My wife and I are in Ireland until Feb. 25, and we’re taking a trip to Dublin Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 16,17). Anyone know of a good session on those nights? We’re going to a local session at Powers Pub in Abbington, County Limerick this Sunday night.
imo, Cobblestone (in Smithfield) is the place to go. O’Donoghues is fine place too. Enjoy your stay ! 
O’Donoghues can be nice on Tuesdays. I think Catherine McEvoy is in the Cobblestones on Wednesdays (along with lots of other fluters).
There might also be a session in Hughes.
Myself and a guitar player are in O’Donoghues on Wednesdays and you would be more than welcome to come in for a few tunes. Its always good to have a few more people as it can be hard trying to play if theres only the two of us which sometimes happens but you never know who might come in. The music at the Cobblestone is usually quite good as well, but there can be a few session snobs in there some times not always but it does happen. Thats the nature of the place really it isn’t a session just for anyone you have to be able to play damn well to be accepted. Not always the case probably but that has been my experience playing there. I have always found O’Ds to be a much more welcoming place and the music is usually just as good. Tuesdays are supposed to be great in O’Ds but I’ve never been then.
I have heard Hughes is good but I have never been, I would suspect it to be a bit like the Cobblestone. Devitt’s on Camden st is good as well, they used to have music every night but I don’t think they do anymore so there might not be anything on Tues and Weds I know there is on Thurs, Fri, and Sat though but thats no use to you. The Palace on Fleet st (in Temple Bar) can also be good but it can get a bit like the Cobblestone some nights. It really depends who is playing at any of these places you would be likely to encounter snobs, but you are just as likely to encounter friendly people so don’t be surprised either way.
Enjoy the trip!
Thanks for the replies. It took me a while to get back to a computer. I’ll definitely try and stop in at O’Donoghues Wednesday night, Unseen. I appreciate the invitation.
Nice maybe I’ll see ya then. Just in case you were wondering this is the O’Donoghues on Merrion Row (if you get lost and ask for directions lots of people think it is on Baggot st so if they don’t know where Merrion row is say Baggot st) yes it is the famous one there are a few pubs with this name in Dublin City Centre so I thought I would clarify. Session starts at around 9:30 and ends at closing or as long as we can get away with playing, but the barmen are fairly strict so they usually want us to finish up promptly.
I saw Catherine McEvoy on a wednesday night in Cobblestone. Didn’t feel the snobbish atmosphere there anyway. There’s a good old time session on saturday afternoon if you’re insteresting .
I went in O’Donoghues a tuesday night, twas a great evening indeed ! that evening there were a bodhran/flute player, two fiddles, a guitar and Tom Walsh, a great bouzouki/guitar player.
Well I doubt Catherine would be a session snob, but there are certainly other players I have come across that would be that do play in there. I had a couple bad experiences in there which turned me off from playing in there again, but I would guess it really depends on who’s there. So when someone asks about Dublin sessions and the Cobblestone comes up I usually like to give my 2 cents. I would prefer a friendly session to one with great players, of course both is ideal but if I had to pick one I would go to the more inviting one.
I think I know a few of the people you mention from O’Ds, they’re good people.
I totally agree with you Unseen, I’d far prefer a friendly '‘beginner’ session to a unfriendly ‘good’ session.
Both Cobblestone and O’D made me a good impression, but you’re the dubliners and I’m not, I’d rather trust your general feeling.
yeah
Wednesday session in Cobblestone is pretty much known for the snobs
and wan… who won’t let you start a set if you don’t have yer photo on the wall there.
O’Donoghues might be crowded but you’ll get one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin there.
speaking of the pints, I read on thesession.org that in O’D musicians get discount on pints. Yet I paid my pint 4€ (I think it was 4) as “everyone”… did I miss the point ?
Just tell any one of the barmen in O’Donoghues that you are playing music and hand them €1.50 for a pint.
So far, I’ve found people in Dublin very helpful and welcoming. I met a lady named Mary (didn’t get her last name) playing her concertina on a side street off of Grafton Street and she mentioned an early session (7-9) at Cobblestone Wednesday night. I said I’d come by and she said she’d let them know I was coming. I’ll check it out and then go from there to O’Donoghue’s to play a tune with ‘Unseen.’ Thanks again for the suggestions. I enjoyed my first afternoon in Dublin. It was a fine, sunny, cold day.
I love Dublin. Of course the people there are friendly and helpful. Wouldn’t expect anything less.
D’ya know, I’ve been going to Dublin two or three times a year for years now, and I’ve never been in O’Donoghue’s? Maybe next trip …
Right thank you for the tip (no pun intended 
), I’ll try to remember it for the next time I’ll pop in.
Thats the way to do it, they will charge full price if they can get away with it but if you hand them 1.50 after the pints pulled they can’t really do much.
Padre, I find the pints vary in there I have gotten amazing pints but I have gotten ones that were nearly undrinkable as well. I think it depends on the barman you get it off of and how busy the place is.
benhall you’d be welcome to come to my session as well if your ever in Dublin on a Wednesday night.
Looking forward to meeting another Chiffer in the flesh Mahan. I think I have seen the concertina woman you speak of shes out there all the time.
Unseen, I left the priesthood quite some time ago. I usually drink bottles of beer, never pints. Its safer, believe me. The Guinness is always top notch.
Did you ever get your McGee flute or are you still playing the Martin Doyle ?
I haven’t gotten the McGee yet so I’m still on the Doyle. I emailed Terry not too long ago for an update, but I haven’t heard back yet.
How did it go last night ?
Well, I had a great time. I played with two guys from France in the back of O’Donoghue’s. They had just flown over to Dublin that afternoon and stumbled into the pub for something to eat but were talked into playing some music by some patrons of the pub. They finally got something to eat, and that’s when I heard the regular session starting up at the front of the pub. So, I moved up to the front. I was welcomed, and I introduced myself to Unseen (a fine flute player). I left kind of early (11:30 I think) as I had been walking around Dublin all day and was exhausted. One of the French guys was just starting to play some on his whistle. I played a few of my tunes, but as usual I didn’t know a lot of the tunes being played. I was familiar with some. Nice session with pipes, whistle, flute, guitar (song) and bodhran. I think I may have left just as the session was really getting underway.