Over the years lots of famous people have temporarily made their home in Dublin. One of these was George Frederic Handel, who took lodgings on Abbey Street, Dublin 2. On April 13th, 1742 the composer attended the charity premiere of his new work, The Messiah, in the recently opened Neale's Musick-Hall in Fishamble Street.
To mark this event, and in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, the Dublin Handel Festival will take place from April 13th-19th. A full programme of Baroque-themed activities including concerts, theatre workshops, tours, talks, family activities and the performance of newly-commissioned work, will take place in and around Temple Bar. The festival opens with a performance of the hugely popular Messiah on the Street(pictured). Other highlights include a dramatic staging of Handel's Crossing, by Joseph O'Connor, a re-enactment of Handel's arrival in Dublin in 1742, taking place on board the famine ship, the Jeanie Johnston. To book tickets for an event, see www.templebar.ie, call the Box Office Culture Line on 01-8883610, or visit the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.