Living History Live Performances : every half hour, weekdays 10am- 4.30pm, weekends 11am -5pm. Actors in medieval costume will bring the fascinating history of the castle to life, where you will see their customs, some barbaric, some comical, first hand. An Archer may accost you, a Medieval Cook may enlighten you, the Barber Surgeon may offer you a haircut and a tooth extraction as part of the Living History Live Performances! Explore the fortified medieval Townhouse, with its murder hole, bartizan, garderobe, machicolation and battlements; Examine the models of Dalkey Quarry, the building of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and the Atmospheric and Funicular railways; Experience the tranquillity of the 10th Century St. Begnet's Church and Graveyard; Read the local literary connections in the Writers' Gallery. Adult €6, Conc €5, Child €4, Family €16. Tel 01 285 8366 or Email info@dalkeycastle.com for more information. Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Co.

Walk and Talk… an experienced guide reveals the stories behind Dalkey's streetscape and ancient history. Guided Historical Walks leave from Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre: Mondays 11.00; Wednesdays 14.00 and Fridays 11.00. Walks last approx 90 mins. Walks can be booked at other times by arrangement.

A Literary Guide will lead you around the settings used in the work of famous Irish writers, such as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Hugh Leonard and Flann O'Brien. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Dalkey and Killiney as you dip into our Literary Heritage. Please book in advance, min of 6 required.

This exhibition is Paul Spellman's first solo show and is a culmination of his work completed over the past two years. This show contains a selection of images of various locations in Ireland, France and Italy. Many of the images are inspired by the land and seascape of Killiney Bay and its environs close to where the artist lives. There are also images resulting from trips to the West of Ireland, the South of France and Ostia in Italy. The show is entitled 'Green & Blue', colours which are synonomous with landscape and contained in all the images in some form.

Monica Tierney has developed two strands to her artistic oeuvre - Fabric Art and Oil Painting. She tries to express her art in fabric in a different way to her painting, using her needles as the brush and the threads as paint. Her oil paintings deal with the beauty of nature - the fields, mountains and coastline of Ireland - mainly the Iveragh peninsula, the Burren and Dublin Bay. Her paintings try to recapture the atmosphere of the sense of tender recall, and at the same time the restful intimacy of these familiar settings.

The past and the present are set to cross paths when two exciting artists exhibit their cosmic and ancient creations side by side. The new and the old worlds will come together when painter Karen Ebbs and sculpture Jim Hennelly stage a joint exhibition of her vividly coloured canvasses and his earthly bog oak sculptures.

An inner urge to paint has resulted in a body of work which expresses Fionnuala's vision of "The Quiet Earth." The paintings, mainly oils, show flux and transformation; shapes which at first glance seem to be natural ones - trees and animals and waves and light - are in the process of transforming themselves into something abstract, hinting at the further dimensions always present in the everyday.

Each Friday, Dalkey Castle hosts a Farmers Market where local producers offer a wide range of organic food, fresh fish and home baking. Locally produced. New for 2007: DETOX FOR SUMMER @ Dalkey Coco Market Dalkey Town Hall Talks and Tastes a series of free demonstrations 12:00noon beginning on Fri May 4th 'Juicing and Smoothies for energy' With Oliver McCabe 12:00noon on Fri May 11th 'Healthy eating for the kids' with Tina Dunne 12:00noon on Fri May 18th 'Simple ways with fresh fish' Gina Miltiadou of TV 3 and Easy Food magazine Come and see how great it can be to purchase your food directly from the producer. Feel free to ask questions and maybe sample something you haven't tried before?. Most importantly, come and see how enjoyable it can be to shop at your local farmers market Free Admission

Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre and the Heritage Office of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are offering the highly successful Living History Programme for schools from Wednesday 23rd January – Thursday 3rd April 2008. The programme is suited to fourth, fifth and sixth classes. The medieval Living History presentation involves professional actors from Deilg Inis Theatre Company, in full period costume bringing the history of our 15th Century fortified town house and the wider area to colourful life. The company portrays characters from early Christian through Viking to medieval and Victorian times. The defensive features of a medieval town house/castle are illustrated. The Murder Hole is activated theatrically and participation by the students is encouraged. One of the archers who defended the castle from the notorious O'Byrnes and O'Tooles of Wicklow demonstrates the use of the longbow. The history of the area and social customs of the time are covered in a colourful, engaging and memorable manner. The sessions will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 am. Each session lasts approximately two and a half hours. To book, please telephone 285 8366, Email info@dalkeycastle.com Website: www.dalkeycastle.com Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

