When the
Six Nations Championship kicks off on 2 February, the sense of excitement among Irish rugby fans will be palpable. As the Irish team goes head-to-head with France in Marseille, Dublin’s army of rugby fans will crowd into the city’s pubs to cheer on their team and enjoy a few pints.
Win, lose or draw, the atmosphere will be upbeat and good natured and will mark the start of a party that will continue over the five rounds of the championship.
For a really memorable rugby weekend, head to Dublin when the city is hosting Six Nation matches on 11 and 24 February and 16 March.
The games will be played in the city’s state-of-the-art, 50,000-capacity
Aviva Stadium and the game-day excitement will be off the chart. If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket, you’ll experience a truly remarkable atmosphere as local and visiting fans cheer on their teams, bidding to out-sing each other in their support.
If you can’t get a ticket, don’t worry. There are plenty of buzzing bars near the stadium where you can watch the match on the big screen and where the atmosphere will be just as electric.
Try Searsons on Baggot Street, where famous Irish writers Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan used to hang out, or The Bridge 1859 owned by Irish rugby stars Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney and the perfect place to watch the match. Ryans Beggars Bush, also near the stadium, is over 100 years old and claims to serve the best pint of Guinness in the area.
And while everyone wants to see their team win, the natural friendliness of the Irish ensures that once the match is over, everyone is invited to the party that inevitably spills onto the streets. In and around the city’s Temple Bar and O’Connell Street areas are key places to be for the post-match music and banter.
Ireland’s people have been voted the world’s most generous hosts and they will be keen to roll out the red carpet for visiting rugby supporters and ensure that they enjoy not just the matches but everything that Dublin has to offer.
Top visitor attractions in the city include the
Guinness Storehouse,
Dublin Castle,
Kilmainham Gaol and historic Trinity College, where a new
Book of Kells Experience has recently opened.
And if time allows, committed rugby fans should not miss a trip over to Limerick in the west of the island to visit the
International Rugby Experience which takes visitors into the heart of the game, its history and its legends.
www.ireland.com