Location
Discover
Dublin, Ireland
CILECT Congress 2026
27-31 October 2026
A city with stories around every corner
Dublin is a city that rewards curiosity. Compact, creative and full of character, it is a place where centuries of history sit comfortably alongside contemporary culture, where Georgian streets lead to independent cinemas and galleries, and where the mountains and sea are never far away.
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For a city of its size, Dublin has had an extraordinary influence on literature, theatre, music and film. Its streets have inspired writers and filmmakers, its stages have launched internationally celebrated performers, and storytelling remains very much part of the city's personality.
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And then there is the setting. Dublin stretches from the city centre out along Dublin Bay to coastal towns including Dún Laoghaire, where CILECT Congress 2026 is being hosted. From here, the sea, harbour and Dublin Mountains provide a very different side to the capital — and a reminder that some of Dublin's best experiences are found beyond the traditional city-centre sights.
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When the day's Congress sessions are finished, there is plenty to discover.
01
Dublin on Screen
Irish Film Institute
The cultural home of film in Ireland: independent and international cinema, the Irish Film Archive, a specialist film bookshop and a lively café bar.
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ICONIC FILMING LOCATIONS
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Kilmainham Gaol
GRAFTON STREET
Dún Laoghaire Harbour
The Forty Foot
For CILECT delegates, Dublin's connection with film is a good place to start. Catch an independent film, experience one of the city's beautifully restored cinemas, or explore some familiar locations from Irish and international productions.
Light House Cinema
An atmospheric underground venue with four screens, a café and bar, and a programme spanning independent film, new releases, classics and special events.
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Featured in Normal People and numerous film and television productions.​
A memorable screen location, including Michael Collins, The Italian Job + The Tudors.
One of the central locations in the Dublin-set musical Once.
Close to the Congress and featured in Sing Street, among other productions.
Swimming spot in Dún Laoghaire where Bad Sisters was filmed.
Stella Cinema
A beautifully restored 1920s picture house with velvet seating, sofas, a balcony and cocktails delivered to your seat.
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02
Dublin for Book Lovers
Museum of Literature Ireland
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and the home of Joyce, Beckett, Wilde and many more. But
Dublin's literary culture isn't confined to the past; books, poetry, spoken word and storytelling remain
woven into the life of the city.
Book of Kells Experience
Seamus Heaney Exhibition
An exhibition at the National Library. The Poetry Stroll also brings Dublin's streets to life through poetry and music.
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Temple Bar Book Market
03
History Around Every Corner
National Museum of Ireland
Archaeological treasures on Kildare Street; design, military history and decorative arts at Collins Barracks.
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EPIC: Irish Emigration Museum
Dublin wears its history openly. Viking streets, Georgian squares, revolutionary landmarks and former prisons all tell different parts of the city's story.
Kilmainham Gaol & GPO Museum
One of the most important sites in modern Irish history, while the GPO tells the story of the 1916 Rising.
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National Print Museum
Glasnevin Cemetery
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Art, Design & Creative
The Little Museum of Dublin
National collections, contemporary art, independent galleries, studios and legendary recording spaces.
Chester Beatty
Windmill Lane Recording Studios
05
Take Your Seat
The Abbey Theatre
A long and celebrated theatrical tradition. Check individual theatre programmes during Congress week to see what's on.
06
A Little Dublin Retail Therapy
GRAFTON STREET
George's Street Arcade
Powerscourt Townhouse
Henry Street
Dundrum Town Centre
Markets
Dublin's shopping districts are compact and easy to explore on foot — and some of the most interesting finds are on the streets between the main shopping areas.
Brown Thomas, Bewley's and Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, then Drury, Wicklow and Exchequer Streets for independents, cafés and design.
One of Europe's oldest purpose-built shopping centres: independent traders, vintage, books, records and food.
The elegant Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, housed in an 18th-century Georgian townhouse, is another good stop for Irish design, fashion, jewellery and food.
North of the Liffey, Henry Street is home to Arnotts, one of Dublin's landmark department stores, as well as the Jervis Shopping Centre.
Further south, Dundrum Town Centre offers Ireland's largest concentration of retail, dining and entertainment.
Closer to the Congress, spend Sunday morning at the Dún Laoghaire CoCo Market in the People's Park. Pick up something to eat, browse the stalls and then walk across the road to the seafront.
07
Don't Forget the Sea
Dublin is a city that rewards curiosity. Compact, creative and full of character, it is a place where centuries of history sit comfortably alongside contemporary culture, where Georgian streets lead to independent cinemas and galleries, and where the mountains and sea are never far away.
​
For a city of its size, Dublin has had an extraordinary influence on literature, theatre, music and film. Its streets have inspired writers and filmmakers, its stages have launched internationally celebrated performers, and storytelling remains very much part of the city's personality.
​
And then there is the setting. Dublin stretches from the city centre out along Dublin Bay to coastal towns including Dún Laoghaire, where CILECT Congress 2026 is being hosted. From here, the sea, harbour and Dublin Mountains provide a very different side to the capital — and a reminder that some of Dublin's best experiences are found beyond the traditional city-centre sights.
​
When the day's Congress sessions are finished, there is plenty to discover.
08
Dublin After Dark
Some of the best Dublin experiences aren't necessarily attractions at all. Find a traditional music session, settle into a historic pub, catch a gig, discover a small restaurant or simply wander through the city and see where the evening takes you.
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Temple Bar may be Dublin's best-known nightlife district, but there is plenty to discover beyond it. Explore the streets around South William Street, Drury Street and George's Street, head towards Camden Street, or stay closer to the Congress and discover the pubs and restaurants of Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown and Dalkey.
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Dublin is a sociable city. Sometimes the most memorable part of an evening is simply finding the right pub, ordering a drink and getting into a conversation you weren't expecting.
Dublin in October: The Season of Samhain
CILECT arrives in Dublin at a particularly atmospheric time of year. Halloween has its origins in the ancient Irish festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Traditionally, it was a time when the boundary between this world and the otherworld was believed to be at its thinnest — giving rise to traditions of fire, disguise, storytelling and the supernatural. https://heritageireland.ie/ga/blag/foinse-oiche-shamhna/Â
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Across Dublin, late October brings a contemporary twist to those ancient traditions through performance, storytelling, folklore and seasonal events.
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And Dublin has an especially appropriate connection to Halloween: Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula, was born in Dublin in 1847.
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Look out for the Bram Stoker Festival 2026 https://bramstokerfestival.com/en/, which brings gothic spectacle, performance and events to the city, as well as The Soul of Samhain 2026 at the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre. https://www.tseac.ie/Â Â
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With CILECT Congress concluding on 31 October, there could hardly be a better night to experience Dublin after dark.
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Find Your Own Dublin
These are only starting points. Dublin is compact enough to explore without an elaborate plan, so leave some room for the unexpected — a gallery you hadn't noticed, a film you hadn't planned to see, a conversation in a pub, or a walk along the coast.
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From city streets to sea air, Georgian Dublin to contemporary culture, literary landmarks to independent cinemas, there is always another side of Dublin to discover.
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For more inspiration and up-to-date information on what's happening during your stay, visit Visit Dublin. https://www.visitdublin.com/Â