Top things to do in Dublin — week of 30 March

Right, week of the 30th. Dublin in late March is grand — the days are getting longer, the pints are still indoors, and there's a few things on this week worth pulling on a coat for.

I keep my list on Rifio because between Eventbrite, Luma and the eight Instagram accounts I follow, it's a state. The Dublin this-week page is updated daily.

Monday: trad session at the Cobblestone

The Cobblestone Monday session is one of those things that's been on for years, free, no fuss, the lads in the corner with the fiddles know exactly what they're doing. Pint of the black stuff, sit down, shut up, listen.

It fills up by 21:00, get there earlier or you'll be standing at the door.

Tuesday: pub quiz at the Stag's Head

Tuesday quiz at the Stag's, free entry, prize is a 50 euro bar tab and a round for the winners. The questions are harder than they should be, the music round is brutal, and the host is grand.

We came fourth last week. We'll come fourth this week.

Wednesday: International Comedy Club

The mid-week line-up is the sharpest of the week. Twelve quid, doors at 20:00, four acts plus the host. One Irish, one English, one Scottish, one American who'll bomb because the audience is too sober.

It's deadly value, the room's small, get there for 19:30.

Thursday: Doheny & Nesbitt for a quiet pint

No event. Just go. Doheny & Nesbitt is the pub Dublin pretends to be in the tourism ads, except it actually is that pub once you're past the early-evening hour. Late Thursday, after 22:00, it's mostly regulars and politicians who should be home.

Friday: Whelan's upstairs

New Irish band, second album dropped last month, the upstairs room at Whelan's is a little box and that's the point. 14 euro, doors at 20:00, support's worth showing up for.

If gigs aren't your thing, the Workman's Club does a DJ night on the same night that's the move for anyone under thirty.

Saturday: Long Hall and a wander

A pint at the Long Hall before dinner is one of the best small pleasures in Dublin. Then dinner somewhere on Camden Street, then back into Whelan's for whatever's on, then home. That's the night.

If you want a proper club night, Workman's Vaults are open till late and the door's grand if you're not eejiting around.

Saturday late: tech party at the Workman's

There's a startup-and-AI thing happening in the Workman's Vaults on Saturday, free, RSVP on Luma. It's a strange one — half the room is wrecked already, the other half is sober and trying to network. Both halves end up dancing by 01:00. Recieved decent reports last month.

Sunday: Grogan's roast

The toastie is the famous one, the roast is the better one. Get there for 13:00 if you want a seat in the back room. Pint of plain, slice of beef, you're sound.

If you want something else, Hatch & Sons in the Little Museum does a Sunday brunch that's quieter and posher and twice the price.

Twelve things, one week, one survivable plan. Save the ones you fancy on Rifio — the free events filter is the easiest way to find a midweek night that won't cost you forty quid.