I was looking up sessions in Dublin and surprised to see that O’Donoghues was missing – I wonder was it entered before an then deleted – or maybe as it can be a bit touristy,but then so are others on the list.
Anyway Friday lunchtimes is a nice one.
Sessions there everynight I believe - sometimes it can be a bit arranged a “performance” rather than a session.
I've been to O'Donoghue's quite a few times. I guess it is set-up to be tourist friendly in certain respects. However, if you're at one of the sessions hosted by Joe Foley then you're in for a good night's music and a bit of crack.
There's a session happening here every day of the week.
The music mostly starts around 9pm. There s usually a core of 2 or 3 musicans that get paid to make sure somebody shows up. The main session takes place in the main bar around the corner from the entrance.
If you're in early enough nd bbrought some friends you can usually also start your own sesh in the back room.
Tuesdays you can join Tom Walsh, Lisa and myself for a a few (usually) more quiet tunes.
On the weekends the place can be a bit packed.
Friday lunch time and Sunday afternoon (12.30-1.30) being the exception.
Friday eveving is generally the worst.
On Saturday there are two sessions. The first starting around 5pm and the second around 9.30pm.
Sunday evening, from 5.30 on, can be great craic with Joe Foley and his friends.
Be careful on days with Soccer or Rugby inernationals or big GAA games. Especially if the game is at Landsdowne Road the pubs will be jammers (meaning packed) and generally very noisy (unless Wales is playing in which case you'll have dozens of singing welshmen, which, believe it or not, can be great fun). On some of those days the management might open the upstairs bar. it might be well worth checking if there's a session going on up there. Access to upstairs is from the street.
(PS pints are 1.50 euro for musicans and soft drinks 1 euro)
I've been there last tuesday, very friendly and welcoming, as soon as they saw I had a flute in my bag I was invited to join the session !
Tom Walsh was there, and I think 'ah surely' was playing the flute as well...
I'll definitively pop in next time I'll be in Dublin.
However I didn't hear anything about the 1.5 pints, is it still true ?
Wenesday night's session was pretty friendly, pretty packed visitors wise, nice blend of songs and tunes, pretty small musician numbers, 1.50 euro pints for musicians is still in effect
great session there today, got in at 7 and would love to have never left! 1.50e pints for musicians deal depends on the bartender knowing you though it seems :/
amazing session Friday night, musicians were really welcoming and bought drinks for all musicians out of a box they use to collect tips from the audience. Really noisy high octane session, amazing banjo player, piper and fiddle player, very tasteful and friendly bodhran player, very humurous guitarist / singer and a visiting flute player from Canada too. A whistle player appeared too! Led to all kinds of madness that night, must return next week!
also I visited the lunchtime session the same day, runs from 1 to 2, nice relaxed and reasonably friendly session, 2 concertinas, whistle / flute, fiddle and accordian, a few stragglers in the pub singing a song or two but mainly tunes, no deals on pints from the bar or at least not for me that time anyway
Session here most nights and Friday lunchtime
# Posted on July 28th 2005 by BegF
How strange?
I can't believe that this venue has never been posted before. That's incredible!
# Posted on July 28th 2005 by John J.
I was looking up sessions in Dublin and surprised to see that O’Donoghues was missing – I wonder was it entered before an then deleted – or maybe as it can be a bit touristy,but then so are others on the list.
Anyway Friday lunchtimes is a nice one.
Sessions there everynight I believe - sometimes it can be a bit arranged a “performance” rather than a session.
# Posted on July 29th 2005 by BegF
I've been to O'Donoghue's quite a few times. I guess it is set-up to be tourist friendly in certain respects. However, if you're at one of the sessions hosted by Joe Foley then you're in for a good night's music and a bit of crack.
# Posted on July 29th 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Every day of the week
There's a session happening here every day of the week.
The music mostly starts around 9pm. There s usually a core of 2 or 3 musicans that get paid to make sure somebody shows up. The main session takes place in the main bar around the corner from the entrance.
If you're in early enough nd bbrought some friends you can usually also start your own sesh in the back room.
Tuesdays you can join Tom Walsh, Lisa and myself for a a few (usually) more quiet tunes.
On the weekends the place can be a bit packed.
Friday lunch time and Sunday afternoon (12.30-1.30) being the exception.
Friday eveving is generally the worst.
On Saturday there are two sessions. The first starting around 5pm and the second around 9.30pm.
Sunday evening, from 5.30 on, can be great craic with Joe Foley and his friends.
Be careful on days with Soccer or Rugby inernationals or big GAA games. Especially if the game is at Landsdowne Road the pubs will be jammers (meaning packed) and generally very noisy (unless Wales is playing in which case you'll have dozens of singing welshmen, which, believe it or not, can be great fun). On some of those days the management might open the upstairs bar. it might be well worth checking if there's a session going on up there. Access to upstairs is from the street.
(PS pints are 1.50 euro for musicans and soft drinks 1 euro)
# Posted on August 25th 2006 by Ah, Surely!
Sounds like a grand time! Are all the sessions open?
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by PittsburghPiper
I've been there last tuesday, very friendly and welcoming, as soon as they saw I had a flute in my bag I was invited to join the session !
Tom Walsh was there, and I think 'ah surely' was playing the flute as well...
I'll definitively pop in next time I'll be in Dublin.
However I didn't hear anything about the 1.5 pints, is it still true ?
# Posted on October 8th 2009 by loic31
The Monday session in the back bar is "not an open session" according to one of the musicians last night, I was not impressed.
# Posted on September 21st 2010 by Paudy
O'Donoghue sessions
Any update on which night to visit for an open session would be appreciated - heading there with fiddle mid-March and dying to play.
# Posted on March 7th 2011 by jinksy
Wenesday night's session was pretty friendly, pretty packed visitors wise, nice blend of songs and tunes, pretty small musician numbers, 1.50 euro pints for musicians is still in effect
# Posted on June 30th 2011 by Paudy
great session there today, got in at 7 and would love to have never left! 1.50e pints for musicians deal depends on the bartender knowing you though it seems :/
# Posted on July 18th 2011 by Paudy
amazing session Friday night, musicians were really welcoming and bought drinks for all musicians out of a box they use to collect tips from the audience. Really noisy high octane session, amazing banjo player, piper and fiddle player, very tasteful and friendly bodhran player, very humurous guitarist / singer and a visiting flute player from Canada too. A whistle player appeared too! Led to all kinds of madness that night, must return next week!
# Posted on July 24th 2011 by Paudy
also I visited the lunchtime session the same day, runs from 1 to 2, nice relaxed and reasonably friendly session, 2 concertinas, whistle / flute, fiddle and accordian, a few stragglers in the pub singing a song or two but mainly tunes, no deals on pints from the bar or at least not for me that time anyway
# Posted on July 24th 2011 by Paudy