Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd April 2026 – Dublin Vicar Street
Vicar Street is a concert venue, performing arts centre and events space in Dublin, Ireland. Located at Thomas Street, Dublin 8, Vicar Street has a capacity of 1,050 people for seated performances and 1,500 people for standing gigs. The venue is owned by Harry Crosbie and operated by Peter Aiken.
This week marks the end of the tour as we’re heading over to the island of Ireland for gigs in Dublin & Belfast.
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Today is a travel day and we’re off to Holyhead to catch the Dublin ferry…
Holyhead is a historic port town, and is the largest town and community in the county of the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Holyhead is on Holy Island, bounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and is separated from Anglesey island by the narrow Cymyran Strait.
Lovely day…
Time for a video…
Was funny
Along the way we passed through Llandudno…
Then Puffin Island…
Eventually we crossed over on to Anglesea…
The Britannia Bridge is a vital two-tier, dual-use rail and road crossing over the Menai Strait, connecting mainland Wales (Bangor) to the Isle of Anglesey. Carrying the A55 expressway and a railway line, it acts as a critical link between mainland Britain and the Port of Holyhead.The Menai Strait is a 16-mile, narrow tidal body of water separating the Isle of Anglesey from mainland North Wales. Famous for its turbulent waters, stunning scenery, and two iconic bridges, it is a renowned destination for history, wildlife, and adventure.
We’d organised a drop off at the nearest pub so on arriving in Holyhead we took a shortcut…
At the end of the passageway we found the pub…
The Holland Inn has been a friendly local fixture for years, cherished by people living in this busy port town and visitors alike. Positioned close to the town centre and transport links, it’s known for its welcoming atmosphere, regulars who treat the place like a second home, and a sense of character that comes from a pub where generations have met for a drink and a catch‑up.
It was a fan pub…
Beer looked decent…
JW Lees Bitter is an all-malt amber ale made using crystal malt and Golding hops. Deep amber with a floral aroma, its clean, dry taste is balanced with rich malt flavours and smooth bitterness. Its subtle citrus aftertaste makes it exceptionally drinkable.
We grabbed our spec…
Decent pint…
About an hour later…
The crossing was very similar to our journey last year (see Forest Fest blog)…
Keith fresh from another spinning session😵💫
Arriving in Dublin we got back on the bus and headed into town…
We were staying in Chancery Street…
We quickly dropped our bags and headed off to find a bar that fulfilled our criteria…
Great little bar…
A down-and-dirty dive bar, wooden countertops, tables and stools, lit by candlelight. It’s one of the best places in the city to catch live music, seven nights a week, from a mix of local talent and international touring bands.
Nice pint…
A very pale yellow is the colour here with a white head that shrinks rapidly. Hazy too. Citrusy hoppy aromas are quite intense and the hoppy element follows through to the smooth palate. It is in fact crisp, flavoursome and well timed for late spring and summer.
We just had a couple of pints as we were tired after such a long day…
Time to head back to the hotel.
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Good morning Dublin…
Breakfast was from 6.00-10.00 am so we decided to go out into the city and find somewhere else to eat…
Last night’s boozer
We’d decided on the ‘Brazen Head’ for our lunch…
The Brazen Head is a pub in Merchant’s Quay, Dublin, built as a coaching inn in 1754, on the site of a merchant’s dwelling dating back to at least 1613. It received a licence to sell ale in 1661, and the first mention of it as an inn was in 1668.
We set off…
The River Liffey is a major landmark that flows for 125 km from the Wicklow Mountains through County Kildare and the center of Dublin before emptying into Dublin Bay.
We walked past ‘The Olympia Theatre’ where we’d played back in the day to a packed crowd…
We’d planned to have our first pint in the ‘Old Stand’ on Exchequer Street…
The Old Stand is one of Dublin’s most favoured social haunts, being a traditional pub which has been located on this site in Exchequer Street the last 350 Years. With an abundance of old world charm, this pub is a warm, chatty, convivial pub which can be closely identified with the image of Dublin itself.
On the way Carl bumped into Dublin’s most favoured bass player…
The boys are back in town
Sadly, over the road the pub was shut…
We wandered over in the direction of St Stephen’s Green Park…
St. Stephen’s Green is a famous 22-acre Victorian public park in central Dublin, Ireland. It is renowned for its rich history—transitioning from a medieval marsh used for public executions to a private Georgian square and finally a public park funded by the Guinness family-and its prominent role as a battleground during the 1916 Easter Rising.A bronze bust of James Joyce, dated 1982, by sculptor Marjorie Fitzgibbon and sited within St. Stephen’s Green park, facing the writer’s alma mater, University College Dublin, formerly based at Newman House.Edward Delaney’s Famine Memorial sculpture depicting figures from the Great Famine, located in St Stephen’s Green park in Dublin, Ireland.The story of St. Stephen’s Green during the Easter Rising is one of courage, sacrifice, and hope. While the park’s role in the rebellion was brief, its significance endures. It remains a symbol of the spirit of those who dared to dream of a free Ireland, and of the ordinary people who found themselves swept up in extraordinary events.
