Poetry, Music, Drama, and Comedy in Dublin

Have you ever visited a new city and wondered where all the musicians, artists, and literary enthusiasts are hanging out? In my experience, I always discover this place about an hour before my plane or train is meant to depart. It can be difficult finding these types of authentic places, but sometimes they are the perfect solution for feeling as if you’ve discovered the character of a location. If you’re in Dublin on a Monday night and are wondering where you can find some free entertainment, look no further than the Glor Sessions at the International Bar.

The International Bar is a quintessential Dublin city center pub located on Wicklow Street. Every Monday night, poet and MC Stephen James Smith organizes Glor Sessions, (glor being the Irish for voice, sound, or noise) which features a variety of music, poetry, short stories, drama, and comedy. Odds are you won’t have heard of any of the acts, as many of them are up-and-coming and just getting started. But you might also strike gold and arrive on a night when Damien Rice treats his hometown to a set, or when Damien Dempsey takes the stage.

If you’re a writer, you can have an opportunity to take to the mic as well. Each session features scheduled acts followed by an open mic where anyone from the audience is encouraged to participate. Although the event takes place on a Monday, in true Dublin form, there will be plenty of drinks flowing which may help you to overcome your stagefright. Be prepared just in case and bring along a short piece or a poem to share with the audience. 

Most importantly, you will be at the center of the exciting, young literary scene in Dublin. This city has rightfully earned a reputation for its writers, and by attending Glor sessions, you won’t have to pay an expensive ticket price or sit through a lecture to experience it.

Address: Glor Sessions, The International Bar, 23 Wicklow St, Dublin 2. (map)

Photo Credit: SXC