Fáilte! As the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival (IDGTF) approaches, this guide will ensure you’re prepared for the stage and the city. Dublin is a city of stories, and as a visiting artist, you are now part of its literary fabric.

1. Travel and Transport

Getting to know Dublin

The city centre is divided by the River Liffey into two main areas – north of the river (Northside) and south of the river (Southside). The City is further divided into zones with odd numbers on the Northside and even numbers on the Southdside. Street signs will often include the zone number. Even more specifi, Eircodes identify every address in Ireland, and can be used in most mapping apps instead of the full address. Ericodes that start with D01 are in the north city centre (northside) and Ericodes that start with D02 are in the south city centre (southside). Note that unlike postal codes codes in other countries, the second part of an Eircode is not sequential, so D01 GH07 will not likely be near D01 GH08. There are no letters I or O in Ericodes so there is no confusion with ones and zeros.

The main north-south axis is from Parnell Square and O’Connell Street (the city’s main street) on the ‘Northside’ to Trinity College, Temple Bar and Grafton Street (the main shopping street) on the ‘Southside’. All of our venues are close to these streets. Before your visit we recommend printing our online venue map to become familiar with our venue locations.

Sail/Rail from the UK

Whilst most international visitors will come by airplane UK companies can use Sail/Rail which is often much cheaper (though takes longer depending where you live). It is also not subject to dynamic pricing and you get an all inclusive ticket price for train and ferry. https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/great-britain/rail-and-sail

Tourist Information

Your first stop should be to the Dublin Visitors’ Centre at 14 Upper O’Connell Street Upper, D01 WP59 or on-line at www.visitdublin.com. There you will be able to collect maps of Dublin and other information with staff on hand to answer any queries.

Getting to and from the Airport

There are a range of options to travel to and from Dublin Airport. While there is no direct rail link to the city centre there are frequent buses and taxis available for travel to/from the city centre (the ‘Aircoach’ and ‘Airlink’ being the fastest options). The journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes. Click here for details.

Local Transport

Dublin is compact, but schedules are tight.

•  The Leap Card: Buy a physical card at the airport (SPAR) or any city newsagent. The “90-Minute Fare” (€2.00) allows unlimited transfers across Bus, Luas (Tram), and DART (Train).
• Walking: Most festival venues are within a 20-minute walk of each other.
• Bicycles: Dublinbikes is a public bike-share scheme. A 3-day pass is roughly €5. Perfect for zipping between the Northside (Outhouse, Teacher’s Club) and Southside (New Theatre, Pearse Centre).

 

2. Accommodation: Strategic Stays

May is peak tourist season; book early.

• Aparthotels (Staycity / Zanzibar Locke): Ideal for troupes. Having a kitchenette allows you to prep meals, saving your per diems (if you are fortunate enough to have them) for the Festival Club.
• Trinity College Summer Suites: Located in the heart of Dublin 2, these open in May and put you walking distance from almost every venue.
• Hostels: Generator Dublin (Smithfield) and Jacob’s Inn (near Connolly Station) are clean, modern, and have “chill zones” perfect for line-learning.

 

3. Sustenance: Eating on an Artist’s Budget

As at any festival, ASK THE VOLUNTEERS, they are often students or arts workers who know where to find the tastiest bargains.

Grocery Stores

• Lidl & Aldi: The cheapest options. There are central branches near Outhouse and Teacher’s Club (Aldi and Lidl) ) and on the southside (Lidl).
• Moore Street Market: For the cheapest fresh fruit and veg, head here. It’s a 100-year-old traditional open-air market.
• Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, Dunnes Stores: Good for “Meal Deals” (sandwich, snack, drink for ~€5). They are on the north side near Outhouse and Teachers Club (Dunnes Stores Food Hall, SuperValu, Tesco), and on the southside near Pearse Center (Dunnes Stores Food Hall, SuperValu, Tesco) and New Theatre (Tesco).