We enjoyed our time in the park then headed off in the direction of the Brazen Head…
Nice inside…
Choice of beer was by the Rye River Brewing Co…
Upstream Pale Ale A balance of bitter citrus hop character with a soft malt body pushing through the aroma of grapefruit, orange peel and pine. A light body and a touch of honey..
Followed by the Brazen Head’s own Beef & Guinness Stew…
Chunks of Irish beef, mushrooms & vegetables in a rich Guinness and thyme sauce, served with mashed potato.
… and Steamed Mussels
Carlingford Lough Mussels steamed with garlic, shallots, parsley, thyme, cream and white wine served with a basket of chips.
Both were delicious😋
Back at the hotel, Aidan, the Concierge had been busy…
Later on in the afternoon, we headed off towards the venue…
Big inside…
After soundcheck we arranged to have a quiet drink at the nearby ‘Liberty Belle‘ pub…
You guessed it…
We sat at the back of the pub…
Great pint then back to the venue…
Fourteen minutes later…
Brilliant crowd!!
We watched the Monday’s…
Great show again!!
We ran next door to catch last orders at Tom Kennedy’s bar…
And met up with some of our guests…
They recommended a great pizza place…
DiFontaine’s Pizzeria is a famous New York-style pizza joint located in Temple Bar, Dublin, known for serving giant 20-inch pies and massive, foldable slices.
They were delicious!!
What a fantastic first day in Dublin we had !!!
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Sod breakfast…
Guinness factory here we come…
Tall, dark and effortlessly sophisticated, with a perfectly tailored head of creamy white foam. Smooth, slender and impeccably presented, it carries itself with quiet confidence. A little bitter around the edges, perhaps, but underneath there’s a soft, velvety character and a surprisingly warm finish.
Time to get on the groovy train…
Keith meanwhile had opted for a different mode of transport and hired a bicycle to ride along the scenic ‘Dublin Quays’ overlooking the Liffey…
The Dublin Quays are the historic roadways and quays running along both the north and south banks of the River Liffey through the center of Dublin.
Ha’penny Bridge…
The Ha’penny Bridge is Dublin’s oldest pedestrian crossing over the river Liffey. It was erected in 1816 as the Wellington Bridge and it acquired its better known nickname from the halfpenny toll levied on all users of the bridge up to 1919. The Ha’penny Bridge is one of the earliest cast-iron structures of its kind.
He rode up to Phoenix Park…
The Phoenix Park is a large public urban park in Dublin, lying 2-4 kilometres west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 11 kilometres perimeter wall encloses 1,750 acres of recreational space, it includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the 17th century has been home to a herd of wild fallow deer.The Wellington Testimonial was built to commemorate the victories of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. Wellington, a senior-ranking British military commander and, later, politician, also known as ‘the Iron Duke’, was born in Ireland. Originally planned to be located in Merrion Square, it was built in the Phoenix Park after opposition from the square’s residents.
All a fabulous experience, as was our learning to pour a pint…
Soon after…
We thoroughly enjoyed the Guinness Storehouse Tour!
We were certainly stored after all that food & drink!
It was an action packed morning so we took a Taxi back to the hotel for a lie down…
As we arrived, a couple of us decided to check out this pub just around the corner from the hotel…
Located at 149 Capel Street, The Boar’s Head is a historic Dublin pub operating since the 1830s. Famous for holding a rare 1837 “early house” license originally meant for market workers, it is deeply tied to Gaelic Athletic Association culture and managed today by Hugh and Ann Hourican.
Nice little pub…
The origins of Guinness stout lie in 18th-century London porter, a dark, hopped beer brewed with roasted barley that was highly popular with working-class street and dock porters. When this style migrated to Ireland, it completely transformed the brewing landscape and laid the foundation for the global icon known today.
After a quick refresh at the hotel we set off to the venue…
Nearby…
Michael Thomas Christopher Mallin; 1 December 1874 – 8 May 1916) was an Irish republican, Socialist and devout Catholic who took an active role in the Easter Rising of 1916. He was a silk weaver, the co-founder with Francis Sheehy-Skeffington of the Socialist Party of Ireland, and was second-in-command of the Irish Citizen Army under James Connolly in the Easter Rising, in which he commanded the garrison at St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
Backstage we’d brought our own rider…
Another great night…
All Together Now…
What a crowd…
After our show we went back to Tom Kennedy’s bar…
Inside the pub, the locals persuaded Peter to get on the karaoke…
After many drinks we went looking for a kebab…
Zaytoon…
At Zaytoon we’ve been nourishing Dublin since 2000, crafting kebabs from only the finest Irish ingredients – always fresh, never frozen.
