Entertainment
Although Dublin has a number of theatres, cinemas, night clubs and rock venues, what sets the city apart from other European capitals is its pubs. Lively banter, impromptu music sessions and great Guinness are essential
ingredients for an enjoyable night out in any one of dozens of lively, atmospheric pubs in Dublin.
One of the most popular entertainment districts is the Temple Bar area. Along its narraw network of cobbled streets you can find everything from traditional music in grand old pubs to the latest dance tracks in a post industrial setting. The variety of venues makes the centre south of the Liffey the place to be at night, although the north side does boast two of the most illustrious theatres, including The Point which can hold up to 8.500 people. It is the favourite venue for all major rock concerts and stage musicals, as well as classical music events.
Dublin Theatres
The most famous of these is Ireland’s national theatre, the Abbey, which concentrates on major new Irish productions as well as revivals of works by Irish playwrights such as Sean O’Casey, JM Synge, WB Yeats and Brendan Behan. The smaller Peacock Theatre downstairs covers more experimental work.
On the north side you will find the Gate Theatre, founded in 1929 and noted for its interpretations of well known international plays. The main venue south of the Liffey, the Gaiety Theatre stages a mainstream mix of plays, emphasizing the work of Irish playwrights.
Traditional Music and Dance
To many Irish people the standard of music in a pub is just as important as the quality of the Guinness. Central Dublin has a host of pubs reverberating to the sound of Bodhrans, fiddles and uilleann pipes. One of the most famous is O’Donoghue’s, where the legendary Dubliners started out in the early 1960s. Cobblestones and Mother Redcap’s tavern are also worth a visit.
Nightclubs
Dublin’s clublife was unremarkable until a cluster of new venues opened in the early 1990s. POD (Place of Dance) first opened in 1993 in the vaults of an old historic railway station. It attracts visiting celebrities and stars taking time out from their film or video shoots in the city.
Ri Ra (Irish for uproar) is a venue at the cutting edge of dance music and Lillie’s Bordello caters more for the mainstream dance sound.
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