The Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl is the most direct way to hear Irish music played properly on a first evening in Dublin, without having to guess which pubs are good and which are tourist traps. It is led by two professional musicians who act as your guides for the entire night, playing live and explaining what you are hearing as they go. You meet upstairs at the Ha'penny Bridge Inn at 42 Wellington Quay in Temple Bar, where the first performance begins, and the group then walks together to a second pub, with a live set at each. The tour lasts about two hours and a quarter, and two evening start times are offered when you book, so you can choose between an earlier and a later evening. The earlier tour finishes at Flanagan's on Upper O'Connell Street, and the later tour ends at Brannigan's just off O'Connell Street. Between songs the musicians give commentary in English about where the tunes and ballads come from and why they matter, so you leave with some understanding of the tradition as well as a good evening. Groups are private-seated in both bars, which means you will have a place to sit rather than standing at the back of a crowd.
What the music is like
Expect the full range of the Irish session repertoire, including jigs and reels on fiddle, tin whistle, guitar and bodhran, plus the long ballad tradition of storytelling in song. The musicians are professional performers who play for a living, which shows in the quality, and they are used to introducing the tunes to people who have never heard a slip jig before.
You will usually pick up a lesson in how the instruments work and in the way a tune is passed between players, with the occasional invitation to join in a chorus. It is a live performance rather than a recording with a pint attached, and that makes a difference when a fiddle starts up two metres away.
Practical matters
The tour is walking-based and moves between bars on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Not wheelchair accessible. Drinks are bought at the bars, so confirm what your booking covers when you book. Food can be bought in both pubs, which makes an early start a good option if you want dinner as part of the night.
Infants must sit on laps and no minimum age is stated, but this is an evening in pubs, so it is best for adults and teenagers. Group sizes are capped well above a small tasting group, so on summer weekends expect a lively room, and arrive a few minutes early to claim a good seat near the musicians.
How to place it in your trip: Temple Bar is close to the Ha'penny Bridge and the Liffey, so the start fits neatly after a day on the south side of the river. Pair it with a daytime visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum or the Jameson distillery for a full Irish evening, or schedule it on your first night as an easy orientation to the city.
If you prefer talk and stories to music, the Literary Pub Crawl is the sister option, and many travellers book both on different evenings. For a quieter, less structured session later in the trip, ask the musicians where they play when they are off duty: they will usually point you to a pub away from the main tourist street where the music is spontaneous.
What to expect
The experience
An evening walking tour led by two professional musicians, with a live set in each of two pubs and commentary in English about the songs and the tradition between pieces.
Best time
Evenings, with two start times offered at booking. Choose the earlier one if you want dinner as part of the night.
How long
About two hours and a quarter.
Tips
Meet upstairs at the Ha'penny Bridge Inn on Wellington Quay. Arrive a few minutes early for a seat near the musicians. Confirm drinks and pickup details when you book.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want to hear real Irish music and understand it, without hunting for the right pub.
- Families
- Better for adults and teenagers than young children, since it is an evening in pubs; no minimum age is listed.
- Couples
- A warm, atmospheric evening of live music with seats reserved, easy to follow with a late dinner.
- Pair with
- The Irish Whiskey Museum, Temple Bar and the Literary Pub Crawl on another night.
- Time needed
- About two and a half hours including the walk to the start.
Good questions
Where does the Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl start?+
Upstairs at the Ha'penny Bridge Inn, 42 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Confirm details in your booking.
How many pubs do we visit?+
Two, with a live performance by the musicians at each, and a short group walk between them.
Who are the musicians?+
Two professional musicians lead each tour. They vary from night to night, so the specific pair is not fixed.
Are drinks included?+
Plan to buy drinks at the bars and check what your booking covers when you book. Food is available in both pubs.
Is it suitable for children?+
No minimum age is listed and infants must sit on laps, but it is an evening in pubs, so it is best for adults and teenagers. It is not wheelchair accessible.
