{"id":658753,"date":"2026-08-27T06:02:21","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T06:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/658753\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T06:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T06:02:21","slug":"event-guide-bon-jovi-jack-white-and-the-other-best-things-to-see-in-ireland-in-the-week-ahead-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/658753\/","title":{"rendered":"Event guide: Bon Jovi, Jack White and the other best things to see in Ireland in the week ahead \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Event of the weekBon JoviSunday, August 30th, Croke Park, Dublin, 5pm, \u20ac161.25\/\u20ac116.25\/\u20ac96.25, ticketmaster.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the final open-air show of the summer by a big music act, and for fans of hands-in-the-air rock anthems, who better to bring a curtain down on the sunshine than Bon Jovi? The New Jersey band released their breakthrough (third) album, Slippery When Wet, 40 years ago this month. It\u2019s widely regarded as the LP that turned rock music into a radio-friendly format, with hits such as You Give Love a Bad Name, Livin\u2019 on a Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive and Never Say Goodbye. As if that weren\u2019t reason enough to celebrate an anniversary, this show on their Forever tour is the band\u2019s first in Ireland since Jon Bongiovi, their lead singer, had vocal surgery, in 2022. What to expect other than a hero\u2019s welcome? Special guests are long-time Irish favourites The Boomtown Rats.<\/p>\n

GigsJack WhiteMonday, August 31st, Telegraph Building, Belfast, 7pm, \u00a367, ticketmaster.ie<\/a>; Tuesday, September 1st, and Wednesday, September 2nd, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 7pm, \u20ac67.70, ticketmaster.ie<\/a> <\/p>\n

Consigning The White Stripes to history, in 2011, was a clever move by a musician The New York Times once described as the coolest, weirdest and savviest rock star of our time. From the release in 2012 of his debut solo album, Blunderbuss, White has consolidated his position as one of the best guitarists of his generation with a succession of records that aim to capture the rawness of blues music by way of Led Zeppelin\u2019s Jimmy Page and The Rolling Stones\u2019 Keith Richards. In other words, prepare your ears for lots of guitar riffs and solos.<\/p>\n

Wallis BirdWednesday, September 2nd, Pavilion Theatre, D\u00fan Laoghaire, Co Dublin, 8pm, \u20ac30, paviliontheatre.ie<\/a>; Thursday, September 3rd, Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co Louth, 7.30pm, \u20ac29.50, spiritstore.ie<\/a>; Friday, September 4th, Grand Social, Dublin, 7.30pm, \u20ac28.85, eventbrite.ie <\/a>\"WallisWallis Bird <\/p>\n

The Berlin-based singer Wallis Bird returns to Ireland to promote her latest and very forceful album, I Can See Your House from Here. The support act for all dates is the former Wyvern Lingo member (and fellow Berlin resident) Cao\u00ed de Barra, who also happens to be a member of Bird\u2019s touring band. The tour concludes on Sunday, September 13th (Cleere\u2019s, Kilkenny, 8pm, \u20ac30).<\/p>\n

Sigur R\u00f3sFriday, September 4th, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, 7pm, \u00a3134\/\u00a349 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

The final dates of Sigur R\u00f3s\u2019s world tour, which sees the Icelandic musicians collaborating with local orchestras, bring them to Ireland for the first time since their majestic 3Arena show in November 2022. For all three concerts, the group will be joined by the Ulster Orchestra and the Palestrina Choir. Also Sunday, September 6th (sold out), and Monday September 7th, Bord G\u00e1is Energy Theatre, Dublin, 7pm, \u20ac215.75\/\u20ac167.20\/\u20ac142.20, ticketmaster.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

FestivalsSe\u00e1n Corcoran SeriesFrom Friday, September 4th, until Sunday, September 6th, various venues, times and prices, Drogheda, Co Louth, seancorcoranseries.com <\/a>\"Laoch:Laoch: Landless <\/p>\n

