The Merry Ploughboys dinner and show

If you love music and dance, this is a must when visiting Dublin. Voted one of the top attractions in Ireland multiple years in a row, The Merry Ploughboys is somewhat of an institution by now. The pub, owned by Irish musicians, offers dinner and a show in the evenings with scrumptious Irish food and wonderful traditional Irish music, singing, and dance.

A shuttle service takes you from central Dublin and returns you again afterwards so you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! (Note: tickets without shuttle are available if required.)

Price per person including shuttle transfer from/to Dublin city centre*

Adult: R 1 480
Child: R 1 348

*Subject to availability and major currency fluctuations.

Email sales@britishtips.com to book.

Schedule

What is ‘Merry Ploughboys’?

The Merry Ploughboys are a traditional folk group from Dublin, Ireland, who have been “singing it like they mean it” for 30 years , with gutsy and engaging vocals backed by arrangements of fiddle, mandolin and guitar and often joined by uilleann pipes, whistle or tenor banjo. The band is named after the ballad of the 1916 rebellion.

Their repertoire spans humorous old Dublin music hall and street-songs, classic ballads from 19th and 20th century Irish history, timeless songs of emigration and romance, and peppered with traditional Irish dance tunes and their own original material.

They perform over 300 shows per year in their home venue, The Merry Ploughboy, and are ably assisted throughout the year by other talented musicians and dancers.

What is The Merry Ploughboy Pub?

This is the name of the pub itself, which is located in Rathfarnham, Dublin, and is home to Dublin's best Traditional Irish Night Show.

The five original members of the The Merry Ploughboys band (Gareth Campbell, Donal Cawley, Dermot Daly, Liam Heneghan, and Eoghan Heneghan) founded the pub and restaurant (gastro pub) with a fully seated concert venue in the Dublin mountains and named it The Merry Ploughboy Pub.

The historic building itself was originally opened in the 1800s (allegedly as a shebeen but later a legal public house – pub). Today, it is a beautiful white-and-green building with traditional, rustic décor inside, and pretty flower baskets outside. It really is a treat to visit!

What is the dinner and show about?

You arrive in the atmospheric pub and enjoy your delicious Irish home-style meal. Towards the end of the meal, the show will begin, with traditional Irish music and dancers. It will have you laughing out loud, tapping your toes, singing along, and generally just having a really good craic (Irish for ‘a good time)!

The show itself is immensely popular and has been awarded the gold medal for excellence by CIE tours, Ireland’s biggest International tour operator, for “Ireland’s best dinner/show” six times in a row.

We at British TIPS have always had outstanding feedback from our clients for whom we have booked the dinner-and-show experience.

What is the food like?

Excellent! Eating at the Merry Ploughboy is all about a pub dining experience that offers delicious and remarkable Irish food and drinks that meet the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality, combining both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.

The menu has three appetising courses. Menus change seasonally so please get in touch for more information.

If you have special food requirements, please advise us in advance so that this can be catered for.

Is it family friendly?

How does the shuttle service work?

If you are attending the show and do not have a car, a shuttle is recommended (British TIPS rate include shuttle from the city centre). Advance booking is essential. If you are not staying in Dublin city centre, let us know so that we can advise you accordingly.

Pick-ups:

18h10 Dublin Writers Museum Parnell Square North
18h15 Gresham Hotel O'Connell Street
18h25 Nassau Street ("Collins Day Tours" bus stop opposite side of the street from "Reads" print and design shop)
18h30 Shelbourne Hotel (at steps of hotel)
18h35 Conrad Hotel (at front door)
18h35 Clayton Hotel Burlington Road (outside front gate)
18h40 Ballsbridge Hotel (bus stop outside hotel)
18h40 Intercontinental Hotel (Cityscape bus stop outside Clayton Ballsbridge hotel, Simmonscourt Road)

Return:

The shuttle leaves shortly after the end of the show (which finishes at 22h00) and will drop you back to your hotel (or as close as practical).

How do I book to go to The Merry Ploughboys?

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