It’s our 12th Ukulele Hooley, and we’re really excited to bring you a fun filled musical weekend in August 2023.

Here’s where you will find an overview of what you can expect over the weekend at the Ukulele Hooley. As we are busy planning the festival many of the following details may change, so keep an eye on the website and social media for updates.

The Ukulele Hooley is located at three main locations;

  1. the Ukulele Hooley 2023 Eblana Avenue Festival HQ at Dun Laoghaire’s oldest club, The Eblana,
  2. the Lighthouse Bar, Dun Laoghaire (for the Friday night Meetup, some of the workshops on the Saturday morning and the Open Mic on Saturday evening)
  3. the dlr LexIcon for some workshops on Saturday morning & afternoon.
  4. and on Sunday from 11:30am the main concert event is in the Peoples Park.

We are very grateful to our hosts the Eblana Club for their generosity in making the club available to us for the festival weekend, and to the Lighthouse Bar for their support, and the dlr LexIcon.

Friday 25th August @ the Ukulele Hooley 2023

Friday Night Jam

If you’re around on the Friday night, come join the fun at the Lighthouse Bar. Mark Mangan of Ukulele Tuesday will host a jam upstairs at the Lighthouse Bar, Dún Laoghaire. The fun starts at 8pm.

A super opportunity to meet other ukulele players and kick the weekend off.

Saturday 26th August @ the Ukulele Hooley 2023

Doors open at 10am, and Saturday morning kicks off with a selection selection of workshops with amazing ukulele musicians.

Workshop Schedule 2023

10:30am

IN HARMONY WITH THE BLUES – THE LAVA BIRDS – Lighthouse Bar

CHORD PLUS AND COMPING – ADAM FRANKLIN – dlr LexIcon

12 noon

INTRODUCTION TO FINGERPICKING THE UKULELE – DEL REY – dlr LexIcon

JUG BAND JAM – PHIL DOLEMAN – Lighthouse Bar

Kids & Beginners Workshop

Sheilagh Fox of RUGs’ kids & beginners workshop is on at 1:30pm in the dlr LexIcon. There is no need to register, download & print the songbook and come along. Bring your ukulele with you, or if you’re new to the ukulele come along and we should have some available to play during the workshop. You can download the 2023 Kids Workshop Songbook here.

Join the Ukulele Hooley Flashmob

This year the Harbour Ukuleles are going to lead a flashmob and we’d love you to take part.

Pat Byrne of the Harbour Ukuleles will walk you through the plan and lead a rehearsal of the tune in the Eblana Festival Club at 1pm on Saturday 26th.

After rehearsing the tune you will be guided to the flashmob location which will take place at 2pm.

The flashmob tune will be La Bamba / Twist and Shout and you can Download Flashmob song sheet here

Saturday Stage

We’re excited this year to be continuing the new Saturday Stage introduced in 2022 at the Ukulele Hooley, the Eblana Cabana, hosted by Eoin Killeen of the Dublin Ukulele Collective. Last year the Eblana Cabana was a huge success and we hope you get to join us for this years line-up of super performers.

Kicking off at 2:30pm, we will have amazing ukulele performers to entertain you at the Eblana Avenue Festival HQ until 5pm.

Bus Busk

Afternoon (3pm) the Bus Busk departs, for a trip through South County Dublin via an open top double-decker bus, for a super fun time of ukulele playing and refreshments. Busk hosts Kieran & Conor Rock of RUGs lead music and fun filled afternoon.

Bus Busk registration will be on Saturday 22nd August at the Eblana Avenue Festival HQ, (@ 2.40pm for those that have a ticket). You’ll get a stamp which will confirm you’re checked in to take part in the busk.

During the Bus Busk we will be singing songs from the Hooley song books. These can be downloaded from the website or you can get a copy on Saturday morning, at the festival hub in the Eblana Club.

Open Mic

On the Saturday night we have an Open Mic event, doors (and the list) open at 7pm, with kickoff at 7:30pm. Come along, bring your ukulele and song, and we’ll provide the audience.

All are welcome, just put your name on the list and we’ll call you up when it’s time to perform. Compered by the fabulous Ciaran Allen of RUGs.

After the open mic portion of the evening ends, some of the ukulele artists give a taste of what to expect on at the Sunday Ukulele Hooley concert in the People’s Park.

There is an admission charge of €10 for the Open Mic Night.

The Open Mic Night takes place upstairs at the Lighthouse Bar. (Google Maps)

Sunday 27th August @ the Ukulele Hooley 2023

The main concert event kicks off in the People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire at 11:30am.

We have an amazing lineup of ukulele artists local and international, both new faces to the festival, and some old friends joining us for what promises to be a memorable experience. All times are approximate.

The Ukulele Hooley Big Jam with this years theme of blues related songs will take place during the afternoon.

The Sunday concert comes to an end with the Hooley Raffle final results and the Finale Closing Performance.

Ukulele Hooley Concert RUNNING ORDER 2023

Hooley Afterparty

The concert ends around 6pm, but the fun continues back at the Eblana Avenue Festival HQ at the Eblana, for those looking to continue the ukulele party.