Solo Female in Dublin
Jul 28th, 2004, 11:47 AM
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Solo Female in Dublin
I'm a 30 year old female travelling solo to Dublin in a few weeks. I'm an experienced international traveller but have never been to Dublin. What can I expect as far as the pub scene goes? Will I be conspicuous walking into a pub by myself at night? I realize the younger generations are more progressive but the older generations are a bit more old fashioned, socially. I'm staying in the Temple Bar district which I'm told is pretty rowdy. Are certain pubs better than others for my situation? Any information is appreciated. Thanks
Jul 28th, 2004, 12:17 PM
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On the weekend, in Templebar, it will doubtless be so crowded that no one will know who, or if, you are with! I wouldn't worry too much about Dublin, in terms of 'progressiveness'. Actually, I wouldn't worry about very many places, anywhere in the republic. Ireland has become a very progressive country over the past ten or twenty years.
Jul 28th, 2004, 12:49 PM
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Hi mkf99,
I'm also travelling solo to Dublin in a few weeks time, staying in the Temple Bar area as well, although I'm a tad older than you! (I hope I'm not classifed as the older generation yet) I fully understand your reservations about going into pubs by yourself, because I too have the same fear of the unknown, but I'm embarking on a 7 week tour of the world by myself, never having travelled overseas, leaving the husband, kids and dog at home, so I'm going to have to overcome this fear quickly, 6 more sleeps in fact! When will you be in Dublin? Perhaps we could meet up for moral support? I'll be there on 18th August for three nights.
I'm also travelling solo to Dublin in a few weeks time, staying in the Temple Bar area as well, although I'm a tad older than you! (I hope I'm not classifed as the older generation yet) I fully understand your reservations about going into pubs by yourself, because I too have the same fear of the unknown, but I'm embarking on a 7 week tour of the world by myself, never having travelled overseas, leaving the husband, kids and dog at home, so I'm going to have to overcome this fear quickly, 6 more sleeps in fact! When will you be in Dublin? Perhaps we could meet up for moral support? I'll be there on 18th August for three nights.
Jul 29th, 2004, 01:36 AM
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mkf99 - Personally I would not go to temple bar for a pint by myself. If you are one your own you will probably get unwanted attention. There are better areas to do this but for most places you will be sitting drinking a pint by yourself...kinda boring after a while.
What I would do is go on the Musical Pub Crawl in Oliver St John Gogherty upstairs most nights at 7:30. There will be a lot of other sociable travellers on this and you may even have a few bar buddies for this night.
Also there is the Literary pub crawl which is social and much the same. Dublin like most cities is a bit more reserved at first.
There are other places less clubby and more pubby off Grafton Street that would be good like Keoghs on S. Anne St or The Duke on Duke Street and McDaids beside the Westbury hotel. There is also a nice cosy pub in the westbury hotel.
There are some lively places in Temple bar but be careful on your own. Let me know what kind of places you are looking for and I can list a few others
S
What I would do is go on the Musical Pub Crawl in Oliver St John Gogherty upstairs most nights at 7:30. There will be a lot of other sociable travellers on this and you may even have a few bar buddies for this night.
Also there is the Literary pub crawl which is social and much the same. Dublin like most cities is a bit more reserved at first.
There are other places less clubby and more pubby off Grafton Street that would be good like Keoghs on S. Anne St or The Duke on Duke Street and McDaids beside the Westbury hotel. There is also a nice cosy pub in the westbury hotel.
There are some lively places in Temple bar but be careful on your own. Let me know what kind of places you are looking for and I can list a few others
S
Jul 29th, 2004, 09:05 AM
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Thank you for the replies.
To PamelaJ - I will be in Dublin from 8/17 through 8/23 so maybe we could plan a time and place to meet. Do you have any suggestions?
To SiobhanP - The pub crawls you mentioned sound like a good idea. I will look into them. Do you know of any interesting wine bars, restaurant bars or cafes?
To PamelaJ - I will be in Dublin from 8/17 through 8/23 so maybe we could plan a time and place to meet. Do you have any suggestions?
To SiobhanP - The pub crawls you mentioned sound like a good idea. I will look into them. Do you know of any interesting wine bars, restaurant bars or cafes?
