The importance of music in the hearts of the Irish can be seen in the Irish harp emblem. The harp is one of the most important symbols of Ireland, along with the stout. Today Dublin is an important musical centre in Europe, with an unshakable presence in both folk and pop music. Fans of U2, Westlife and Boyzone will have no trouble finding their idols here, while travellers with a taste for female harmonies and solos will be able to find a concert.
“Fun, music and beer" are the cultural hallmarks of coming to Ireland. Even in very rural towns where you can't even find a hotel, you'll still find an Irish pub every 100 metres, and when you come to the music town of Dublin, you must drink beer and sway to the music. Which nostalgic music bars do you recommend? Where can you hear Irish niche music? Where did Redhead Ed, Jeff Buckley and other Irish musicians get their start? What are some of the best old Irish pubs with a literary flavour?
If you're new to Ireland, Temple Bar in Dublin city centre is the best way to experience the classic Irish pub scene first hand, but for a more intimate glimpse into the arts and culture of Dubliners, the D2 to D6 areas south of Dublin city centre are perfect!
Combining café, bar, music and creative space, The Bernard Shaw was founded in 2006 by Dublin's leading music label, Body Tonic, and has become one of the most popular bars in the city for its guaranteed music taste and free and unfettered sub-cultural atmosphere.
Famous for the two musical scenes in the film PS I Love You, Whelans has been an old country-style traditional Irish pub in downtown Dublin for almost 30 years and is the birthplace of many famous Irish musicians (including Redhead Ed, Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave and others).
On the ground floor, the 90's Diso and Funck dance music is served up, and people from all over the world sing along to September by Earth, Wind & Fire, so you won't feel alone when you go for a drink at Whelans.
Anseo means 'here' in Irish and is one of a hundred cosy pubs across the city. The average age group is around 30-40 and it's a great place to sit down with a group of friends on a Friday night after work and relax and chat. The DJ on the ground floor has great taste in music, always playing old 60s-80s music in a very up-to-date way, and you can't help but ask him five or six times a night what the song is.
The first floor is a free space for local bands to play experimental noise, and there will probably only be ten people in the room (including the sound crew), but three of them (including the sound crew) might even come on stage as musicians in the second half. Several people I asked said they were really comfortable here (they could stretch their legs and talk to the band); entry to the show is basically free, but most listeners will pay €5 if they like a band to show their support. The people who come to Anseo are usually the most out-of-the-way music lovers in the city, and every time they come here they feel like they're entering a mysterious space that's out of touch with the rest of the world, like the lineu from the Irish film Sing Street: "Playing rock 'n' roll is risky, be prepared to be treated like a weirdo
There are many Chinese restaurants in Dublin, but Hang Dai is the most magical one I've ever seen! It looks like an ordinary takeaway restaurant (at first I thought I was in the wrong one), but as you walk down the corridor you are immediately struck by the neon lights, the smell of roast duck and the trendy techno music you hear. The combination of their respective fields of expertise has led to the creation of this alternative combination of electronic music and Chinese cuisine; Hang Dai is the Cantonese word for 'brother', symbolising their longstanding friendship as well as their determination to do something big in Dublin.
Not only is the packaging stunning, but Hang Dai's food is not only impressive, it's also of the same standard as fine dining; each dish is developed and adapted to Irish tastes from their visits to Beijing, Chengdu and Hong Kong (I'm told the chicken feet dish is still unacceptable...) and the roast duck is a five-star favourite. After dinner, Hang Dai transforms into a bartending bar and DJ set with a mix of world music and avant-garde electronica; overall the place is very much like Wong Kar-wai's 2046, with its time-travelling glitz and glamour; before you enter, you're in Dublin, but after you enter, it's like landing on the moon in the Hong Kong underground.
The Cobblestone, located about 15 minutes' walk north of the city centre, is a centuries-old pub that has been in the Mulligan family for five generations, and offers traditional Irish music every night, seven days a week. The music at The Cobblestone is not just about attracting customers, but about keeping Irish traditions alive, so the musicians who play here are very experienced musicians and volunteers who support this idea for free.
The Cobblestone also hosts monthly events such as cultural talks, instruction for young people on how to play traditional Irish instruments, and talks on the history of Dublin, in addition to music performances. The atmosphere is very old-school countryside with a predominantly older, middle-aged and friendly clientele, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to make new friends.
Isn't Ireland fascinating to look at?