October is Hobby Month in South Dublin – Discover, Create, and Celebrate!

As the evenings grow longer and the autumn chill settles in, October brings the perfect opportunity to discover a new passion or simply enjoy watching others pursue theirs. Whether you’re looking to brighten up the darker nights and shorter weekends with creativity, curiosity, or a dash of adrenaline, South Dublin County Council’s Hobby Month is bursting with excitement and inspiration for everyone.

This October, South Dublin transforms into a hub of hobbies and hands-on fun. From the awe-inspiring world of LEGO at Dublin BrickCon, to the imaginative realms of science fiction at Octocon, the county offers a vibrant calendar of events for builders, readers, modellers, and robotics enthusiasts alike.

For those who love detail and craftsmanship, the IPMS National Exhibition in Lucan’s Spa Hotel showcases the very best in scale modelling this weekend 4th and 5th of October, while on the same weekend, Robo Riots brings electrifying robot battles to life, at the National Basketball Arena, right here in our county.

The following weekend, enthusiasts can marvel at LEGO masterpieces at Dublin BrickCon in the National Basketball Arena, or thrill meeting fellow science fiction fans at Octocon in Tallaght’s Maldron Hotel.

Each of these events have availed of South Dublin County Council’s Tourism Event and Festival Grant funding scheme “This scheme aims is to fund innovative events and festivals that are supported by local businesses and communities which will add value to the County’s tourism product, attract both domestic and overseas visitors, and have a positive impact on Tourism growth and the South Dublin economy.” , said Ralph McGarry, from South Dublin County Council.  

“Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, was approved an offer of assistance from South Dublin County Council’s County Promotion Unit under their Tourism Event and Festival Grant for this year’s event. This grant will help us to put on additional workshops and talks for our attendees, with topics including writing your own comic, book-binding, and turning ideas into stories,” said co-Chairs Catherine Sharp and Kat Dodd of Octocon. “The application details are on the Council’s website and the process was very easy to navigate. I would like to thank SDCC for their belief and support in this event.”

Dave Heffernan, Co-founder and CEO of Brick Con Ireland said “The support from SDCC has been invaluable in helping us run Dublin Brick Con. Their tourism grant allows us to cover essential costs enabling us to focus on providing a high-quality experience for the local and broader community, ensuring the event is accessible, enjoyable and successful. The application process via their website was easy to navigate and communications with the County Promotion Unit have been flawless. On behalf of Dublin Brick Con, I would like to thank SDCC for making the convention a success year on year.”

So, whether you’re eager to try something new or simply want to see the incredible creativity of your neighbours, October in South Dublin promises something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss your chance to get involved, be inspired, and make this autumn unforgettable!

For more information on events, visit the South Dublin County Council website.