Jul 30th, 2004, 12:09 PM
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They use the same voltage, but instead of the two round pin plug, they use three bladed plug. If you have a European compatible appliance, all you need is an adapter, available from Radio Shack, and many travel stores.
Direct answer: 220 Volt (AC) 50 Hertz
U.S. is 110 Volt (AC) 60 Hertz
Direct answer: 220 Volt (AC) 50 Hertz
U.S. is 110 Volt (AC) 60 Hertz
Jul 30th, 2004, 02:01 PM
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Hi mkf99
I'm going to heed Siobahn's advice and do one of the pub tours, probably on the Thursday evening to enable me to get over possible jet lag. A must see on my list is Trinity and the Book of Kells and also the jail. Mostly I'll just be wondering around taking it all in. Perhaps we could do the Musical Pub tour together one evening?
I'm going to heed Siobahn's advice and do one of the pub tours, probably on the Thursday evening to enable me to get over possible jet lag. A must see on my list is Trinity and the Book of Kells and also the jail. Mostly I'll just be wondering around taking it all in. Perhaps we could do the Musical Pub tour together one evening?
Aug 1st, 2004, 02:33 PM
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PamelaJ - Yes, I also thought about doing the muscial pub tour. I haven't looked at the details as far as times & meeting location yet. Is there only one per day? I could do this on Thursday as well. I will check back when I get more information.
Aug 2nd, 2004, 01:58 PM
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Hi mkf99
Here is some info on the Musical Pub crawl:
Musical Pub Crawl: Participating in the Musical Pub Crawl around Temple Bar is another great way to enjoy Dublin's lively pub scene. Led by professional musicians, the tour gives you a great chance to join in with song, crack, and pints while listening to the story of Irish music. Meets 7.30pm in Oliver St. John Gogarty's (upstairs) in summer daily. In winter the tour only operates on Friday and Saturday evenings. This 2 and a half hour tour takes in pubs such as the Ha'penny Bridge Inn, and Brogans. Leaving you tired and tipsy, this enjoyable tour comes recommended.
The Musical Pub Crawl is on every night from May to October, Fridays and Saturdays from February to April. By arrangement only in January and February.
Cost: €10.00 or €8.00 for students & OAPs.
Tel: 353 1 478 0193
Venue The Oliver St John Gogarty
Here is some info on the Musical Pub crawl:
Musical Pub Crawl: Participating in the Musical Pub Crawl around Temple Bar is another great way to enjoy Dublin's lively pub scene. Led by professional musicians, the tour gives you a great chance to join in with song, crack, and pints while listening to the story of Irish music. Meets 7.30pm in Oliver St. John Gogarty's (upstairs) in summer daily. In winter the tour only operates on Friday and Saturday evenings. This 2 and a half hour tour takes in pubs such as the Ha'penny Bridge Inn, and Brogans. Leaving you tired and tipsy, this enjoyable tour comes recommended.
The Musical Pub Crawl is on every night from May to October, Fridays and Saturdays from February to April. By arrangement only in January and February.
Cost: €10.00 or €8.00 for students & OAPs.
Tel: 353 1 478 0193
Venue The Oliver St John Gogarty
Aug 3rd, 2004, 08:26 AM
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Hi PamelaJ -
Thanks for the information. I think I found the same site but havent't had a chance to post. Do you think it's necessary to call in advance and make a reservation? Or can you just show up? The webpage I saw said that the group departs Oliver St. John Gogarty's at 7:30 and that you should plan to arrive early in order not to be disappointed.
Thanks for the information. I think I found the same site but havent't had a chance to post. Do you think it's necessary to call in advance and make a reservation? Or can you just show up? The webpage I saw said that the group departs Oliver St. John Gogarty's at 7:30 and that you should plan to arrive early in order not to be disappointed.
Aug 4th, 2004, 02:49 AM
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mkf99 - I would book the pub crawl if it is in a busy time i.e August.
As for hairdryers - buy one ver here its easier. Go into any Boots (Drugstore chain) and poick up a small one. My mother almost set my aunts house on fire with the adaptors etc. I do think the voltage is different AND you need an adapter. I always had 2 plug (one adapter one voltage change) but I no longer use these appliances here.
