Creative Director Roisin Lonergan introduces this year's edition of the Five Lamps Arts Festival, the popular community-based arts festival in Dublin's demographically diverse North East Inner City.
I've always believed that the heart of a city isn’t found in its towering buildings or bustling streets — it’s in its people, their stories, and the spaces where creativity comes alive. That’s exactly what the Five Lamps Arts Festival embodies — a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and community spirit that has taken root and flourished over the past 18 years.
This festival isn’t just another date in the diary. It’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of a community that has come together, year after year, to shine a light on local talent and to remind us of the power of the arts to unite people.
Watch the Five Lamps Arts Festival 2005 launch
The roots of this festival run deep. Back in 2017, the Mulvey Report called for more opportunities in the arts as a way to help regenerate and uplift the North East Inner City. The latest North East Inner City Strategic Plan builds on that vision, emphasizing the importance of engaging people through sport, community, arts, and culture. And that’s exactly what our event does - it brings it all to life.
This year’s Five Lamps Arts Festival runs from March 24th to April 6th and spans 15 venues, with over 40 events and more than 200 artists taking part. From live music to dance, visual art to literature, there’s something for everyone — whether you’re a long-time local or just discovering the area for the first time.
What I love most is how the festival doesn’t just celebrate art — it celebrates place. The iconic Five Lamps junction (you know it, if you're a Dubliner — North Strand Road, Seville Place, Amiens Street, Portland Row, and Killarney Street) is more than just a meeting point of roads — it’s a meeting point of ideas, voices, and community pride. And that spirit flows into every corner of the festival.
Watch: Don Whycherly in The Life & Times Of Paddy Armstrong
Don Whycherly is absolutely brilliant in The Life & Times Of Paddy Armstrong, which we're delighted to present in this year's festival; whether it's theatre, exhibitions, live music, film, hip-hop battles or imaginative children’s events, there’s something for everyone.
But the Five Lamps Arts Festival isn’t just about two weeks of fun — it’s part of a bigger picture. All year round, the team behind the festival are working in the community, building a safer, more vibrant, and more creative place for people to live and thrive.
So, if you haven’t been yet, or if you’ve only ever passed through the area without stopping to soak in its energy — I highly recommend you check it out. You’ll walk away inspired, connected, and with a renewed appreciation for the incredible talent and heart that this community holds.
The Five Lamps Arts Festival runs from March 24th to April 6th - find out more here.