Reasonable Eats & Coffee

• Umi Falafel,  Mary Street D01 T0C3/ George’s Street Arcade D02 DH79: The unofficial canteen of Dublin theatre. Healthy, filling, and very affordable (~€8 for a wrap).
• Cornucopia, 19-20 Wicklow Street, D02 FK27: A vegetarian institution with massive portions.
• Sprezzatura, 5/6 Camden Market, D08 FYK8: Fresh handmade pasta starting at €10.
• Books Upstairs, 17 D’Olier Street, D02 RX06: A beautiful, quiet cafe above a bookstore. Great for script meetings.
•  Accents Coffee & Tea, 23 Stephen Sreet Lower, D02 NW62 : Open late and very cozy with sofas—ideal for post-rehearsal wind-downs.
• Mini India, 28 Westmoreland Street, D02 EY73: Tucked in at the back of this South Asian grocery shop is a hot deli counter serving all manner of street food bargain bites such as six samosas for a fiver, or tea, filter coffee and chai for €2.
• Ayla, 30 Capel Street, D01 F593: Serving a range of pastries, fresh sandwiches and baklava, this Turkish grocery shop and bakery is an excellent spot for a grab and go lunch and you can easily sit outside in pedestrianised Capel Street.
• Di Fontaines, 22 Parliament Street, D02 NF24: One of Dublin’s most popular pizza slice spots, and convenient for the LGBTQ+ bars
• Disndat, 3 Dame Court, D02 Ka40: Serves a ham and cheese toastie and a pack of cheese and onion Tayto for a fiver. If you fancy calling in post show, Disndat runs another deal where a toastie and a pint comes in at the modest (for Dublin) sum of €10.
• The Black Sheep, 61 Capel Street, D01 N6E8: A lively gastro-pub, handy for some of the venues (Outhouse, Teacher’s Club), serving great beer and moderately priced (for Dublin) pub food.
• Paesano, 93 Parnell Street, D01 C4H0: 9″ Pizza with 3 toppings, chips, dip, adn a drink for €10.00

More suggestions for moderate priced dining

• Moderately priced places from Lovin Dublin
• Moderately priced places from Visit Dublin
• Vegeterian and vegan options from Visit Dublin
• Special occasions/mid-high dining from Eater.com

 

4. The LGBT+ Scene

Dublin’s queer soul lives in the “Pink Triangle” between Capel Street and George’s Street.

• PantiBar, 7-8 Capel St, D01 EH93: Owned by Panti Bliss. High energy, great cocktails, and a must-visit.
• Penny Lane, 2 Strand Street (at Capel Street), D01 P9K1: Across from PantiBar; more sophisticated and “chill” — perfect for a quiet pre-show drink.
• Street 66, 33-35 Parliament St, D02 YP97: Extremely welcoming to the theatre community. They have huge, comfy armchairs.
• The George, 89 South Great George’s Street D02 R220: The legendary drag hub. Go here for a late-night dance
  after your show run ends.
• Mother –  Best LGBTQ+ club, Saturdays in Lost Lane, 1-2 Losty Lane, D02 RP20

 

5. Healthcare for International Visitors

• Non-EU Visitors: You must have travel insurance. A GP visit costs €60–€75. Mercer’s Medical Centre (Stephen St) is very central.
• EU/UK Visitors: Bring your EHIC (EU) or just your ID (UK/CTA) or GHIC (UK). This covers necessary public care.
• Pharmacies: Boots or Hickey’s are everywhere. Pharmacists in Ireland can advise on minor ailments (voice strain, exhaustion) without a doctor’s visit.
• STDs (It happens) http://www.guideclinic.ie
• Emergency: Call 112 or 999.

 

6. Local Print Shops (Posters & Programs)

• Pisces Print: The Festival’s preferred printer. Fast, professional, and familiar with the tight turnarounds of the festival. sales@piscesprint.ie
• Reads Design & Print, 62 Middle Abbey Street, D01 YY68: Very popular with students and artists for bulk flyer printing. (Also, Reads Self-Service Centre, 68 Midel Abbey Streer, D01 PW89).
• Online Option: Just-Print.ie offers local pickup and is very competitive for larger poster runs.

 

7. Listings & Press Contacts

Where to find listings

• GCN (Gay Community News): The primary source for all things LGBTQ+.
• The Arts Review: Digital-only, but provides the most detailed independent theatre coverage.
• Totally Dublin: A free monthly culture magazine found in cafes.

Press Contacts

• GCN: editor@gcn.ie
• The Arts Review: theartsreview@gmail.com
• RTÉ Arena (National Arts Radio): arena@rte.ie
• Dublin City FM: arts@dublincityfm.ie

 

8. Props and Costumes

• Our tech team will try to assist with props, especially for large items needed by foreign companies. Send a message to tech@gaytheatre.ie.
• Charity Shops: Camden Street and Rathmines have the best density of shops (Oxfam, NCBI).
• Lucy’s Lounge, 11 Fownes Street Upper, D02 XW64 : A vintage cellar perfect for finding eclectic or period costume pieces.
• Guiney’s, 11-12 North Earl Street, D01 XT26: For fabric remnants and sewing kits.
• Evans Art Supplies, 5-6 Meeting House Lane, D07 YP89: For anything you need to build or paint a prop.

 

9. Exploring Dublin and Beyond

Since you may be familiar with the theatre and festival scene, here is a curated “artist’s edit” of things to do in the city—balancing the must-see landmarks with the quiet, atmospheric spots where Dublin’s creative soul really lives.