Hmmm....wine bars. If you like your wine 2 places come to mind. Peploes on St Stephens green comes to mind. The restaurant is hvery busy but there is a bar to the side that you can order wine by the glass and lighter snacks. it's a new and popular place and the wine choices by the glass are excellent.
Ely wine bar on Ely street near st. Stephens green has a great wine list as well. Its located inb the basement and serves food from the owners organis farm. The wine list ois practically a book and choices are huge.
Cafe en Seine is another popular spot. Its decor is like being in a french cafe and a very grand scale. ALl the fixtures are ornate and the palm trees are amazing. It's on Dawson Street. During the dat they serve food, coffes and normal bar service and is great to relax and hang out with a paper. At night it is a trendy spot.
As for hairdryers - buy one ver here its easier. Go into any Boots (Drugstore chain) and poick up a small one. My mother almost set my aunts house on fire with the adaptors etc. I do think the voltage is different AND you need an adapter. I always had 2 plug (one adapter one voltage change) but I no longer use these appliances here.
Hmmm....wine bars. If you like your wine 2 places come to mind. Peploes on St Stephens green comes to mind. The restaurant is hvery busy but there is a bar to the side that you can order wine by the glass and lighter snacks. it's a new and popular place and the wine choices by the glass are excellent.
Ely wine bar on Ely street near st. Stephens green has a great wine list as well. Its located inb the basement and serves food from the owners organis farm. The wine list ois practically a book and choices are huge.
Cafe en Seine is another popular spot. Its decor is like being in a french cafe and a very grand scale. ALl the fixtures are ornate and the palm trees are amazing. It's on Dawson Street. During the dat they serve food, coffes and normal bar service and is great to relax and hang out with a paper. At night it is a trendy spot.
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:56 AM
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SiobhanP - Thank you again for the tips. These restaurants sound like my kind of place.
PamelaJ - I called the number for the pub crawl that you listed in your previous post. I made a reservation for myself. The woman I spoke to said there are seats for 70 people and you can call the day before or the day of to make a reservation. I went ahead and booked my seat. You pay when you get there. I'm looking forward to this!
PamelaJ - I called the number for the pub crawl that you listed in your previous post. I made a reservation for myself. The woman I spoke to said there are seats for 70 people and you can call the day before or the day of to make a reservation. I went ahead and booked my seat. You pay when you get there. I'm looking forward to this!
Aug 5th, 2004, 12:24 AM
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One of these days I will spell check...apologies. Another great wine place is enoteca della Longhe(SP?) Its in a small cul de sac off the quays. From Temple Bar go over the Millenium Bridge and across the road there is a restaurant called Bar Italia (excellent food) and inside this laneway is a small Italian quarter with a pannini and coffe shop, food supply shop for Italian goods and the enoteca that sells only Italian wies by the glass or bottle. Great for a relaxing glass of wine and there is outdoor dancing at the weekends of salsa and tango. It's a fun place at the weekends.
Aug 6th, 2004, 01:20 AM
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Its my new favourite place and every time I was there recently at the wine bar it was a fun and unusual night.
We went to Bar Italia for dinner last minute and when I went in I noticed a middleages woman taking oickure of her table...something struck me as odd about this.....until I saw her feet. There was a crowd of transvestites/cross dressers in the restaurant and wine bar. There were not the most glamourous looking blokes either...more loke a missle aged man who looked like a mammy dressed up. It was great fun though. Outside there were lots of people doing the Tango. We felt like we were in another country! Do go its entertaining and you can go alone and have some wine and people watch.
We went to Bar Italia for dinner last minute and when I went in I noticed a middleages woman taking oickure of her table...something struck me as odd about this.....until I saw her feet. There was a crowd of transvestites/cross dressers in the restaurant and wine bar. There were not the most glamourous looking blokes either...more loke a missle aged man who looked like a mammy dressed up. It was great fun though. Outside there were lots of people doing the Tango. We felt like we were in another country! Do go its entertaining and you can go alone and have some wine and people watch.
Aug 24th, 2004, 12:51 PM
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Hi SiobhanP - I am back from my trip to Ireland and I wanted to say thank you for the advice. I tried out some of the places you mentioned and was pleased. I enjoyed Dublin very much. I also took a sidetrip to the Ring of Kerry - WOW! I met some interesting people and I can't wait to return.
