Dublin City Council and the North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC) are delighted to announce the return of SWELLFEST, a free family festival celebrating all things sports and wellness. Building on last year’s successful event, this year’s festival will take place in the iconic Mountjoy Square Park on Saturday, 13th September, from 12pm to 6pm.
Swellfest is an inclusive, open-to-all event designed to inspire the local community and visitors to come together, try something new, and nurture a love for established favourite activities. The jam-packed programme encourages people of all ages and abilities to get involved in a huge range of sports activities, wellness talks, and demos.
Speaking at the launch of the event, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam said “It is with immense pleasure that I welcome the return of Swellfest to the historic Mountjoy Square Park. This fantastic event, delivered by Dublin City Council and the North East Inner City Initiative, truly captures the vibrant spirit of our city. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together, embrace a healthy and active lifestyle, and discover new passions. I am thrilled to officially welcome all Dubliners and visitors to join us for what promises to be an exciting and memorable day for the whole family.”
Jim Gavin, Independent Chair of the NEIC who organise the event, added, “Swellfest is a powerful showcase of the incredible community spirit and sporting talent we have right here in the North East Inner City. The NEIC is proud to fund and support a vast array of local sports clubs that do phenomenal work year-round. I am particularly looking forward to seeing the many excellent clubs supported by the NEIC display the remarkable skill and dedication of their members and coaches. This event is a true celebration of their hard work and the positive impact they have on our community.”
Attendees can expect a diverse lineup of activities throughout the day, including:
- An on-site Climbing Wall with fully trained instructors.
- A BMX Demo area and a Skateboarding Zone to marvel at skills and stunts.
- Workshops and classes on park workouts from calisthenics experts.
- A GAA Handball Nursery and Little Fitness Health & Wellness Classes for younger sports fans.
- Showcases and demos from local boxing clubs, wrestlers, and martial arts experts in Aikido and Taekwondo.
- Parkour demonstrations and cycling challenges in a dedicated bike zone.
- Opportunities to shoot hoops with basketball aficionados and get involved in footie at the football zone.
- Dance fitness sessions including Zumba, Baby Rave, and Reggae.
- A “Little Fit Zone” for under 10s with kids’ yoga and meditation.
- A host of wellness and health-based talks, blissful sound bath healing, sleep well meditation sessions, and healthy cooking demos.
For more information and updates, visit www.neic.ie and www.dublin.ie or follow the conversation online with the hashtag #swellfest.
