Dublin NightLife

Dublin NightLife information

Music

Classical Though Dublin is not a particularly renowned centre for classical music there is nonetheless a full programme of orchestral and classical performances at the National Concert Hall and at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre as well as at several smaller venues. National Concert Hall Earlsfort Terrace Tel: +353 (0)1-417-0000 (Box Office) Justifiably claiming to be the country's most prestigious music venue, the NCH attracts the best national and international orchestras and luminaries. Keep an eye out too for a range of events aimed specifically at children that run throughout the year. Tickets from EUR15. Bank of Ireland Arts Centre Foster Place Tel: +353 (0)1-671-2261 The BoI Arts Centre runs a series of charity recitals to raise money for various causes. There are also free lunchtime concerts daily, starting at 13h15 sharp. Tickets: EUR9-10. Modern and Traditional Irish It's just not worth listing music venues for gigs in Dublin as there are so many of them. Many performances of traditional and modern music are casually arranged in pubs all over the city and you should look out for posters and fliers advertising what's on when. However, there are a couple of areas where you're best to start looking. Temple Bar is getting more and more lively, of course, and bars like The Brazen Head often have live music on. Music lovers should also take a look down Leeson Street (the "strip") and Dame Street. The popular music scene is a lively blend of traditional Irish music (often aimed specifically at tourists, though none the worse for that) and the modern pop and rock that is so strong in Irish youth culture. Many venues will host both with bands battling for the best venues and the venues vying for the biggest crowdpullers. International bands, in the past including local boys U2, play at Slane Castle, a large estate outside the city centre. For specific details of performances and venues in advance you should check the local press, especially the music magazine "Hot Press", which covers the whole country as well as Dublin. Entertainment guides In Dublin and Dublin Event Guide also contain music listings.

Theatre

There are several venues offering domestic and international theatre in Dublin and prices are always pretty reasonable, especially when compared to London and other European capitals. It's easily possible to see a good performance of classical theatre for under EUR15 making Dublin a great place to catch some theatre. Three of the best-established venues are listed below: The Abbey Theatre 26 Lower Abbey St Tel: +353 (0)1-878-7222 The Irish Theatre was founded in 1902 by, among others, W B Yeats, and moved to the Abbey in 1966. This is the premier drama theatre in the country and plays a leading role in Ireland's cultural life. Tickets from EUR13. The Gaiety Theatre South King St Tel: +353 (0)1-677-1717 Dublin's oldest theatre, the Gaiety hosts everything from comedy and cabaret, to Shakespeare and the opera. Tickets from EUR13. The Project 39 East Essex St Tel: +353 (0)1-679-6622 There's a lot of new theatre around and The Project is one of the most innovative venues for the dramatic arts in Ireland. Located - naturally - in the Temple Bar, The Project offers performances, workshops and exhibitions making it as much a cultural centre as it is theatre venue. Tickets from EUR10.

Cinema

There are a number of cinemas in Dublin offering mainstream as well as some arthouse films. Irish Film Centre 6 Eustace St, Temple Bar Tel: +353 (0)1-679-5744 Located in the Temple Bar area, the Film Centre not only shows the latest films from around the world, but also houses the national Film Archive. There is a busy programme of events too, so keep an eye out for the latest happenings. Savoy Dublin 16-17 O'Connell St Tel: +353 (0)1-874-6000 A modern multiplex cinema in the centre of the city, showing all the latest Hollywood releases and local films. The Savoy also boasts Ireland's biggest movie screen!

Sports

As the capital, Dublin is home to the national rugby and football teams of Ireland. During the six nations Rugby Union competition in the early part of the year you'll find all eyes turn to the national stadium at Lansdowne Road where Ireland annually hosts any of Scotland, France, England, Wales and Italy. Ballsbridge. Tel: +353 (0)1-647-3800. For something a little more traditional, Croke Park Stadium is the main ground for Ireland's national games of Gaelic football and hurling, the latter said to be the world's oldest field game. Steeped in history, the Gaelic Athletic Association Museum provides an insight into the origins of the sport and brings you up-to-date on current clubs and fixtures. It's also possible to take a stadium tour, allowing you access to the dressing rooms, media centre and pitch. St Josephs Ave. Museum open: Mon-Sat 09h30-17h00; Sun 12h00-17h00. Admission: EUR5.50, adults; EUR3.50, children. Combined ticket for stadium tour and museum: EUR9.50, adults; EUR6, children. Tel: +353 (0)1-819-2323. Tickets to matches can be purchased from the ticket office, Tel: +353 (0)1-836-3222, or from Ticketmaster, Tel: 0818 719 300 (within Republic of Ireland).

