by Saoirse Anton

Somehow, even though it was January just yesterday, time has marched on and March is upon us. Soon enough little bundles of shamrock will be sitting by the tills in the newsagent’s, a wave of green, white and orange plastic tat will fill shop shelves, and rivers and landmarks will be vibrantly green as we, and much of the rest of the world, mark St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a holiday that sees Ireland celebrated across the globe, with Irish artists, politicians, and celebrities all over the world performing, posing for photos, and promoting Irish culture.

If you are looking to celebrate Irish culture this March, look no further than our stages. Across the country there is a smorgasbord of Irish talent treading the boards this month. Read on for a few of my recommendations.

Night Dances

Throughout March, Emma Martin/United Fall’s Night Dances will be dancing its way across the country.

First produced in 2021 as part of Dublin Theatre Festival, Night Dances is described as a show that is “not about something, it’s for something.” A series of dance poems that explore the invisible links that connect us all, looking to the future and existing in the present, Night Dances promises an exhilarating, engaging ode to humanity, the body and dance.

Night Dances is touring across Ireland until the 29th March.

Immram

Immram is a type of story in Irish myth that describes the journey of a character into the afterlife, and the adventures that happen along the way. In this instance, Immram is a series of poems by Nuala ní Dhomnaill, originally published in 1991 and set to music in 2019 by Neil Ó Lochlainn. Blending traditional Irish and sean-nós influences with jazz and contemporary classical styles, this cross-genre work is sure to captivate its audience.

Immram is at An Taibhdhearc on the 8th March.

Padraig Potts

A coming of age story set in rural Ireland of the 1970s and 80s, this one man show from Seamus O’Rourke blends humour, heartbreak and youthful indecision as Padraig Potts wades through his past, accompanied by a chorus of colourful characters. If you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia for an Ireland of decades ago, this is one place to find it.

Padraig Potts runs at the Viking Theatre, Clontarf from the 7th to the 15th March.

Ivy

From Ireland of the 70s and 80s, up to the present day, Ivy addresses the very current question of hidden homelessness and the housing crisis. Telling the story of Ivy as she observes the sketchbook of her life unfolding on the wall opposite the window of her boxroom in an overcrowded house share. Promising a hopeful, darkly humorous look at an issue that is all too familiar to many people in Ireland, Ivy looks like an interesting production worth catching.

Ivy runs at the New Theatre, Dublin from the 25th to 29th March.

Disrupt Festival

I was grouching about the fact that I won’t make it to Dublin for any events in Disrupt Festival, an exciting festival jam packed with interesting events curated by and for the disability community, when I realised that the festival has every event streamed online too! From Porcelain Delaney’s play Toilet Paper Diaries, to a disability inclusion workshop with Al Bellamy, to an ISL interpreted closing night dance party with Sarah-Jane O’Regan, the programme is full to the brim of brilliant events.

Disrupt runs at Project Arts Centre from the 6th to the 8th March.

For the Love of Milseán

If you’re looking for a way to get a cúpla focail in during Seachtain na Gaeilge, look no further than guerilla Irish language enthusiast Áine Gallagher and her new show For the Love of Milseán. Telling stories of making mistakes, meeting Michael D Higgins and learning Irish, this show promises to be “a comedy experience that is bilingual and that guarantees to reignite your grá for the language and unlock your cúpla focal, even if you don’t know a word.”

For the Love of Milseán runs at the Town Hall Theatre Galway on the 14th and 15th March.

Whether you pick one of my recommendations, or head down to your local venue to pick up a programme and forge your own path, book yourself a ticket and show Irish theatre some grá this month!