1.      The Six-Nations Rugby Series. Ireland are defending Grand Slam Rugby Champions for only the second time since 1949 and play three of their five matches at home in Croke Park. Visitors this year will be Italy, (6^th February) Wales (13^th March) and Scotland (20^th March). Any game is good, but the Welsh one is particularly attractive this year as a repeat of the game that clinched the title for Ireland in 2009. This will also be the final series of rugby matches to be played in Croke Park as the IRFU move into their new Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road which only has a capacity of 50,000 compared to 82,000 in Croker. Soak up the wonderful atmosphere that only Dublin can offer on a rugby weekend!

2.      Rod Stewart Concert. Rod Stewart appears at the top concert venue in Dublin, The 02, formerly known as The Point on May 11^th.  One of the world’s great entertainers, Stewart provides a dazzling nights entertainment despite getting on in the years. Probably already sold out but there is always a chance of a second night being added at the last moment. 

3.      The All-Ireland Club Hurling and Football Finals. These are held on the 17^th March each year. This is when the unsung heroes of club football get a chance to shine on the big time stage of Croke Park as they battle it out for the honour of being crowned club champions of Ireland in their respective codes.

4.      St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The annual party in honour of our patron saint takes place from the 12^th until the 17^th March with a huge variety of entertainment to please young and old culminating in the St Patrick’s Day Parade through the streets of Dublin on March 17^th. A now traditional end to the festival is the massive fireworks display that takes place down by the River Liffey on the night of March 17^th.

5.  The Dublin Handel Festival. This is an annual event that takes place every April to bring to life the connections between Handel and the City of Dublin for Dubliners, Irish people and international visitors, through a week long programme that celebrates the cultural riches of the 18th century in a modern and contemporary context. This year it is on from the 10^th to the 13^th April at the National Concert Hall.

6. The Phoenix Park Motor Races. Following the highly successful running of the 2009 Phoenix Park Motor Races, a chance to feel like you are at the Silverstone Grand Prix arrives on the 14^th and 15th August. The circuit to be used for the 2010 races will be the Oldtown Circuit, with a change to Mountjoy Corner.

7.   The All-Ireland County Football and Hurling Finals. The two really glamour days of the year for the GAA occur on the 5^th and 17^th September as Croke Parks holds two of the great days of the year in Dublin. Kilkenny are defending 2009 hurling champions and Kerry is their football equivalent. What bets the two are not there again in 2010?

8.  Adidas Dublin City Marathon. Now firmly established as one of the great marathon races of the world, the Dublin City Marathon, sponsored by Adidas, takes on the 25^th October 2010, which is the October Bank Holiday Monday. The race provides a wonderful atmosphere whilst raising huge money for worth charities.

9. Dublin Horse Show. The Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is a wonderful week of showjumping for both professional and amateur participants, which attracts thousands of spectators and hundreds of competitors to the RDS in Ballsbridge. The 2010 event runs from the 4^th August to the 8^th of August 

10.  The Flora Women's Mini Marathon. This annual event which will be held on the 7^th June 2010 is the biggest all women's event of its kind in the world. It has grown steadily in numbers since it began in 1983 with its popularity increasing significantly over the last few years. Over those years some 600,000 women have entered the event and raised millions for charity in the process