In Irish history, nothing goes hand in hand more so than music and drinking. Both rural pubs and Dublin bars alike will often have traditional Irish music to accompany a pint, but when you’re in the city, it can be harder to get the full picture of how Irish music fits into our culture. If you’re looking for a walking tour that gives you that little bit extra and really fosters a social atmosphere among the troops, then sign yourself up for the Traditional Irish Music Pub Crawl in Temple Bar.
The Oliver St. John Gogarty — Photo courtesy of Psyberartist
A rotating pair of musical guests will play host as they take you around three of Dublin’s quintessentially Irish pubs and treat you to stories and songs about Irish music as you grab a drink and sing along. The tour begins at the Oliver St. John Gogarty before heading to private rooms at one of the following famous Irish drinking holes: The Isolde Towers, The Ha’penny Bridge Inn, The Chancery, The Palace Bar or The Legal Eagle.
The talks are well researched, and all who attend this tour compliment the music highly– these guys have gone the extra mile to ensure that participants learn a thing or two on top of being entertained. You can expect to find out technical details about traditional music along with historical influences and connections to contemporary musical culture, all within the walls of some genuine Irish pubs that have the history to match their interiors, unlike the inauthentic ‘Authentic Irish Pub’ one sees in practically every city on earth.
Temple Bar — Photo courtesy of barnacles hostel
This tour lasts two and a half hours and begins at 7.30 pm. You’ll end up within walking distance of your starting pub, and as long as you've been drinking responsibly, you shouldn't have too much difficulty heading back to your point of origin. Once back in Temple Bar, you can continue to seek out new places to enjoy traditional Irish music in pubs such as The Porterhouse, Teac Na Ceibe and many of the other establishments that line the streets in this vibrant and exciting area of town.
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and, as ever, prepare for an inclement change in the weather, even if you are nearby to your next destination. The tour comes in at a reasonable €12, although you’ll have to buy your own drinks.
