In Dublin, the Liffey does not have a monopoly on water stories. The Tolka, the streams buried beneath the city and the organisms that inhabit its rivers also have plenty to tell. The North Dublin Science Festival gives them a place on the itinerary, alongside researchers from Dublin City University. Explore microplastics, trace water’s path between campuses and even discover swimming films projected onto the façade of a performance venue. It is a chance to look at the north of the capital with fresh curiosity.
Research Ireland presents the festival as a new event within Science Week. It is organised by DCU, with funding from Research Ireland. The aim is to bring research closer to communities in north Dublin and welcome participants who do not necessarily attend science events.
The 2026 edition takes up the national theme Water: From Molecule to Ocean. This framework brings together subjects often considered separately: the environment, everyday uses, health, technology and artistic creation. The programme combines hands-on activities, walks, installations and opportunities to meet researchers.
The event offers the chance to speak with the people who study these subjects, in the very places where some of these questions take shape. How can the condition of a river be assessed? Why does its course matter as much as its water? The activities provide ways to explore these questions without scientific training.
Two events in the programme approach river health from complementary angles. River Health in Action combines water-quality assessment with observation of macroinvertebrates, the small animals without backbones that can be studied in aquatic environments. Reading the River explores hydromorphology: in other words, the form of a watercourse and how it functions physically.
To choose between them, start with what intrigues you. Observing aquatic wildlife will appeal to those who enjoy looking closely at living things, while the study of the watercourse will suit curious visitors keen to understand a river’s shape, banks and habitats. Both activities shed light on the same question: what needs to be observed in order to talk about the health of an environment?
Another event screens the documentary Tolka: This Is Your River, directed by John Gormley, followed by a discussion on restoring urban rivers. It brings together scientific knowledge and the work of communities interested in their local environment.
The DCU Water Walk offers ten stops linking the Glasnevin, St Patrick’s and All Hallows campuses. Created by researcher Jenny Lawler, the route connects everyday places with stories of water research. The route is available on the DCU Water Institute page.
Its stops explore, among other themes, waterways buried by urban development, the role of green spaces in managing rainfall, and the landscapes of the Tolka. Albert College Park and Griffith Park are among the featured locations. The walk provides useful reference points for understanding how water moves through the city, even when it is no longer visible.
Before setting off, consult the official Water Walk route and distinguish between independent exploration and a guided activity requiring registration. If walking, plan your actual route and access to each stop; an indicative duration is no substitute for checking the map.
The Uncover the Invisible World of Plastic Pollution workshop explores microplastics found in water and in certain everyday products. The festival description mentions using a smartphone as a tool for microscopic observation. It is a way of connecting an often abstract environmental issue to a practical experience.
The programme also includes Chorcorallium, an immersive virtual-reality coral reef experience, and Feel the Physics, which focuses on energy loss in the home. These formats offer different entry points: one through visual immersion, the other through understanding a familiar environment.
These experiences are not necessarily intended for the same age groups. If visiting with a child, check the conditions for the virtual-reality session before promising them an underwater adventure. The microplastics workshop and the headset experience require separate bookings when booking is required.
With Fluid Motion, the exterior façade of The Helix, on the Glasnevin campus, becomes home to films by Vanessa Daws and Jane Cassidy. Their work explores swimming, listening and the sensory relationship with water. Screenings run continuously during the advertised time slot, with no booking required.
Here, you can stop by without following a demonstration from beginning to end. The films shift attention towards the swimmer’s experience: their relationship with movement, sound and the element around them. The outdoor screening offers a more flexible option within a programme where several workshops require booking.
The programme also includes Sound & Submersion, an artistic activity in DCU’s swimming pool. This is a separate event: check the participation conditions and required equipment before booking, and do not confuse it with the outdoor screenings.
At Deaf Village Ireland, in Cabra, a video presentation in Irish Sign Language, ISL introduces scientific concepts and their applications. The announced display runs on a loop and does not require booking. ISL is Irish Sign Language; this detail is useful for visitors who use another sign language.
The festival also opens up a discussion about personal data with Who Do THEY Think You Are?, at the Cregan Library on the St Patrick’s campus. This interactive exhibition addresses digital tracking, profiling and the data trade. It complements the environmental discoveries with a very everyday question: what our devices reveal about us.
The festival takes place at several locations in north Dublin. The Glasnevin campus is not the only venue: some events are held in Drumcondra, at the St Patrick’s campus or in Cabra. Use your chosen activity’s listing to plan transport, rather than heading to DCU without a precise address.
Free events may still require a reserved place. Others are advertised as drop-in events. For family visits, check the recommended age, any required accompaniment and the language of the activity; no French translation is announced in the information consulted. For an outdoor activity, follow the equipment guidance provided by the organiser.
Use the links in the official North Dublin Science Festival programme to book your chosen activity. Keep your confirmation and meeting point on your phone: a campus name is not always enough to find a room. For a more flexible visit, the screenings at The Helix and presentations advertised as not requiring booking offer other options.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
Plusieurs lieux dans le nord de Dublin : DCU Glasnevin, campus St Patrick’s, Drumcondra et Deaf Village Ireland à Cabra. Consulter l’adresse de chaque activité., Dublin, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Tourist sites in Ireland
