A Dublin City Council initiative, events will run online from 9-14 February 2021
Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year celebrations have grown in Dublin over the last 13 years. This year, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and to honour the Year of the Ox, the second symbol in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, the festival will present an exciting programme of online events.
This year’s programme celebrates the strength, resilience and energy of the mighty Ox. Bringing together all cultures and communities who celebrate the Lunar New Year despite the difficult times we have all endured.
A Dublin City Council initiative, each year the festival invites everyone to take part in a programme that includes talks, visual arts, performance, music and family friendly events - the majority of which are completely free.
Bring a little Lunar New Year light into your world this February as Dublin buildings will once again be lighting up red. Online, discover the world of Feng Shui, delve into the history of traders in Dublin, be inspired to try some new recipes and dishes, delight in a gala evening variety show showcasing Chinese and Irish culture, learn to lion dance, take a virtual tour of the National Gallery collection in Mandarin and lots more.
Celebrations
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This year’s programme of events will kick off with a Chinese New Year Opening Gala, on the Tue 9 Feb, 6pm. An exciting variety show presented in partnership with the Chinese Embassy, this event will celebrate the Lunar New Year and the long friendship and ties between two twinning cities, Dublin and Beijing.
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For the sixth year running, Dublin Chinese Lunar New Year is partnering with Tourism Ireland to light up Dublin City red in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Recognisable buildings and landmarks will be lighting up red at 6pm from Thu 11 Feb - Sun 14 Feb.
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The Chester Beatty is delighted to invite young violinist, Daimee Ng, to celebrate the festival, performing Kreisler's Tambourin Chinois and Tchaikovsky Waltz-Scherzo to mark Lunar New Year’s Day (Fri 12 Feb, 12pm).
Taste of Asia
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Asia Market launches a series of Cook at Home Meal Kits in association with China Sichuan to mark the Year of the Ox. These meal kits will be available for purchase in store from Tue 9 - Sun 14 Feb at both Asia Market, Drury Street and Ballymount.
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Join Barry Sun Jian, Head Chef at Volpe Nera, for his take on a classic, beef tartare. At 19 years of age, Barry came to Ireland from China to learn English. From a part-time job as a kitchen porter, he rose through the ranks to be crowned Best Chef in Dublin in 2018 (Thu 11 Feb, 12pm).
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The Ireland China Science and Technology Association invites you to celebrate the Lunar New Year by joining Janet Wang, the author of The Chinese Wine Renaissance in a free virtual wine tasting event with Great Wall wine. Details of how to attend will be released shortly (Sat 13 Feb, 8pm).
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Join Eva Pau from the Asia Market and watch her make New Year dumplings and explain their significance as she shares her family recipes in an online cookery demonstration (Sun 14 Feb, 12 noon).
Interactive Events (for all ages)
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Celebrate the Year of the Ox online with the Dublin City Hugh Lane Gallery as they share short art activity films specially created by their artists. Available for the duration of the festival (Tue 9 - Sun 14 Feb).
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Keep the kids entertained with a variety of Lunar New Year art activities. Available for the duration of the festival (Tue 9 - Sun 14 Feb).
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Join Heather Grey for a fun Lion Mask-making Workshop. Then, follow the kids at Hill Street Family Resource Centre for a 10-step lion dance tutorial from the comfort of your own home (Sat 13 Feb, 12pm).
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Create your own snuff bottle with artist Heather Gray, inspired by the Chester Beatty Chinese collection which you can check out online (Sat 13 Feb, 12pm).
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Take part in an art and mindfulness workshop to learn the basics of Chinese brush painting, as well as some Chinese characters to celebrate the Year of the Ox (Sat 13 Feb, 3pm).
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UCD Confucius Institute invites everyone to help celebrate Chinese New Year by submitting your own video to celebrate the year of the Ox. A selection of these videos will be shown in a creative mini-showcase of Chinese Culture broadcast Sun 14 Feb, 6pm. 20 chosen videos will be awarded 200 euro each. Visit
dublinlunarnewyear.ie for further details.
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Artist Heather Gray holds a special workshop for teens to make a folding book on the theme of the strong and reliable ox. Learn to write the Chinese character for Ox and fill your book with images of this methodical and inspiring animal (Thu 18 Feb, 12 noon)
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Celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Ox with artist Hoi-Shan Mak and learn about Chinese Dragons and their symbolism in a family workshop (Fri 19 Feb, 8pm) and a live Online Watercolour Class for Adults: Flowers, birds and insects in Chinese Painting. €10 per person including booking fee. All proceeds go to support the Chester Beatty (Sat 20 Feb, 12 noon)
Podcasts & Talks & Tours
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Experience Chun Zhu Wang’s Through a Lens Tour in both Chinese and English at the National Gallery of Ireland. Available on the National Gallery website (9-14 February).
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In a special edition of the Three Castles Burning podcast, produced for Dublin Chinese Lunar New Year, explore the Parnell Street and Moore Street areas in the context of how new communities have come to settle there (Wed 10 Feb, 2pm).
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Join Colin Martin, Head of RHA School, for a live conversation and a fresh look at artwork by recent RHA studio artist and painter Jingze Du (Wed 10 Feb, 5:30pm).
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In a new RadioMoLI podcast: Reaching Between Worlds, Cónal Creedon speaks to Yan Ge, the Chinese writer named by People's Literature magazine as one of twenty future Chinese literary masters. Yan Ge's novels include The Chilli Bean Paste Clan, Strange Beasts of China, and White Horse, all of which explore liminality and cracks that lie in the space between spaces (Thu 11 Feb, 2pm).
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A special panel event from the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies exploring three facets of the founding of the People's Republic of China with
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Dr Isabella Jackson: "The Chinese people have stood up!" Anti-imperialism and the founding of the People's Republic.
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Dr Peter Hamilton: A Strong Economy for a Strong Nation: Early State Capitalism in the People's Republic.
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Dr Ning Jiang: New China, New Chinese language: standardising and simplifying Chinese in the new People's Republic.
Chaired by Nathan Hill and taking place on Thu 11 Feb, 6pm
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Listen to some of the heartwarming stories told by Professor Yanyi Blake lecturer in ITT College and vice President of the Irish Chinese Cultural Society, as we learn about the different traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year and what it means to the Chinese community (Thu 18 Feb, 12pm).
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Look at your living space in a whole new light as Nina Kati brings you through Feng Shui for 2021. Comprising a discussion and a Q&A, Nina will be answering questions like, “how can you easily energise the feng shui in your home for the coming year?” and “how do you create more harmony in your family by using feng shui?” (Sun 14 Feb, 3pm).
