Hi everyone,
I'm back for my second post. We will be in Dublin for one nightand one night only! We are ferrying from Holyhead on a Monday night, will stop into a pub for dinner and a pint, and then take a late bus to Belfast. I want to make the most of our one night in Dublin. I'd like to stop in a pub that is historic and has character, has good food, and will likely feature live music. We are not foodies so the food doesn't have to be perfect, but we'd like the local fare. And when I say live music, I am thinking more along the lines of the impromptu kind, not just a scheduled band. The pub has to be right in downtown Dublin since we will be coming from the ferry and then walking to Busaras station. There will be 4 of usmy husband and me and our teenage daughters. We watched the PBS special "Historic Pubs of Dublin" with Frank McCourt but still haven't made up our minds. I know everyone probably has strong opinions about this, so make your case for your favorite pub! Thank you!
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
Not my favorite but meets all your criteria, The Brazen Head.
Oldest pub in Dublin.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Take a literary pub crawl, they will take you to some reasonably good choices.
Posted by
Dublin, Ireland
105 posts
What time is your bus to Belfast, most unlikely that you will encounter a seisiún (pronounced seshoon) if you are getting a bus that night, these generally wouldn't kick off before 10pm at the earliest. O'Donoghues in Merrion Row (where The Dubliners started their careers) would be my suggestion, although it's a little bit away from Busaras where presumably you will be getting your bus to Belfast. O'Donoghues don't do food (I think) but O'Reillys/Foleys across the road do food. O'Donoghues is situated in my favourite stretch of Dublin, with a few other of what I would consider to be class pubs like Toners and Doheny & Nesbitts. Closer to Busaras you have The Palace in Fleet Street (the only pub I'd recommend in Temple Bar), no music there though. O'Sheas in Talbot Street might be a good choice, they do food, think they do music (organised though) and it's within a couple of minutes of Busaras. Brazen Head's a good pub too, a bit of a stroll though to Busaras. Enjoy your stay, and come back to visit these and more.
Posted by
Modesto, California
101 posts
Let me suggest Oliver St. John Gogarty's. Right in the heart of Temple Bar, great beer and lots of live music (including those all-important Celtic sessions). I didn't have the food so I cannot attest to that and you should expect a mix of locals and tourists but our evening there remains among my most treasured of our trip to Ireland.
Posted by
wichita, kansas
484 posts
If you are staying near the bus station(Busaras) O'Sheas is very close. It is at the intersection of Talbot and Lower Gardiner streets. Food and music are both good, not great, but good. If you go to www.nci.ie and click on live Dublin view you will see the intersection and the front door of O'Sheas. At one time they rented rooms but don't know if they still do or not.
Posted by
OP
Decatur, GA, USA
24 posts
Thanks everyone! I know we need to spend more time in Dublin and hope to do so next time! I appreciate the suggestions.
Posted by
Arlington, TX, USA
281 posts
One non-pub related tip. I would not mention Frank McCourt
as he is not well regarded in Ireland.
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
@Paula in some parts of Eire neither is The Queen. The author is dead, whether the Irish liked the man is irrelevant.
An alive Frank McCourt, no relation, is hated in LA. Also irrelevant.