Celebrating the influence of the Drogheda-born musician Se\u00e1n Corcoran (1946-2021) in traditional Irish folklore, music and song, this three-day festival features a matching range of events that, like Corcoran himself, occasionally stretches boundaries. Music highlights include the Louth debut of Nest, by the composer Amanda Feery (Friday, September 4th, Gerrard\u2019s Church, 8.15pm, \u20ac15), and Laoch tribute concert, featuring Landless, D\u00f3nal Lunny, Macdara \u00d3 Faol\u00e1in, Caoimhe N\u00ed Mhaolag\u00e1in, and more (Saturday, September 5th, St Augustine\u2019s Church, 7.15pm, \u20ac25). An In Conversation event with the documentarymaker Nuala O\u2019Connor and the musicians Paddy Glackin and Peter Browne (Sunday, September 6th, Old Methodist Church, 1pm, free, booking required) explores the 50th anniversary of the pioneering F\u00e9ile na B\u00f3inne.<\/p>\n

The Island DriftFrom Friday, September 4th, until Sunday, September 6th, Garnish Island, Glengarriff, Cork, various times and prices, theislanddrift.com<\/a>\"DoireannDoireann N\u00ed Ghr\u00edofa <\/p>\n

Not many festivals can boast a line-up that includes music, interviews and podcasts alongside walking tours focusing on wildlife and plants. Highlights include music from Pilgrims (Friday, September 4th, 5.30pm) and Gemma Hayes (Saturday, September 5th, 5.30pm), conversation with the poet and author Doireann N\u00ed Ghriof\u00e1 (Sunday, September 6th, noon) and The Blindboy Podcast (Sunday, September 6th, 5.30pm). <\/p>\n

ComedyReuben SoloThursday, September 3rd, Sugar Club, Dublin, 6.30pm\/9pm, \u20ac25.90, ticketmaster.ie<\/a>; Friday, September 4th, Limelight, Belfast, 7pm\/9.30pm, \u00a323.75, ticketmaster.ie<\/a> \"ReubenReuben Solo <\/p>\n

He may not have made much of an impression on the judges of the 19th season of America\u2019s Got Talent, in 2024, but the Australian comedian Reuben Solo can take comfort in having more than 500,000 TikTok subscribers. His comedic style mixes the self-referential with the surreal, with audience manipulation (and interaction) thrown in for good measure. You have a front-row seat? Oh, dear.<\/p>\n

DesignThe BIG Type Festival<\/p>\n

From Friday, September 4th, until Sunday, September 6th, National Print Museum, Dublin, various times\/prices, nationalprintmuseum.ie<\/a><\/p>\n

Celebrating the influence of print, design, and typography, the BIG Type Festival highlights numerous ways in which these creative areas shape social history, literature, art and pop culture. Highlights include public interviews with artists Anthony Burrill and Maser (Friday, September 4th, 6pm) and 2026 Booker Prize longlisted author Djamel White (Saturday, September 5th, 7pm). Of particular interest to fans of cinema is a talk by author\/designer Annie Atkins (Sunday, September 6th, 6pm), who has worked with directors such as Wes Anderson and Steven Spielberg. A family-friendly Community Day (Sunday, September 6th, 12pm-4pm) will feature all-ages activities with calligrapher Sarah O\u2019Dea, and artists\/printmakers Susan Leen and Ann Kavanagh. <\/p>\n

Next weekendCape Clear Storytelling FestivalFrom Friday, September 4th, until Sunday, September 6th, various venues, times and prices, Cape Clear, Co Cork, capeclearstorytelling.com<\/a>\"PeterPeter Shand <\/p>\n

A vivid island setting, accessed by ferry, provides the scenic background for a weekend of storytelling and folklore from Irish and international guests. Conversational highlights include the English raconteurs Amy Douglas and Peter Shand, the English-Finnish performer Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Northern Ireland\u2019s Liz Weir and Ireland\u2019s Diarmuid \u00d3 Drisceoil. Vibrant music sessions will be provided by, among others, Donegal\u2019s Kevin Doherty and Cork\u2019s Ger Wolfe. <\/p>\n

Book it this week<\/p>\n