Dublin Things to Do

With its penchant for lively Irish dancing and beer-fuelled pub sing-alongs, it’s no surprise that Dublin’s music scene makes a popular haunt for music lovers. While music fans will find plenty of variety in the Irish capital, most popular is the chance to watch some traditional Irish music and many of the city’s historic pubs host live music sessions.

With its heavy drinking reputation and abundance of bars, pubs and clubs, Dublin’s nightlife is legendary and whether you’re looking to listen to live music, tour the city’s historic pubs or dance until the early hours, there are options to suit all tastes. The party atmosphere is in full swing during the city’s annual festivals, especially St Patrick’s Day, but whenever you arrive in Dublin, they’ll always be a good excuse for a pint, or several, of Ireland’s national brew, Guinness.

From January 25-29th, 2012 the 7th annual Irish Music and Culture Festival will bring Temple Bar and the rest of Dublin alive during the cold days and dark nights of winter.

Headline concerts will be held in some of Dublin’s landmark buildings, with performances at the nearly 1,000-year-old Christ Church Cathedral, including The Dubliners 50th anniversary concert and Ralph McTell. Plus lunchtime and intimate evening concerts of Irish music at Dublin’s City Hall, including some of Ireland’s leading musicians such as Voices and Harps, featuring Moya Brennan.

Ireland is famous for its music: jigs, polkas, reels. The harp, the accordion, the fiddle. Traditionally, Irish music was based in the community or the extended family; you invited people over for a seisiun (Irish for session), they brought their instruments and everyone played or tapped their feet in appreciation. Tunes were played by ear, memorized, passed down the generations. But as with so many things, the 20th century brought some changes.

These are places in Dublin where you’ll find the locals having a pint, a coffee or a meal. Dubliners are all about getting out and about and socializing over good food and drink, the craic as they call it. Here are a few places to find them.

No trip to Ireland would be complete without a trip to a good Irish pub. Luckily, The Stag’s Head Pub is right in the heart of Dublin but it is a hidden gem. This means that those propped on the stools around the bar tend to actually have Irish accents, not American or Australian or any other backpacking nation, even in the height of tourist season.