whelan's, Dublin

I've been there in May, it was very nice. Tasty Bulmer's Berry, great music and nice people. :)

I'm going there tonight!

Ah, Whelan's. What great nights I've spent here. If you're remotely interested in what the Irish music scene has on offer, this is your place. Almost every Indie/Alternative/Rock act that is either a household name or and up and coming has made a stopover here. The Frames, Kate Nash, Lisa Hannigan, Republic of Loose, Mumford & Sons just to name a few - the wall's are plastered with gig pictures.

Shows are on two stages almost every night, there's a beer garden/smoking area and they serve ice cold Jägermeister (not a standard in Dublin). On the weekends the main stage area turns into a club come 11 PM and the craig gets mighty. The bouncers may get a bit nervous once the evening wears on, but that's the only disadvantage of Whelans that I can think of. One of my favourite places in Ireland. Maybe even in the world.

A great venue for live music, a classic choice. All the best play here, and yes it's down and dirty, but worth it!

Great music, lively atmosphere, and a host to many gigs is what makes Whelans such a delightful place to find yourself for a night out on the weekend. If you can find a place to rest your drink, count yourself lucky as this place gets packed very quickly. Even if you're squished in the queue for drinks you can find a way to wiggle to the tunes! Once you get to the smoking area, you get a view of the whole of Whelans and it's cool when you see the stage and the seats from an aerial view. Although it costs a tenner to get in, the drinks are fairly decent in price for town. The people here are what makes this place so special and gives it the eccentric character it holds.

Whelans is still the best place about for gigs, it is true old style Dublin. Camden street is the best place in the city at night.

A corner stone of Dublin and Music scene centre. It has a bar and music venue area. The Bar is free in but later busy nights it’s not possible to get into the bar. So the cover charge for the club or gig can be the pricey situation. Have enjoyed many gigs there. It seems to be a meeting piont for artists in the irish music industry at times. I have fond memorys of Whelans on Sundays at around 17:00. Just by the bar anybody could turn up with a guitar and join in and play. Sometimes Damien Dempsey would turn up and sing reverently Dubliner folk tunes. Paddy Casey could appear also the odd time accompanied by other music industry collegues aswell as pals.
The pub is a nice interior with a decent smoking area. Often they would do cheaper beer deals to cater for the students that would pour in around 21:00. Beside Whelans is a DIT college and it is also located near student flat land. So the scene is quite young and lively. A particularly chilled out pub at times before its fills up with punters. However it is also a late bar on weekends. So Dj’s that arrive into the bar can play interesting sounds. They do food aswell during the day.

As Dublin’s celebrated Whelan’s celebrates 20 years of hosting some of the best acts – Jeff Buckley to name but one – to come to the city, it has opened a new venue…above the old one. If you thought the usual venue was intimate, Whelan’s Upstairs even has a fireplace and red walls creating a warm fuzzy glow that would seem the wet dream of any weepy singer-songwriter.
However, the new venue’s choice of acts has taken a different route, its late night gigs with the best of Ireland’s own providing the perfect alternative for those who love a good night out but just aren’t that into clubbing. Small enough that after 30 minutes you feel you know every face in the crowd, and big enough to still not care, Whelan’s Upstairs makes a great night out.

Very good music (rock, folk)
Nice atmosphere and people.

If you like good music, a quirky friendly atmosphere and interesting conversations with Dublins finest alternative residents then Whelans is definately your cup of tea. Whelans provides the latest indie tracks and upcoming bands coupled with nostalgic soundtracks from the past and at 10 euro entry it is by no means a bank breaker. So if dancing like a madman, in a venue which has held artists such as Jeff Buckley, is your thing then head to Whelans of Wexford st.

I love Whelan’s. When it’s the time of the night you have been out for five/six hours, most people are merry and happy, looking for a place to dance, you always try to end up in Whelan’s. It’s always a bit messy and overcrowded but the music is great to dance to and it’s always great fun. Pity it costs a bit to get in.

One of the best venues to see bands I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to a lot). Whelan’s just has that laid-back music dork atmosphere you can’t fake.

Crowds here tend to talk less and listen more than other Dublin venues, which is really nice when you’re seeing bands you actually want to hear.