Nightlife

Dublin’s nightlife is vibrant and strong thanks to the youthful population of the city. Mingle in pubs with students, or grab a concert from an internationally recognized act. The Temple Bar area, just south of the River Liffey is a veritable hotspot of happening pubs and clubs.

For cinema-lovers, two of the best in Dublin are the Savoy Cinema, or the Cineworld Cinema, both north of the Liffey. Special-interest films can be found at the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar.

For drama lovers, theaters that still have productions of Oscar Wilde or William Butler Yeats abound. Check out The Gaiety Theater, Dublin’s oldest, or the Abbey Theater, the National Theater regularly showing popular Irish plays.

Music

Dublin is historically known as a musical city, with traditional music stretching back hundreds of years as well as a vibrant modern scene producing such acts as Thin Lizzy and U2. Live music is easy to find, with concerts, traditional dances, and rocks groups always performing, or more local bands playing in small pubs scattered throughout the city.

The temple bar area, just south of the river Liffey, is home to countless pubs and small music venues, all bursting with lively tunes at night.

Shopping

Dublin’s answer to New York City’s 5th Avenue is Grafton Street, a beautiful marble-paved street with plenty of shopping opportunities. Check out the famous Brown Thomas, (akin to Bloomingdales for New York), and its smaller stores around the city. For those less interested in designer stores, check out Henry Street, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Jervis Shopping Centre, or wander down O’Connell Street for some great bookstores.

Festivals

St. Patrick’s Festival

Dublin holds nothing back for this massive festival, spouting more fun and celebration than anywhere else in the world. It starts with a carnival, street performers, clowns, a fireworks show, flowing beer, and plenty of Irish music and dancing, and it’s all topped off with a fantastic parade of marching bands and colorful floats. Where else does a St. Patrick’s Day celebration last for six days?

Oxegen

This music festival takes place in mid-July and features some of the best bands in the world on multiple stages.

Dublin Horse Show

Drawing top competitors from all over the world, horse enthusiasts will have a hard time resisting this show. Fans of music, shopping, exhibitions, and fashion won’t be disappointed, either.

Bloomday Festival

Dublin is the natural site for a celebration of James Joyce’s character Leopold Bloom and his adventures in Dublin on June 16, 1904. The festival is celebrated all over the world on June 16, but only in Dublin can one actually visit the places from the 20th century novel. Events include various readings, performances, look-alike contests, and many pub visits.

Festival of World Cultures

Featuring artists from over 50 countries, this festival takes place every year in August, and entertains over 200,000 people. Not limited to just concerts, the line-up includes dancing, circus, theater, markets, exhibitions, and even workshops and activities.