Dublin Stag Do

A Dublin stag do is about as close to a sure thing as stag planning gets. It’s a short hop from the UK, the pubs are some of the best anywhere, and the city has turned a night out into an art form. Add live music, good craic and Guinness that genuinely tastes better on home soil, and you’ve got a weekend that more or less runs itself.

It suits big groups, mixed ages and the uncle who only drinks stout. You’ll still need to keep the stag upright, but that’s true everywhere.

Temple Bar is the obvious start. It’s touristy and loud, with live music from early on, and every stag in Dublin passes through it at least once. Do it, enjoy it, then move on before the rounds start draining the kitty.

For a bigger night, head south to Wexford Street, Camden Street and Harcourt Street, where the bars get busier and the clubs stay open later. North of the Liffey, around Capel Street, the pubs are more traditional, which is where I’d take the group for a quieter pint on Sunday.

The drinks list writes itself. Guinness, obviously, and a round of Irish whiskey once the stag is warmed up. Nominate one person to order, because twelve blokes all asking for “just a half” is how you lose an evening at the bar.

The Guinness Storehouse is the big one, finishing with a pint at the Gravity Bar at the top and views across the city. Whiskey fans can do a distillery tour, and sports fans can tour Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games. If you want something more active, clay pigeon shooting in the countryside north of the city, go karting and footgolf are all easy to book.

For an evening that gets everyone shouting, a night at the greyhound racing at Shelbourne Park is a Dublin classic. Let the stag pick every dog, then make him explain his system to the group.

You can fly into Dublin from most UK airports, or take the ferry across the Irish Sea from Holyhead or Liverpool if a few of the lads fancy driving. Dublin uses the euro, so don’t turn up with a wallet full of sterling. The centre is easy to walk, and taxis are around for the late ones.

• No drinking in the street. Dublin City Council has bye-laws against drinking in public places, so keep your cans in the hotel and your pints in the pub.
• Bring photo ID. Airlines and ferry companies want it, and some bars ask too. Check what your carrier accepts before you travel.
• Watch the calendar. Rugby internationals, big GAA days and St Patrick’s weekend fill the hotels fast. Brilliant atmosphere, but book early.
• Go easy on the fancy dress. Dublin has seen it all, but some pubs and clubs can turn away groups in costume. Wear the outfits in the daytime and dress smarter at night.
• Best months. Any time works, because most of the fun is indoors. Pack a coat regardless.

Fancy something similar closer to home? Belfast has the same love of a good pub, and Liverpool is just across the water. For a stag weekend in Dublin, compare the packages from UK stag companies below.

The centre of Dublin is easy to walk, so I’d base the group somewhere central between Temple Bar and the Wexford Street, Camden Street and Harcourt Street strip to the south. That keeps Temple Bar on foot for the first night and puts the busier bars and later clubs within reach when the stag wants to go big. Taxis are around for the late ones if anyone’s legs give up.

I wouldn’t pick a bed slap in the middle of Temple Bar itself. It’s touristy and loud, with live music from early on, which is great when you’re in it and less great when you’re trying to sleep off a skinful. North of the Liffey, Capel Street has the more traditional pubs, so it suits a group that cares more about a proper pint than a late club.

My tip: check the calendar before anything else. Rugby internationals, big GAA days and St Patrick’s weekend fill the hotels fast, so lock in the beds first and sort the rest after.

Friday Fly in from your nearest UK airport, or take the ferry from Holyhead or Liverpool if a few of the lads are driving. Swap the sterling for euro before you leave and check every man’s photo ID. Friday night is Temple Bar: live music, a couple of rounds of Guinness and a bit of craic, then move on before it gets expensive. One man orders for the group, no exceptions.

Saturday If there’s fancy dress, today’s the day for it, because some pubs and clubs turn away groups in costume after dark. Start at the Guinness Storehouse, which finishes with a pint at the Gravity Bar at the top; you’ll find it as a Guinness tour in the packages below. Then burn it off with go karting or a round of footgolf. In the evening, get out to Shelbourne Park for a night at the greyhound racing and put the stag in charge of the betting. After that, change into something smarter and head south to Wexford Street, Camden Street and Harcourt Street, where the bars are busier and the clubs stay open later. Irish whiskey goes in once the stag is warmed up.

Sunday Slow it right down. Cross the Liffey to Capel Street for a quieter pint in the traditional pubs, and if the sports fans still have the legs, do the stadium tour at Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games. Keep any hair of the dog inside the pub, because Dublin has bye-laws against drinking in public places, then head for the airport or the ferry.