Come and sample the talent of the county at this year's Winter Christmas Craft Fair in Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November, 11am – 5pm daily, where you can purchase beautiful jewellery, designer knitwear, fashion accessories, gourmet foods, children's gifts, woodcarving, aromatherapy, photography, glass, interesting art and much, much more……all your Christmas shopping under one roof!

The fourth annual Dalkey Good Health Fair takes place this weekend in Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th January, from 11am to 5pm each day. The two day event aims to highlight an array of alternatives to standard medicine and carries a simple message: Take responsibility for your health in 2008. Throughout the weekend there will be seminars on a wide range of aspects within holistic healing such as massage, colon hydrotherapy, aloe vera products and yoga, kinesiology, cupping and personal trainers. There will also be exhibitors available for questions on topics from diet and nutrition to reflexology and acupuncture. For further information please contact Aoife Kelly @ 086 2257531.

Do you know where the terms: Brace yourself; Rule of thumb; Keeping Tabs and the infamous two-fingered V-sign originated? When you visit Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre you will be enlightened with the answers when you meet the Archer in the Living History experience! Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is presenting a special 'Christmas at the Castle' Living History from Nov 27th -Dec 21st. Did you know that men in medieval times who wanted to be irresistible to women during the Christmas period wore a sprig of holly? Gentlemen take note! Other traditions that go back to medieval times include the hanging of objects on the tree, eating 'umble' pie, the making of the plum pudding and mince pies. So come and enjoy! Special Christmas Living History Tour every half hour from Tuesday Nov 27th –Fri Dec 21st from 10.00 on weekdays and 11.30 Sat & Sun. Presented by Deilg Inis Living History Theatre Company. Living History is included, at no additional charge, in the Admission price. Special Offer Admission: two children free of charge with every full paying adult! Open :Mon- Fri 9.30am to 5pm; Sat/Sun/Public Hols 11am - 5pm; Admission: Adult €6; Conc €5; Supported by Community Dept of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Co

Dún Laoghaire is a treasure chest of heritage and culture and is celebrated for its fine architecture and strong transportation history as a 'gateway to Ireland'. To showcase this, staff from Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre can lead groups of walkers on an odyssey of discovery in Dún Laoghaire. Walks must be pre-booked and have a minimum number of 15. Contact Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre at diht@indigo.ie reference Eyeopener Walks DL

Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre will present the Dalkey Schoolroom Scene from Chapter Two of Ulysses on Bloomsday, Saturday June 16th at 15.00. This will be followed by a Joycean Walk past places with Joycean connection in Dalkey. At 20.00 all are invited to attend the highly popular Joycean Evening where a team of actors will perform wonderful extracts from Joyce's work linked by music and songs that James Joyce either sung or which feature in his work. Tickets for afternoon event €10. Tickets for Joycean Evening €15. Early booking advisable at 285 8366. The Bloomsday Festival is supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Co

Events for Heritage Week: Free admission to Dalkey Castle & 7Heritage Centre from Sat 25th August to Sun 2nd September to individuals and families. (Supported by the Heritage Officer, DLRCoCo.) Free Admission will include Living History Tours every half hour 10.00-16.00 (Mon-Fri) 11.30-16.00 Sat &Sun. ALSO: Free Guided Historical Walks in Dalkey from Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre to Coliemore Harbour and Sorrento Point on Sat 25th at 14.00; Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th, Thurs 30th & Friday 31st at 11.00 and Wednesday 29th at 14.00. Free Guided Eyeopener Walk in Dún Laoghaire from inside Peoples Park (near Childrens' Playground) on Sunday Sept 2nd at 11.00. Free Living History Tour in Cabinteely House in association with DLR Parks Dept on Wed 29th August and Sunday 2nd Sept from 13.00 to 16.00. See Press Releases for more details.