The Irish Pub Bucket List

This list brings together some of the most iconic spots across Dublin and Cork – from historic pubs with centuries of stories to lively neighbourhood favourites built for great nights out. Whether it’s live trad sessions, match-day energy, or a perfectly poured pint in a buzzing crowd, these are the venues that define a proper Irish pub experience. 

Best Place to Find a Sunday Trad Session

The Brazen Head | Usher’s Quay: Step into centuries of history at The Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub. This legendary spot dates back to 1198 and serves traditional Irish food, live trad music, and plenty of stories. It’s a bucket-list experience for anyone visiting Ireland for the first time.

Best Pub for Match Day Pints

T.P. Smith’s | Jervis Street: Heading into Dublin City for a match, concert, or night out? T.P. Smith’s is the perfect meeting point. Right outside Jervis Luas stop, it’s ideal for pre-event pints, hearty food, and catching the action of their big screens. 

Best Place for Live Irish Dancing

The Norseman | Temple Bar: One of the oldest pubs in Temple Bar, The Norseman is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and traditional Irish charm. From cosy lunch catch-ups to thrilling live Irish dancing nights, it’s the perfect spot to experience the very best of Dublin. Looking to stay in the city-centre? Settle in to one of their convenient rooms.

Best Spot for Live Music & Late-Night Craic

The Auld Dubliner | Temple Bar: If you’re looking for delicious pints, traditional pub grub and live music all day, The Auld Dubliner is your answer. As the unofficial birthplace of “craic agus ceoil” (fun & music) in Temple Bar, you can expect an unforgettable night, every night. They can also be your city-centre base with Double and Triple rooms available upstairs.

Exploring Cork? Why not try…

Best Pub For A Traditional Irish Experience

The Oliver Plunkett | Oliver Plunkett St: A true taste of Irish hospitality, The Oliver Plunkett is known for packed trad sessions, live music seven days a week, cocktails flowing late into the night, and food worth coming back for. Come for the craic and stay for everything else. 

Best Place For a Late-Night Boogie

Rearden’s | Washington St: With four unique venues under one roof, Rearden’s is one of Cork’s most iconic late-night spots. Grab cocktails with friends, catch all the live sporting action, or celebrate something special while enjoying live music, DJs, and an electric atmosphere right in the heart of Cork City. 

Time to Start Planning!

Great pints, live music, big games, and even bigger nights out are waiting across these pubs. The only question is: where will you go first?

Traditional Irish Music in Dublin

What is a ‘ Trad Session ‘ and Where Did It Come From?

At its core, a seisiún (the Irish word for session) is an informal gathering of people to share traditional songs and tunes purely for the fun of it. The tradition is ancient – woven into the fabric of the island for centuries. Traditionally, sessions took place in family kitchens, with musicians playing for set dancers in homes known as céilí houses.

The pub or trad session specifically took hold in the twentieth century, boosted in no small part by the waves of Irish emigrants who carried the music with them abroad – and kept it alive in pubs from London to New York. It spread back to Ireland, deepened its roots, and never left. Today, you’ll find trad sessions in every corner of the country and in Irish pubs from Boston to Berlin.

The Instruments

Fiddle – the backbone of most sessions. Fast, expressive, ancient. The same instrument as a violin, but played with a completely different spirit.

Uilleann pipes – Ireland’s unique form of bagpipe, played sitting down and worked by the elbow rather than the mouth. One of the most complex instruments in the world, and one of the most hauntingly beautiful sounds you will ever hear.

Tin whistle – deceptively simple, endlessly expressive. Irish schoolchildren are generally taught the rudiments on the tin whistle, but in the right hands it is a serious instrument played at extraordinary speed.

Flute – a simple wooden concert flute, producing a warm, breathy tone that sits perfectly in the middle of a session.

Accordion & concertina – button-box instruments that bring body and rhythm to the music.

Bodhrán – the goatskin frame drum. At a good session, a skilled bodhrán player locks into the rhythm of the room, holding the beat without ever drowning the melody.

Guitar – the late arrival to Irish traditional music, and still a topic of debate in purist circles. When played with sensitivity, it adds depth and drive, weaving chords beneath the melody without overpowering it. In the wrong hands, though, it can feel heavy-handed, turning a lively session into something closer to a singalong.

Session Etiquette

There are no printed rules at a trad session. But there are rules. Spend enough time in Irish pubs and you’ll feel them.

Good session etiquette requires not playing if you don’t know the tune, or at least quietly playing an accompaniment part, and waiting until a tune you know comes along.

For listeners, the rules are much simpler. Listen. Don’t talk loudly over the music. If you applaud after every tune, you’ll mark yourself out as a visitor immediately – in a session, the music flows continuously, and stopping it with applause breaks the spell. A nod of appreciation, a smile, a raised glass are all welcomed.