The kebabs were fantastic!
Inevitably we headed off back to our favourite bar…
What a fantastic final night in Dublin!!!
Friday 24th April 2026 – Belfast Mandela Hall
Mandela Hall is a state-of-the-art, 950-capacity live music, comedy and concert venue situated in the heart of Belfast’s University Quarter.
Up and out for a brisk walk as we have to be out of the hotel by 11…
Chancery Park Fountain was installed in 1934–1935 as part of the original Art Deco layout for the Chancery House housing scheme, designed by city architect Herbert Simms.
We bade farewell to Aidan and his wife…
Then we were soon on the road to Belfast…
We’d planned to have lunch in Felons on the Falls Road…
The world famous Felons Club is located on the Falls Road next to Milltown Cemetery adjacent to The Kennedy Centre. Steeped in the fabric of West Belfast, The Felons is a popular bar and restaurant for visitors and locals who enjoy a pint .
The journey went by quickly…
And in no time we arrived at the Milltown Cemetery…
Milltown Cemetery has since 1869 been the burial ground in Belfast for republicans, nationalists, sports people, reknown poets and leading politicians, and the site of many British and Polish war graves. Internationally famous for containing the graves of Bobby Sands and other hunger strikers, in recent decades this cemetery has been visited by thousands of people wanting to learn more about the history of Belfast.
And on to the pub…
Decent menu..
Roast Of The Day Served With Roast & Creamed Potatoes, Vegetables & Gravy Beer Battered Haddock With Mushy Peas, Home-cuts, Tarter or Curry Sauce & Guinness.Guinness
Great pub but we had to get back on the road…
And to the hotel…
About half an hour later we were dropped off at the venue…
After soundcheck Roy recommended a nearby pub …
The Jeggy Nettle feels like the kind of place that’s been quietly brilliant for years without needing to shout about it. You’ll notice the mix straightaway—students nursing their first pint alongside retired lads who’ve been coming here since it opened, all of them sharing the same comfortable ease. The bar staff actually know what they’re doing, and there’s that rare quality of feeling welcome whether you’re a regular or passing through the neighbourhood.
We sat in the snug…
Hop House 13 is named after a 100-year-old building at St. James’s Gate, formerly used to store hops. This double-hopped beauty is just one delicious brew created by the talented team of brewers at our official home of experimentation in Dublin, the Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
Just the two pints as we had to get back to the venue…
Back stage we had again organised our rider…
Seven Bro7hers Easy IPA is a 4.7% ABV, crisp, and refreshing American-style session IPA brewed with pale caramel malts and Chinook, Centennial, Columbus, and Simcoe hops.
In conjunction with…
Brewed in Italy to the original recipe since 1963; Peroni Nastro Azzurro Italian bottled beer delivers a crisp and refreshing taste with a delicate balance of bitterness and light citrus notes.
It was a great crowd…
Back stage our good friend Terri Hooley joined us…
Terri Hooley is a music legend from Northern Ireland who was a prominent figure in the Belfast punk scene and founder of the Good Vibrations record shop and label. He was responsible for bands such as The Undertones, Rudi, Protex and The Outcasts making their mark on the music scene in Ireland and Britain. After playing “Teenage Kicks” on BBC, national radio John Peel then became a big supporter of the Good Vibrations record label.
This is his biography…
Terri Hooley’s astonishing life at a milestone birthday. Music, Good Vibrations, Belfast, punk rock, conflict, chaos and attitude.
Tonight we will watch the Monday’s for the last time on this tour…
They were again fantastic!!
After the show we went to see Bez playing a DJ set nearby …
Groovy🚂
After the set we all got a photo backstage…
Then headed back to the hotel for a final drink…
What a fantastic way to end the tour!
Saturday 25th April 2026
We were up bright and early as we were leaving at 8:30 to catch the ferry…
Roy had left even earlier to fly home for the match…
We arrived at the port in no time at all…
Off we go…
The journey is about 8 hours…
Plenty of time on our hands then…
After a while, Carl sighted the Isle of Man…
Back inside Carl compiled his Ireland Polaroids…
Eventually it was time for a pint…
An authentically Italian quality lager brewed with passion and the finest quality ingredients. A special blend of quality hops creates a well-balanced lager with some hoppy and fruity notes, finished with moderate bitterness and a clean aftertaste. BIRRA MORETTI can be matched perfectly with food, such as a delicious pasta dish – so fresh and simple that it transports you straight to the rolling hills of Tuscany.
Carl had been hoping to match the Moretti with his lunch…
Unfortunately that match was abandoned.
And so time passed by…
One more for the road…?
Homeward bound…
The end of a magnificent 7 weekend tour!
We absolutely loved being special guests of the Happy Monday’s on their 35 year anniversary tour for the album ‘Pills, thrills & bellyaches’…
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