Sunshine, a brass band, French Cancan, crêpes and children’s activities: on Tuesday 14 July, The Church was once again decked out in the colours of France. This 12th edition of Bastille Day Ireland brought together families, friends and curious visitors for a festive day in the heart of Dublin, despite a slightly less cheerful end to the evening on the football pitch.
A French holiday atmosphere in the heart of Dublin
There are days when the Irish weather gets the memo perfectly. For Bastille Day Ireland 2026, Dublin woke up to clear blue skies, with temperatures reaching around 26°C in the afternoon and ideal conditions for enjoying The Church’s terrace.
From the beginning of the afternoon, French tricolour flags, outdoor tables and the first notes of music gave the famous Dublin 1 venue the atmosphere of a village square on a festive day. French people living in Ireland, Franco-Irish families, French speakers and curious Dubliners came together to celebrate 14 July in a relaxed atmosphere.
Organised by Le Petit Journal Dublin and French Friday, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Ireland and with the support of Alliance Française Dublin, the event once again followed a simple format: everyone was free to arrive whenever they wished and stay for a few hours or for the entire day.
Children take centre stage in the afternoon
One of the great successes of this year’s event was its family-friendly dimension, which clearly found its audience.
The face-painting and balloon-modelling stands, set up during the afternoon, were rarely empty. The face painter and balloon artist quickly became a hit with children, who were eager to leave with a colourful face or a balloon creation under their arm.
Butterflies, animals, flowers, characters and French flags gradually appeared across the terrace. It was a reminder that France’s National Day can also be celebrated far from official parades, with a few brushstrokes, balloons and plenty of smiles.
Younger visitors were also able to discover the Bayard Monde stand, one of the event’s partners. French-language books and magazines were presented to families, offering a moment dedicated to reading and passing on the French language.
This combination of entertaining activities, culture and conviviality allowed families to fully enjoy the day in a lively environment that remained accessible to every generation.
Les Anchahuteurs bring The Church to life
Highly anticipated, the French brass band Les Anchahuteurs played a major role in shaping the atmosphere of this year’s event.
Travelling from the Nantes region, the band performed three 45-minute sets during the afternoon and early evening. With their saxophones, percussion instruments and particularly danceable repertoire, the musicians quickly created a genuine connection with the audience.
Les Anchahuteurs did not simply perform in front of the participants. They moved around the venue, interacted with spectators and drew the most enthusiastic members of the audience into their energy. The crowd responded by dancing, applauding and regularly taking out their phones to capture the performance.
The music even travelled beyond the walls of The Church. Many passers-by stopped outside the venue, intrigued by the rhythms and the lively scenes visible on the terrace.
It was a wonderful way to bring a little of the 14 July celebrations into the day of Dubliners, including those who had not originally planned to attend the event!
A touch of French Cancan on the terrace
The French Cancan dancers also brought plenty of energy to the day.
With their colourful costumes, fast-paced choreography and famous high kicks, they delivered several particularly energetic moments. Their presence, combined with the music of the brass band, reinforced the distinctly French atmosphere of the event.
A French menu and crêpes complete the celebrations
It would be difficult to imagine a successful 14 July celebration without a few French specialities.
Throughout the day, participants were able to discover the menu specially prepared by The Church’s team. This French offering allowed visitors to extend the experience over lunch or dinner while continuing to enjoy the different activities.
The Bon Appétit crêpe stand was also a great success. Sweet, freshly prepared and enjoyed in the sunshine, the crêpes accompanied participants throughout the afternoon.
Between two brass-band sets, a face-painting session or a few dance steps, everyone could take a well-earned gourmet break. It was a simple but highly effective combination: music, sunshine and a freshly made crêpe.
A highly anticipated World Cup evening
The day ended with another major occasion: the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain.
Several television screens had been installed so that participants could follow the match. As kick-off approached, the crowd gathered in front of the screens, hoping to conclude this blue, white and red day with a French qualification.
A victory for Les Bleus would, of course, have provided the perfect ending, extending the evening and delivering a symbolic sporting firework display to conclude the 14 July celebrations.
Unfortunately, Spain had other ideas, winning 2-0 and bringing France’s World Cup campaign to an end in the semi-finals. The disappointment was visible at the final whistle, but it did not erase the many memorable moments enjoyed since the beginning of the afternoon.
Another successful edition of Bastille Day Ireland
This 12th edition of Bastille Day Ireland will be remembered as a particularly sunny, family-friendly and welcoming day.
The children’s activities found an enthusiastic audience, Les Anchahuteurs had The Church dancing throughout three generous sets, the French Cancan dancers attracted plenty of attention and camera phones, while the French menu and crêpes completed the celebrations in fitting style.
Bastille Day Ireland once again fulfilled its mission: bringing together the French, French-speaking, Francophile and Irish communities around a free, popular event open to everyone.
The event received exceptional support from our partners: Bayard Monde, Excuse My French, Chez Max, FLAM Dublin, Language Exchange Ireland, and Alliance Française Dublin.
L'annuaire 