The “Big Three (plus one)” Cultural Hits

If you only have time for the heavy hitters, these are the most rewarding for artists:

• Trinity College & The Book of Kells: Walk the cobblestones where Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett studied. The Long Room library is essentially a cathedral for book lovers. Tip: Book the “Trinity Trails” tour for the best backstage history of the campus.
• Kilmainham Gaol: A powerful, haunting experience. It’s a former prison that held most of Ireland’s revolutionary leaders. The Victorian East Wing is an architectural marvel (and very cinematic). Note: Tickets sell out weeks in advance; book now.
• Guinness Storehouse: It’s the city’s most popular attraction for a reason. The view from the Gravity Bar at the top offers the best 360° panorama of Dublin. There are also many whiskey distilleries to visit near the Guinness factory.
• 14 Henrietta Street. Though not linked to artists, 14 Henrietta Street, is a fantastic tour  of what a tenement building in Dublin would be like. Essential to book ahead.

Artistic & Literary Escapes

• National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, D02 K303: Seek out Caravaggio’s The Taking of Christ or the dedicated Jack B. Yeats (Brother to W.B. Yeats) room for some moody, expressionist inspiration. (Free admission)
• Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle D02 AD92: Tucked behind Dublin Castle, this is a world-class collection of ancient manuscripts, scrolls, and art. It’s incredibly peaceful and features a beautiful rooftop garden. (Free admission)
• Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), 86 St Stephen’s Green, D02 XY43: Located in UCD’s original Jesuit House on St. Stephen’s Green. It’s an immersive, modern look at Ireland’s writers. Don’t miss “Copy No. 1” of James Joyce’s Ulysses.

Parks & “Secret” Gardens

• Iveagh Gardens: Known as the "Secret Garden," it’s much quieter than the nearby St. Stephen’s Green. It features a sunken lawn, a waterfall, and a maze—perfect for running lines in private.
• Stephen’s Green: The ‘lungs’ of the city. Gorgeous city centre park. `Gets very busy in summer but you can always find a patch of grass to sit on.
• The Phoenix Park: One of the largest walled city parks in Europe. You can rent a bike and hunt for the herd of wild fallow deer that live there. It’s also home to Dublin Zoo and  the President’s residence (Áras an Uachtaráin).
• National Botanic Gardens: Located in Glasnevin. Free entry.The Victorian glasshouses  are stunning, and it’s right next door to the historic Glasnevin Cemetery, where many  rish legends are buried. You can take an excellent guided tour of the cemetery.
• Merrion Square: Lovely Georgian garden square. Home of the Oscar Wilde Monument and situated opposite Oscar’s childhood home (now an educational facility but sometimes has limited openings to the public)

Authentic “Pub Culture” (Non-Temple Bar)

Temple Bar is great for photos, but for a real Dublin session, try:

• The Cobblestone, 77 King St North, D07 TP22: A “drinking hole with a music problem” It’s the best place in the city for traditional Irish music (Trad) in its rawest form.
• Grogan’s Castle Lounge, 15 William Street South, D02 H336: Famous for two things: no music/TVs (just talk) and the best toasted special (ham and cheese sandwich) in the city.
• Mulligan’s, 8 Poolbeg Street, DO2TK: A classic 18th-century pub once frequented by James Joyce. It’s dark, wooden, and serves what many locals consider the best pint of Guinness in Dublin.

A Breath of Sea Air / Quick DART Trips

• Howth: Head North for the Howth Cliff Walk. It’s a moderate hike with incredible views of the Irish Sea. The Green Loop is about 2 hours, starting and eninging at the Howth DART station. Reward yourself with seafood on the pier afterward.
• Sandycove & The Forty Foot: Head South to see the James Joyce Tower and join the locals for a “refreshing” (freezing) dip in the sea at The Forty Foot.
• Bray/Greystones: The Bray — Greystones Cliff Walk is a beautiful coastal path between two seaside towns which takes about two hours. Be sure to check the web site as the trail is currently closed for repairs.

 

10. Festival & Queer Venue Addresses

• Festival — Teachers’ Club,  36 Parnell Square West D01 T6V6
• Festival — Outhouse, 105 Capel Street, D01 R290
• Festival — The New Theatre,  43 Essex Street East, D02 XH96
• Festival — The Pearse Centre,  27 Pearse Street, D02 K037
• LGBTQ+ — PantiBar, 7-8 Capel St, D01 EH93
• LGBTQ+ — Street 66, 33-35 Parliament St, D02 YP97
• LGBTQ+ — The George, 89 South Great George’s Street D02 R220
• LQBGT+ — Penny Lane, 2 Strand Street (at Capel Street), D01 P9K1
• LGBTQ+ — The Vintage Inn, 74 Irishtown Road, D04 Y230

Map of these locations