A Festival-staple and must-see; we invite you to pop-by — or indeed, spend the day with us — at the Museum of Liverpool (Pier Head). There, we’ve a veritable array of activity to entertain kids (and adults) of all ages.
The Armagh Rhymers return with their (exclusive to the Festival) Liver Bird story helping to understand how the First Nations people of North America helped the Irish during The Great Hunger. We’ll introduce visitors to Little Globy, a carbon boffin and a global ambassador for green action. The Bolger-Cunningham Dance School will give it their all in the morning, before the George Ferguson School for Irish Dance produce junior and senior dance sets, whilst Melody Makers and Comhaltas will bring their intergenerational group to play in the space. You’ll also be able to collect a Brave Maeve Tir Na nÓg map. The day puts the Irish of Liverpool at the heart of everything; the programme, the Museum and the city.
The Family Day is sponsored by Tourism Ireland and held in partnership with National Museums Liverpool. As part of the Family programme, you might also like the Samhain Céilí (Sun 26 Oct).
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This 2-hour walk through the former heartland of Liverpool’s Irish community considers schools, statues and graveyards.
It explores what remains of the area’s rich heritage, rousing some old ghosts along the way.
Led by historian Greg Quiery, this walk explores the dense history of a world-famous district. Featuring stories of heroic men and women; footballers and rock stars; two hidden statues; a graveyard and the legends of ‘Dandy Pat’ and James Carling. The walk ends at St Anthony’s Church, a short bus ride from town.
Those interested in this walk, may also be interested in the in-person South Liverpool walk (see event listing and book early to avoid disappointment) or the self-guided Liverpool Irish Famine Trail liverpoolirishfaminetrail.com, accompanied by the Festival’s books Revive and Reveal, available online at liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop.
This in an outdoor walk in October; please be weather prepared, comfortable and hydrated.
Ticket holders should join Greg outside Liverpool Central Library ready for the walk start time.
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On this 2-hour walk you’ll discover Irish connections to many of the historic Hope Street and Rodney Street buildings, hearing from some of the colourful characters who populated them.
Led by historian Greg Quiery, early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Anyone interested in this may also like the in-person Scotland Road walk (see event listing) or the self-guided Liverpool Irish Famine Trail liverpoolirishfaminetrail.com, accompanied by the Festival’s books Revive and Reveal, available online at liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop.
This is an outdoor walk in October; please be weather prepared, comfortable and hydrated.
Ticket holders should join Greg at the Liverpool Irish Famine memorial in the garden of St Luke’s Bombed Out Church for the walk start time.
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In 2021, Liverpool Irish Festival began our custodianship of the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail. We formed a volunteer History Research Group (who’ve since undertaken 1,700+ hours of research) and released two books: Revive and Reveal (available in the Museum’s gift shop or here: liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop/).
Having trained in tour creation and management – and thoroughly researched the Irish objects on display in Museum of Liverpool – the History Research Group now lead tours of the Museum of Liverpool’s Irish objects. Using live-link headsets, visitors will be guided through the collections, homing in on Irish objects. These headsets work over hearing aids.
These in-person tours additionally take in the Pilotage Building, just outside the Museum. Tours are anticipated to take approximately 45-60mins, depending on audience questions. These activities have been made possible with funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
People who’d like to visit the Irish objects tour in a self-guided trail (no booking needed) can use the guide map online liverpoolirishfestival.com/events/self-guided-irish-trail/ or may collect paper maps (for free) from leaflet holders in the Museum’s foyer.
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2pm & 6pm
Perfect for brave children aged 9+ and their families.
From the Team that brought you When Another Dragon Roars
Do you enjoy stories about ghosts, witches, and things that go bump in the night? You do?
Then join Edward and Martha Creep as they share terrifying tales that will make you gasp, gawp, and grin.
Please say you’ll come, we’re dying to meet you!
Featuring Altered Scale Theatre’s outstanding puppetry and Petite Ullaloom’s unique storytelling, Spooky Tales is a Halloween treat!
Matthew Kelly and George Costigan star in a new staging of Samuel Beckett’s classic play – in which absolutely nothing happens.
Set in a shifting, timeless landscape, Waiting for Godot follows two men, Vladimir and Estragon, as they wait for someone who may never come. As they pass the time with scraps of conversation, moments of tenderness and flashes of dark humour, their story becomes a moving reflection on what it means to keep going in a world that rarely offers answers.
Beckett’s timeless play endures as one of the defining works of the 20th century and returns to our stage in all its strange, funny and heart-breaking brilliance. Darkly comic and deeply moving, Waiting for Godot is a profound exploration of what it means to be human – even when the waiting never ends.
The fourth in our sell-out Corkers series takes a step down a darkling path.
Joining Trev Fleming, our amazing storyteller, will be Dr Alex Carabine PhD, the Gothic Academic with a Dark Aesthetic.
Dr Carabine will lend her scholarly insight into our pairings, delving into the archives to unearth ghastly tales of the undead, blood drinkers and the macabre for your delectation.
We will be pairing delicious Red varietals with these ancient and horrific stories, curated by the inestimable R&H Fine Wines.
Definitely not for the faint of heart, Corkers: Blood and Wine will chill your bones and tear your soul… Cheeseboards optional.
Step into a world of imagination at this immersive storytelling session celebrating Where the Jellyfish Dance and the Sandstone Whispers, a storybook by Catherine Haines, Alex Bishop and Kohenoor Kamal as part of Liverpool Biennial.
Families are invited to join Sammy the Seagull, a curious bird exploring his home city of Liverpool. Through playful storytelling, Sammy’s journey will come to life with interactive props created by artists from Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s inclusive arts programme. You can take home a free copy of the illustrated book which includes activities. You can even add your own voice to the story!
Sessions are approximately 30 minutes long.
Free family-friendly event as part of Liverpool Biennial
Artists from Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s inclusive arts project have spent time exploring the biodiversity of our garden, a wildlife haven in the city.
Nestled amongst the greenery, they have created 12 nature houses celebrating birds and insects commonly found in the Bluecoat garden.
Pick up your free field guide from our information desk and head out to our Garden to learn more about the species that call our garden home and earn your Nature Spotter Challenge stamp.
Supported by The Community Foundation for Merseyside: BHP Billiton Endowment Fund.
From Sat 9 AugFree entry
The Bluecoat is the UK’s oldest arts centre, with a century-long history presenting contemporary art. This illustrated talk by its Director of Cultural Legacies, Bryan Biggs, explores the theme of art and nature through the lens of the building’s 300-year history and artists who have worked or exhibited there, drawing on material from the Bluecoat archive. From trees planted at the front of the building and the rear court being landscaped into a popular garden oasis in the city centre, to artists whose work exhibited at the venue explores the natural world, the arts centre’s connections to nature are revealed.
This event is part of Art History Festival 2025 organised by the Association for Art History.
Thu 18 Sep, 6pmFree, booking required
