Mefis in Dublin

September 1, 2023 7:52 PM

Mrs Jabo and I will be in Dublin for a few days around October 2nd and we want to hear some fine trad music and craic at a non-touristy pub. We are staying near Gardiner Row and Frederick St. but are willing to take a taxi. Years ago, we stayed at Trinity College and explored the area, but now we want something new. Oh… and any good day trips nearby Dublin are also welcome.
posted by jabo to Travel & Transportation around Dublin, Ireland (7 answers total)

The CobbleStone in Smithfield should be good for trad music every night, it’s walkable or you could take the LUAS

For day trips you can take the DART from Connolly station to Howth, it’s well worth doing the cliff walk around the head, having a pint at the summit and eating fish and chips at Beshoffs in the village.

Newgrange is an interesting prehistoric monument that’s a short drive from Dublin.

In the other direction there’s Glendalough!
posted by TwoWordReview at 8:42 PM on September 1, 2023 [4 favorites]

Seconding Matt’s comments on Howth: getting fish and chips at Beshoffs and eating them across the road overlooking the harbour is the best.

You’re staying within a stone’s throw of the Hugh Lane which has a big Andy Warhol exhibition starting on 6 October. That might be the opposite of what you’d be looking to do here but hey!
posted by macdara at 5:30 AM on September 2, 2023

Also, technically you could day-trip to Belfast from Dublin if you’re so inclined. The Enterprise train to/from Connolly takes about 2 1/2 hours each way but there are coach routes that take about the same time and might work better schedule-wise (the last Enterprise out of Belfast is just after 8pm which is not great).
posted by macdara at 5:33 AM on September 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

In the opposite direction, medieval+modern Kilkenny is less train time and a different small town vibe compared to Dublin. There is a castle, caterdral and a nice low-key walk out of town along the river. The tide of tour bus tourists should have ebbed by October. As Macdara notes, Irish Rail is comically under-serviced across the whole country but inter-city buses take up some of the slack.
posted by BobTheScientist at 6:00 AM on September 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

Years ago we heard some great trad in O’Donahues. You might get guidance from them about where else to go.
Have a great time!
posted by dbmcd at 9:57 AM on September 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

I would not bother with a day trip to Belfast from Dublin. There are better, closer options.
posted by knapah at 3:13 PM on September 2, 2023

+1 to Newgrange. It was recommended highly by our Air B&B host on one trip to Dublin. She was on it -- very cool! It is the oldest thing I have stood inside of.
posted by chiefthe at 6:02 PM on September 2, 2023