23rd-25th July: awesome festival in beautiful Victorian seaside town in South Dublin - thousands of free music, art, craft, food, eco events in the streets, parks and pub gardens - for all ages - everybody dancing in the streets. Uplifting, happy, funky. The boat from Wales comes right into Dun Laoghaire too. We might bump into you there!!!

www.festivalofworldcultures.com/programme?f=all

Google map: tinyurl.com/356r7vj

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The Bernard Shaw is one of a number of pubs catering to a youngish, trendyish crowd. There's a massive smoking area with a pool table, a dj booth, and decently priced if limited selection of beers.

Decent music nights, recent ones were Dubstep and a celebration of the Rio Carnival with drummers and cheep Brazilian beer. Usually packed at the weekend, always a laugh.

Richmond Street,
Dublin

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A three day event held in the midst of the trees and rolling fields of Stradbally House. Tickets are only sold for the whole three days, stopping daytrippers, who are such a problem at Ireland other festival Oxygen.

I'm not going to describe the whole shebang, go to the website; its quite exhaustive. Instead, here's my highlights from last year;

The big tree, an acoustic stage, where the Dublin gospel choir, amongst others, duet with anyone hanging around, and the last music of the festival is played.

The cinema tent - fantastic for when you want to crash after a long night etc, it plays a decent mix of art films and slacker comedies - Ferris Bueller's Day Off was a real highlight.

The Crawdaddy tent - really good, full of atmosphere. themed on old New Orleans, and great fun.

The food, really really good for a festival. Nearly every type of food was represented, and there were a lot of vegetarian and organic options. the only thing lacking was a fry up.

A bit of advice - get there early and if you're camping in a tent go for the quiet section- it's a bit away from the music etc and you're able to sleep. I'm bringing my van so pop over and say hello, it's the 1966 VW camper. Bring loo roll and some antibacterial hand cream. Plastic bottles only, so decant that shizas.

www.electricpicnic.ie
Stradbally estate,
Co. Laois
Ireland
Around an hour from Dublin

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A student radio station broadcasting 6 weeks a year playing the usual mix of indie classics, new tracks, gigs reviews and then there's the music from the darker recesses of the DJ's collection - everything from indefensible pop to space music and hard rock. Headline show is Reverb.

97.3 FM in central Dublin or www.trinityfm.com

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Bar, where students with less style than they think go to dance themselves silly upstairs to a, frankly, very good indie disco, or just drink and talk downstairs in the basement or in one of the two ground floor bars.

It's a great spot but there are too many wannabe hipsters running around. Still a laugh though.

Near Pearse Street Garda station.

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It's a pub in Dublin. My friend John tells me it is the oldest pub in Ireland. The music is so good and the ambience is priceless. What shall I say about the drinks? Guinness as usual.

The Brazen Head, 20 Bridge Street, Dublin 8.
Tel : 00 353 1677 9549
www.brazenhead.com/

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A secret gem in Phoenix Park where they hold events over the summer; you can go and wander round the the grounds, the sunken garden, the walled garden, eat in the stunning boathouse restarant (12:30-5pm) overlooking the fish pond. They have outdoor concerts there too, and a farmers market. A one stop shop for a dry Sunday.

See www.farmleigh.ie/ for more details and opening times.

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I am a frequent business visitor to Dublin and have always been disappointed by the homogenised nightlife. There is a high gloss about the club habitués of Dublin yet these shiny people confuse sophistication with formality. The clubs and bars have no concept of edginess. However, on this most recent visit, I discovered Dublin’s best kept secret, Fresh and Clean. This an eccentric and at times unnerving experience where live art meets jazz meets champagne. This is an incredibly exciting club concept, which could change Dublin’s nightscape. Admission is 80 euros. Check it out.

Varying locations in city centre;
tel: +44 77901 853 216

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Free live Irish music seven nights a week, then continue the dancing in the downstairs club.

O'Connell Bridge, right on the Liffey; www.arlington.ie/

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Dublin's best live music venue, in a city which is full of great music, it has been around for years and has live music every night of the week. Also has a great late bar where you never know who you will spot.

25 Wexford Street, Dublin 2; Telephone 4780766; www.whelanslive.com

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