Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

ENTER T AINMENT IN DUBLIN  113

the city. Whelan’s is probably
the most popular live venue.
Since 1989, many famous
names have performed on its
stage. Temple Bar venue, The
Mezz, hosts live reggae, funk
and rock music most nights of
the week. Set on two floors, this
place is always packed with
students and tourists. Get there
early if you want to find a good
seat by the stage.
The Workman’s Club is
another of Dublin’s live music
venues, with several bars and
stages spread across two floors.
Façade of the Hugh Lane Gallery DJs keep the tunes pumping
Cinema late into the night, with indie,
musical tastes, with hillbilly, rock and ska sounds.
The city’s cinemas had a performances covering The upstairs room at the
boost in the 1990s with the opera, jazz, dance, musicals, likeable International Bar plays
success of Dublin-based films Irish folk and popular music host to an acoustic session on
such as My Left Foot (1989). among others. Wednesday nights where
Huge growth in the country’s The Hugh Lane Gallery singer/songwriters come to test
movie pro duction industry (see p95), which boasts an themselves in public. There is
followed, and hits like excep tional collection of also a Sunday afternoon
Intermission (2004), The Guard paintings including works traditional Irish music session
(2011) and Calvary (2014) by Degas, Renoir and Monet, that takes place between 1pm
keep Ireland in the spotlight. has regular and free Sunday and 4pm. The Ha’penny Bridge
The Irish Film Institute lunch time concerts. Other Inn has folk and blues on Friday
showcases mostly foreign and venues include the Irish and Saturday nights.
inde pendent films, along with Museum of Modern Art at Big names play at either the
a programme of lectures. It the Royal Hospital Kilmainham 3Arena or, in summer, at the
boasts two screens, as well (see p101), which houses over local sports stadia. The Olympia,
as a bar and restaurant. The 3,500 artworks by Irish and a Victorian theatre, hosts
Lighthouse Cinema in international artists, such as memorable concerts in
Smithfield has a repertoire of art- the Royal Dublin Society extraordinary surroundings.
house films. The Savoy is Dublin’s (RDS). International opera is Outside Dublin, Slane Castle
oldest operational cinema and is staged in the 3Arena. Opera hosts a big rock event most
popular for film premieres. Ireland performs every April summers (see p249).
The large first-run cinemas and November at the Gaiety Button Factory and The
such as Cineworld are located Theatre. The programme Sugar Club offer jazz, salsa, Latin
on the north side. They usually at the Bord Gáis Energy and blues all year, and The
offer tickets at reduced prices Theatre on the city’s south Academy has live bands and
for afternoon screenings, and side includes opera and DJs over four floors. Country
show late-night films on the ballet productions. music is popular in Ireland, and
weekend. The summer-long plays at several Dublin pubs.
Temple Bar Cultural Events Rock, Jazz, Blues Check entertain ment listings
include open-air screenings, and Country for details.
mainly in Meeting House Square.
Dublin has had a
Classical Music, Opera thriving rock
and Dance scene ever since
local band Thin
The National Concert Hall Lizzy made it big
is served well by its resident in the early
orchestra, the RTÉ National 1970s. U2’s
Symphony Orchestra, which success acted as
gives weekly performances. a further catalyst
There are also impressive for local bands,
visiting international orchestras, and each night
such as the Berlin Philharmonic there’s usually an
Orchestra. The popular venue inter esting gig
caters for a wide range of some where in Live rock band performing at the Sugar Club

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