O'Donoghue's

There’s not much seating, and it can get crowded. It’s an old place, dating originally to the 1700’s, with a main bar, a back bar, and an outdoor patio. For us, it was a lovely little stop to take in some history, hear live music, and have a Guinness. It was also only a 5min walk from our hotel. Depending on what you’re after, it might feel like a hidden gem and a favourite Dublin stop, or just a packed old bar.

After a day out in Dublin, we came into the pub and ended up at a table with some Spanish and Irish patrons. A few minutes into the conversation, their racist views became clear, and they kept making nasty, aggressive slurs even when we tried to respond diplomatically. The staff noticed quickly and escorted them out. We were proud of how they handled it. This is a welcoming, inclusive place, and we’ll return. I won’t repeat what was said, but it was good to see there’s still some good in the world.

I really love this pub and its history, including the characters who drank here back in the day, like The Dubliners, who went on to become famous worldwide. The bar staff were good and handled a busy Friday evening efficiently. I was over from Scotland last week and went in Friday night. There were three or four singers and musicians playing in a corner, but the gaps between songs were long, and unless you stood right beside them it was hard to hear elsewhere in the bar. On an earlier visit in the little courtyard, the music was fantastic, with songs, stories, and traditional Irish tunes. It’s pot luck how busy it is, whether musicians are playing, how many there are, how good they’ll be, and whether you’ll find a seat. Getting between areas can be tight when it’s busy. The O'Donaghue's Polo Shirt I wanted was out of stock, but I’ll be back to pick one up next time.

It was busy, but getting drinks was no problem. I stopped in on both nights and there was live music each time. It definitely felt like a local spot, and was one of the best pubs we visited in the area.