Celebrating diversity and empowering differences

dlr Festival of Inclusion | Féile le Chéile 2024

Building Friendships in the Community

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (dlr) County Council is delighted to host the annual dlr Festival of Inclusion on May 15 – 26 to highlight and celebrate social inclusion initiatives and to support and encourage all to actively participate and engage in the community.

This year’s festival will run from Wednesday 15th - Sunday 26th May 2024 and the theme of this year’s festival is “Building Friendships in the Community”. dlr Festival of Inclusion is a community based social inclusion events programme organised by numerous community groups and organisations bringing people together to connect and celebrate community well-being and raise awareness, provide supports and promote friendship, equality, diversity, integration and social inclusion across dlr.

You can view and download the full dlr Festival of Inclusion 2024 Brochure at this link. Each year dozens of community groups and organisations host activities, exhibitions, performances, talks, coffee mornings, training events, seminars and workshops etc. and some of the highlights of this year’s festival include:

• Mental Health Ireland ‘Hello How Are You?’ walk on Dún Laoghaire East Pier, Wed 15 May, 11am
• ‘Building Connections’ - dlr Public Participation Network (PPN) Friendship & Networking Event open to all, Wed 15 May, 7 – 9pm, Stillorgan Talbot Hotel
• dlr Integration Forum Seminar - ‘Promoting Integration & Inclusion in the Community’, Thurs 16 May, 9.30 – 1pm with speakers from the Garda National Diversity Unit; Southside Partnership DLR; Southside Travellers Action Group; HSE and more
• UCD Campus Tours & Taster Lectures & free transport on Dublin Bus from Dún Laoghaire Dart Station, Thursday 16 May, 10am
• Garda Older Person’s Association ‘Road & Mobility Safety for Older People’ Information Seminar, Friday 17 May, 10am - 1pm, Stillorgan Talbot Hotel
• ‘The Big Sing’, Large-scale Choirs & Community singing event, St. Michael’s Church, Dún Laoghaire, Sunday 19 May, 3.30 – 5pm
• Seniors Arts & Crafts Exhibition, Monday 20 May, dlr LexIcon Studio
• Global Brain Health Institute, TCD & dlr County Council series of talks & workshops in dlr LexIcon Library curated by Mike Hanrahan, 16, 21 & 22 May
• LGBT Allyship Training, Tuesday 21 May, 10 - 2pm
• Multicultural Women’s Breakfast, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire, Thursday 23 May, 10am
• Community Tea Parties in De La Salle College, Churchtown; The Gathering Grounds, Kilternan; Shanganagh Park House & Dementia Inclusive Tea Dance in Stillorgan Talbot Hotel
• Bealtaine events – Celebrating the Arts & Creativity as we Age’ across dlr Library branches  
• Southside Travellers Action Group celebrating 40 years
• Age-Friendly activities, Coffee morning, Nature event & Africa Day celebrations in Rosemount, Hillview & Ballyogan Family Resource Centres
• Men’s Shed’s open days in Ballinteer & Dún Laoghaire
• A wide variety of physical activities and events organised by dlr Sports Partnership
• Africa Day celebrations including Panel Event curated by Ola Majekodunmi, Monday 20 May, dlr LexIcon & ‘Africa Can Smile’ cultural afternoon, Friday 24 May, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire
• An evening of music in Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Sunday 26 May

Speaking at the launch of the dlr Festival of Inclusion, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan said:

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are proud to be hosting the annual dlr Festival of Inclusion once again in 2024 and building friendships in our community. I encourage everyone to get involved and enjoy the variety of activities planned and I look forward to experiencing the many diverse communities and cultures that make up our beautiful county”. 

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council welcomed “the activities and events programmed for this year’s dlr Féile le Chéile/Festival of inclusion to promote building friendships in the community of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. We want to sincerely thank the many community groups and organisations that are running events during the festival with ‘friendships in the community’ celebrated through music, song, dance, drama, food, conversation, talks, training, arts, crafts, sports and much more!"

Events as part of the national Bealtaine festival, Street Feast, Dublin Mountains Festival, Bike Week, Volunteering Week and an array of concerts, coffee mornings, open days, dance, training sessions and much more will take place during dlr Festival of Inclusion 2024!

All events are free and open to all the public to attend but registration / booking may be required.

See Daily list of Events at bottom of this Page for  the dlr Festival of Inclusion 2024 

Further information available from: Community Section, dlr County Council, 01 205 4893 / community@dlrcoco.ie / www.events.dlrcoco.ie