Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [106]
Bleu Note (Map; 878 3371; 61-63 Capel St) Jazz, funk and blues bands perform here nightly; pay your €5 entry, order a Chimay and enjoy the good vibes. Nice.
O2 (Map; 819 8888; www.theo2.ie; East Link Bridge, North Wall Quay) Formerly the Point Depot, a complete overhaul of what was once a rail terminal (built in 1878) has resulted in this superb new venue with a capacity of around 10,000. The acoustics are sublime and the performing acts picked out of the very top drawer: Beyoncé, Britney and Neil Young are just some of the names who played here in 2009.
Olympia Theatre (Map; 677 7744; Dame St) This pleasantly tatty place features everything from disco to country on Friday nights; the eclectic ‘Midnight at the Olympia’ runs from midnight to 2am on Friday.
Sugar Club (Map; 678 7188; 8 Lower Leeson St) There’s live jazz, cabaret and soul music at weekends in this comfortable new theatre-style venue on the corner of St Stephen’s Green.
Button Factory (Map; 670 9202; www.buttonfactory.ie; Curved St) A top-class sound system, a carpeted back bar and a big main stage make this an excellent venue to hear some of the more interesting visiting and local acts.
Vicar Street (Map; 454 5533; www.vicarstreet.com; 58-59 Thomas St) Smaller performances take place at this intimate venue, near Christ Church Cathedral. It has a capacity of 1000, spread between table-serviced group seating downstairs and a theatre-style balcony. It has a varied program of performers, with a strong emphasis on folk and jazz.
Village (Map; 475 8555; www.thevillagevenue.com; 26 Wexford St) An attractive midsize venue that is a popular stop for acts on the way up and down, the Village has gigs virtually every night of the week, featuring a diverse range of rock bands and solo performers. It’s also a good showcase for local singer-songwriters.
Whelan’s (Map; 478 0766; www.whelanslive.com; 25 Wexford St) Whelan’s near-legendary status as the home of the sensitive, soul-searching singer – and where gigs are treated like semi-mystical experiences by their devoted fans – is inevitably the cause of much derision in some Dublin quarters, but there’s no denying the venue’s special place in the Dublin musical scene. It’s a pretty intimate space, perfect if you’re looking to ‘connect’ with your favourite artists, who will most likely be cadging drinks off fans in the bar afterwards.
Sport
Croke Park (Map; 836 3222; www.crokepark.ie; Clonliffe Rd) Hurling and Gaelic football games are held from February to November at Europe’s fourth-largest stadium (capacity around 82,000), north of the Royal Canal in Drumcondra; see www.gaa.ie for schedules. Catch bus 19 or 19A to get there.
Aviva Stadium (Map; 647 3800; www.avivastadium.ie; 11-12 Lansdowne Rd) The beloved Lansdowne Road stadium, the home of Irish rugby and international soccer, has been razed, rebuilt and renamed after its most prominent sponsor. The 50,000-capacity ground is scheduled to open in 2010.
Harold’s Cross Park (Map; 497 1081; www.igb.ie; 151 Harold’s Cross Rd; adult/child €8/4; 6.30-10.30pm Mon, Tue & Fri) Greyhound racing takes place near Rathmines in this newly revamped venue. Take bus 16 or 16A from the city centre.
Leopardstown Race Course (Map; 289 3607; www.leopardstown.com; Foxrock) The Irish love of horse racing can be observed about 10km south of the city centre in Foxrock. Special buses depart from the city centre on race days; call the racecourse for details.
Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium (Map; 668 3502, on race nights 202 6601; www.igb.ie; Bridge Town Rd, Ringsend; adult/child €8/4; 6.30-10.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat) A top-class dog track with terrific vantage points from the glassed-in restaurant, where you can eat, bet and watch without leaving your seat. Take bus 3 from D’Olier St.
Theatre
Dublin’s theatre scene is small but busy. Bookings can usually be made by quoting a credit-card number over the phone and tickets collected just before the performance.
Abbey Theatre (Map; 878 7222; www.abbeytheatre.ie;