Dublin Irish Dance Party: Learn Steps & Live Music

You Walk Into Merchants Arch and Your Table Is Waiting

You arrive at Merchants Arch Bar in Temple Bar, get seated at a reserved table, and watch live Irish dance performances while a singer explains the music and history. Midway through, the instructors teach you three group dances, no experience needed. Live entertainment is included, and the room has a full bar and an Irish food menu.

Step-by-step itinerary

Attend Irish Dance Party event

• Arrive at Merchants Arch Bar
• Be seated at reserved table
• Relax in the Irish pub setting
• Watch four dance performances
• Listen to Irish singer and commentary
• Learn three group Irish dances
• Full bar and Irish food menu on hand

The experience

The Irish Dance Party takes place upstairs at Merchants Arch Bar on Wellington Quay in Temple Bar, and you're seated at your own table the moment you arrive. Live Irish musicians host and MC the event, in a pub setting with a full bar. Your table is reserved, so you can settle in without the usual scramble for a spot in a crowded Dublin pub.

Then the instructors take the floor. They're award-winning Irish dancers, and they run through four choreographed performances over the course of the event. Between sets, the singer explains the history of the songs and the dances, cracking jokes and keeping the energy up without ever feeling forced. It's not a lecture. It's more like sitting with someone who knows the music and wants you to get why it matters.

Around halfway through, they teach the room three group dances. The first one runs about 20 minutes, the next is shorter, and by then you've picked up enough that you're not completely lost. The instructors are friendly and keep the steps simple, so it works even if you've never danced a step in your life. You're not performing for anyone. You're just moving with the people around you, and the live band is playing the whole time, so the rhythm carries you through.

The whole thing is built so you don't have to think about logistics. Public transport stops nearby, and the bar sits right in Temple Bar, so you're not hunting for some hidden venue. Comfortable clothes and shoes that let you move are all you need.

What’s included

A reserved table, live Irish dance performances by award-winning dancers, three group dance lessons taught by the instructors, and live Irish music and singing with historical commentary.

Options for this experience

3 options

Dublin's The Irish Dance PartyGuide in English · 12:00 and 14:30Dublin's The Irish Dance Party

Show OnlyGuide in English · 19:30

Show and DinnerGuide in English · 19:00Show and Dinner

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00, 14:30, 19:00 and 19:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Irish Dance Party

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a structured introduction to Irish dance and music: reserved seating means you're part of a live show, not hunting for a table in a crowded pub.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

Do I need to know how to dance?

No. The instructors teach three group dances during the event, and they're designed for complete beginners.

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for dancing are recommended.