Nightclubs

There is still one main place in Dublin for nightlife, and that is Temple Bar. This area of cobbled streets boasts what seems like hundreds of bars and clubs in an amazingly compact section of the city. From night to night it is absolutely packed out with revellers, all enjoying the craic. It has become a popular haunt for hen and stag nights but the atmosphere (almost) always remains spectacularly good-natured considering the number of people that crowd the streets. Although Temple Bar is still the liveliest spot for going out, the Smithfield area is being rapidly redeveloped and, along with tourist attractions like the old Jameson distillery and Smithfield market, there are a number of bars that have sprouted up in the past couple of years. Although there's not lots to see and do at the moment , the area is constantly changing and is definitely the area to watch as far as new nightlife is concerned. Not surprisingly, the club scene is constantly changing. Recent additions worth looking for include Bia Bar (30 Lower Stephen St) where DJs spin a mix of reggae, Brazilian and Latin tunes along with old-school classics. Cocoon (Duke Lane. Tel: +353 (0)1-679-6259) is a cool café by day, transforming into a late-night bar/club from Wednesday to Saturday playing predominantly funk and soul. Once performances have finished at the Gaiety Theatre (South King St. Tel: +353 (0)1-677-1717) on Friday and Saturday nights the doors open at midnight for a club night, with five bars packed out with revellers who come for the live bands and DJs playing soul, funk, reggae and a few salsa tunes. One of the most central - and popular - spots is Club M in Temple Bar (Blooms Hotel, Anglesea St. Tel: +353 (0)1-671-5622), a cavernous club consisting of several bars where you'll hear the latest pop and commercial dance music. One of the best places to see live bands from Dance to Indie is the Temple Bar Music Centre on Curved Street. Lillie's Bordello on Grafton Street is one of the best known haunts in the city and attracts at least minor celebs, although a draconian door policy and a hierarchy of inner sanctums puts a lot of people off. It also means few people can independently verify Lillie's claim that they have so many famous names in there that there must be a revolving door on the VIP lounge. Note that the name refers to the décor rather than the sort of entertainment on offer. Try it, you might like it, but the best nights in Dublin are the ones when you stumble out of a Temple Bar pub and into a Temple Bar club without pausing to check the name - or the guestlist.

Special Events

January You'll know the New Year has arrived when you hear the chimes of Christ Church Cathedral Bells. Crowds can be huge, however, as Dubliners descend on the cathedral from all over the city, so make sure you get there early to mark your ground. March Anytime around St Patrick's Day, is a wonderful time to visit Dublin. Celebrations start the day before with the night-time spectacular, Meet Me By The River, when performers carry lights from the corners of the city to the river Liffey. On arrival at the firework emblazoned river, the drum roll from a hundred drums announces the official arrival of St Patrick's Day. St Patrick's Day itself is a bank holiday throughout Ireland and celebrations in Dublin get off to an early start with the St Patrick's Festival Parade. Join crowds of spectators along the roadside to watch as colourful theatrical pageants, marching bands and dazzling entertainers go by. After the parade bring your dancing shoes along to St Stephen's Green, where you can join over 50000 in the gigantic Ceilidh. Tel: +353 (0)1-676-3205, for full details of all events, or email: info@stpatricksfestival.ie. April Now in its 15th year, the Dublin Film Festival has grown increasingly popular. It's best to book early for a chance to see screenings of national and international premieres, new releases and old classics. May Each May, Dublin gets set to celebrate a weekend of International music during the Heineken Green Energy Dublin International Music Festival. The festival attracts new talent as well as established international acts and is considered the most important international music festival in the capital. As well as live music, there is a street carnival, music seminars and the famous "Band Challenge". Tel: +353 (0)1-605-7700 to find out what 50000 people are raving about. June In June, musicians from across the globe gather in Dublin to compete in the Organ and Choral Festival. As well as the overall competition, there are masterclasses, concerts and lunchtime recitals performed in the beautiful churches, cathedrals and National Concert Hall in Dublin. August A fairly recent arrival on the Dublin calendar is the Witnness Festival, sponsored by Guinness. Already one of the most important music festivals in Ireland the event attracts top names from the international pop scene. September Each year in September, The International Puppet Festival attracts a host of puppeteers from as far afield as Germany, France, Bulgaria and Israel. As well as watching the shows, there is chance to take part in workshops aimed at both adults and children. Tel: +353 (0)1-280-0974 for information and booking details. October Autumn is the perfect time to visit Dublin if you are a theatre lover. During the first two weeks of October, the city plays host to the Dublin Theatre Festival. The cream of Irish and international talent, both new and established, arrive in the city to perform re-works of old classics as well as original works. With performances ranging from puppetry, circus and mime to dance, drama and music, there is sure to be something to suit all tastes and ages. Tel: +353 (0)1-677-8439, for full details. For something a little more off beat, don't miss the Dublin Fringe Theatre Festival. A multitude of acts, including theatre, dance, visual arts and comedy perform in venues and public spaces across the city, attracting a massive audience of people. For your chance to join in the fun call the Dublin Fringe Box Office, Tel: +353 (0)1-679-2320. Watch out for strange happenings late in October as dancers, dragons, monsters, druids and ghosts take to the streets for Samhain (Halloween Parade). As well as the procession that winds its way through the city from Parnell Street to Temple Bar, there will be street performances and a spectacular fireworks display. Celebrations continue well into the night at the Halloween Ball, held at the Irish Film Centre. Tel: +353 (0)1-679-5744 for details and exact dates. December For a bit of last minute Christmas shopping, head for the National Crafts Fair of Ireland, held each year