And of course, sing and clap along when prompted by the musicians!

Experience It at The Brazen Head

There’s nothing more magical than experiencing your first proper trad session in Ireland’s oldest pub. These walls were built on Ireland’s greatest stories – and in every note, lyric and clap, you’ll hear those stories too. Join us every Sunday from 3.30pm for a proper pint, some hearty food and a good ol’ session!

Frequently Asked Questions

When does The Brazen Head have traditional music sessions?

Every Sunday from 3:30pm. Arrive early to secure a good seat — the sessions are well loved by tourists and locals alike so the room fills up quickly!

What makes The Brazen Head’s trad session different from other Dublin sessions?

The setting. There are plenty of places in Dublin where you can hear traditional music — but very few where the room itself is part of the story. The Brazen Head has been standing since 1198. When the instuments start up on a Sunday afternoon in a pub this old, you’re not just listening to a good aul’ session. You’re part of an 800-year-old tradition.

Is the trad session at The Brazen Head suitable for families?

Yes! Our Sunday Trad Sessions at The Brazen Head is a relaxed, welcoming occasion that the whole family can enjoy. Starting at 3:30pm, it is the perfect early evening experience for visitors to Dublin who want to share something genuinely Irish with people of all ages.

Do I need tickets for the trad session in The Brazen Head?

Our Sunday Trad Sessions are open to everyone. No tickets or pre-booking required – just walk in and enjoy!

Best Things to Do in Dublin as a First-Time Visitor

Our Favourite Spots to Reveal the Story of Dublin.

There’s so many attractions and things to see that contribute to the chapters of Dublin’s story. From iconic landmarks like the Guinness Storehouse to centuries-old castles and interactive museums, here are some of the top spots we always recommend to our visitors:

1. Guinness Storehouse | St. James’ Gate

Guinness is the blood that beats through Ireland’s heart. It’s what we’re known for all over the world, and no matter what people say, if you haven’t tasted it here, you haven’t tried it properly. When visitors ask us what one attraction is worth doing in Dublin, we always recommend the Guinness Storehouse.

Not only do you learn all the secrets behind one of the world’s most popular drinks, but the Gravity Bar at the top of the warehouse offers you a breathtaking view of the city. Some of the highlights during this experience also include pouring your own pint (come to The Brazen Head if you want a “Perfect Pint Pulling” Certificate) and the unique option to print your own photo on the foam of a Guinness.

Tickets – From €22

2. Dublin Castle | Dame Street

Standing in the heart of the city for over 800 years (almost as old as us!), Dublin Castle has witnessed everything from the rise and fall of empires to the birth of modern Ireland. Apart from looking like something out of a fairytale, this castle has served many interesting roles: a Viking settlement, a medieval fortress, the seat of British administration in Ireland, and today, a major government complex.

When you step through its gates, you’ll find the impressive State Apartments, open courtyards, and plenty of corners that whisper centuries-old secrets. You can easily spend an hour or two wandering around and getting a genuine sense of how Dublin has evolved over the centuries.

3. Trinity College Dublin | College Green

Cobblestone paths with 434 years of footsteps. Beautiful Georgian buildings where groups of students emerge. A grand library that houses 200,000 books. If this is your first time in the city, a visit to Trinity College is one of the most popular things to do in Dublin.

Founded in 1592, it’s the oldest university in Ireland and features a not-so-hidden gem that visitors all over the world queue to see: The Book of Kells. Written and illustrated by Celtic monks around 800 A.D., it’s absolutely worth taking the time to see this beautiful historic artefact first-hand. You do need to book a ticket before you go, but that also includes entry into the Long Room (a 65-metre-long library hall that is also one of the most photographed spaces in the world!).

Tickets to The Book of Kells

4. EPIC Irish Emigration Museum | Custom House Quay, North Wall

You won’t find your typical glass-cased relics in this museum.

Using modern technology, motion-sensors, and interactive stations, the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum creates an immersive experience to tell the stories of Ireland’s emigrants.

Browse through a collection of digital passports and discover how the Irish shaped the world through politics, arts, science, and sport. You can even find out if your ancestors originated in Ireland by tracing your family tree with the help of experts at the on-site Irish Family History Centre. It’s one of the most fascinating things to do in Dublin, offering a chance to “discover what it means to be Irish” in a modern, interactive way.

If you don’t fancy walking, you can take the RED LUAS Line from Jervis Street towards The Point and get off at George’s Dock. From there, it’s a 3-minute walk to the museum.

Tickets – From €21

Continue Your Dublin Adventure With Us

Once you’ve wandered through the history, culture, and stories behind the top things to do in Dublin, there’s one last experience you shouldn’t miss – a visit to The Brazen Head. Settle in with a traditional Irish dish, clap your hands in time with our live music, and become part of our story.