Dalkey Train Station (13-minute walk away).

This week's local social media highlights (because we all scroll through festival announcements):

🔥 TRENDING:

"Anyone else think Summerfest is better than most city festivals?"
"Why does the Dart feel more crowded but somehow more festive this week?"
"Festival food trucks vs. our local restaurants – the great summer debate"

📸 INSTAGRAM GOLD:

Sunset shots from the East Pier during festival sound checks
Food styling competitions between festival vendors and local cafés
#SummerfestStartsHere hashtag taking over our feeds

🎯 WEEKEND STRATEGY GUIDE

FRIDAY FESTIVAL LAUNCH PLAN 🎵

Early Evening (5-7pm):

Quick dinner at your local spot (before festival crowds arrive)
Strategic parking – arrive early or embrace the DART
Festival launch events start hitting their stride

Prime Time (7-11pm):

Mik Pyro show (this is the one everyone will be talking about)
Venue hopping – multiple stages mean multiple vibes
Comedy acts for when you need a breather from dancing

SATURDAY SUMMER PERFECTION ☀️

The Balanced Weekend Formula:

Morning: Blackrock Market exploring (before tourist buses arrive)
Afternoon: Festival continuation or coastal walk decision
Evening: George Michael tribute (because summer needs anthems)
Late: Night cap somewhere with sea views

🌟 COMMUNITY CORNER

RANDOM ACTS OF FESTIVAL KINDNESS 💫

Because good festivals make good neighbors:

Local cafés staying open late to feed festival-goers
Residents offering charging stations for phones
Someone started a "Festival Lost & Found" WhatsApp group

THIS WEEK'S LOCAL HEROES 🙌

The sound engineers working magic across multiple venues
Venue staff pulling double shifts with smiles
Local gardeners whose flowers are adding to the festival atmosphere

🎪 NEXT WEEK PREVIEW

Why you'll want to stick around for Week 2 of Summerfest:

Amy Winehouse Tribute with support from Megan Burke
Buffalo Soul Bob Marley Tribute Show (all ages!)
DJ Workshop & Masterclass at Volume Records
Plus the mystery weekend acts that haven't been announced yet...

💌 CLOSING THOUGHTS

Here's what makes this weekend special – we're not just attending a festival, we're hosting one in our backyard. While other parts of Dublin will be traveling to us for the next two weeks, we get to wake up, grab coffee, and casually stroll to world-class entertainment.

It's the perfect blend of great music, side-splitting comedy, family fun, and community spirit — exactly the kind of festival we all deserve.

Weekend Challenge: Take a photo of something festival-related that captures why living here is basically winning the Dublin lottery, and share it with someone who doesn't get to live this close to the action.

Festival season has arrived, folks. Let's show it how it's done on the southside! 🌊

🔔 Stay Connected with SouthSide Scoop

Spot something festival-worthy happening? Drop us a line: [email protected]
Follow the festival vibes: @SouthSideScoop
Share this newsletter: Because great neighbors share great festival tips

Next week: Summerfest survival guide, secret venue recommendations, and the food truck rankings everyone's arguing about.

Until then, festival responsibly! 🎵

SouthSide Scoop is written by locals, for locals, with just enough insider festival knowledge to make you feel like a VIP and just enough community spirit to make you want to share the stage.