McDaids, Dublin

McDaids, Dublin

This classic Irish pub on Harry Street was the one time haunt for the nation's 20th-century literary giants: Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O'Brien, J.P. Donleavy, Liam O'Flaherty, Paddy Kavanagh and Brendan Behan. The latter, in particular, was a regular and often entertained the crowd with his vast repertoire. He is also said to have based some of his characters in "The Hostage" and "Borstal Boy" on the publicans he met here. According to Joycean scholars, McDaids also served as the setting for the opening of his story, "Grace".

The place has quite a unique ambiance, with a distinctive Victorian exterior and dimly lit interior, featuring high ceilings and a smattering of chairs and tables. Upon stepping inside, you may find it hard to believe that it was once the City Morgue, later turned into a chapel for the Moravian Brethren, hence the Gothic-style windows and lofty ceilings.

Today, McDaids is known for its jazz and blues music sessions, adding to its cultural allure steeped in literary history. Conveniently located near Grafton Street, it's a perfect retreat after a shopping spree, offering a comforting pint of Guinness, fondly called "plain". Otherwise, if you're planning a party, the room upstairs is just the ticket. Despite being packed on weekends like many popular Irish pubs, this doesn't deter those seeking to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of old literary Dublin.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dublin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

McDaids on Map

Sight Name: McDaids
Sight Location: Dublin, Ireland (See walking tours in Dublin)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Dublin, Ireland

Create Your Own Walk in Dublin

Create Your Own Walk in Dublin

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dublin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pub Crawl

Pub Crawl

The Irish in general and Dubliners in particular are known for their passion for whiskey and beer. As you embark upon a beguiling odyssey through the spirited streets of the Irish capital, you can't help noticing the reverberating vibrancy coming from its enchanting pubs. A tapestry of libation-laden lore awaits those who traverse the path of the Dublin pub crawl, guided by the siren call of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Dublin Introduction Walking Tour

Dublin Introduction Walking Tour

Sitting on the country's east coast, the capital of the Republic of Ireland is the national center for education, arts, administration and industry. The name Dublin derives from the Irish word Dubhlind. Dubh means "black, dark", and lind means "pool", referring to a dark tidal pool located where the River Poddle enters the Liffey.

Dublin celebrated its “official”...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Dublin Literary Pubs

Dublin Literary Pubs

The three Ps of Dublin – the pub, the poet, and the pint – have always distinguished the Irish capital as home to some of the most literary pubs in Europe. Indeed, Dublin's public houses, where writers traditionally sharpened their wit, today encapsulate the enchantment of the written word and play a significant role in preserving and celebrating this legacy.

Among these revered...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
A Walk Along Liffey River

A Walk Along Liffey River

The Liffey River is a major waterway that flows through the Irish capital, stretching approximately 125 kilometers (78 miles) and dividing the city into two halves: the Northside and the Southside.

A stroll along the river is bound to take you to the places steeped in history, associated with the events and people that played a significant role in the culture and development of Dublin, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
A Walk with Famous Irish Writers

A Walk with Famous Irish Writers

Albeit a small country, Ireland has given the world a plethora of remarkable writers and poets, many of whom were born, lived, and studied in Dublin. Needless to say, as an epicenter of Ireland's literary scene, Dublin boasts a myriad of hallowed locations closely associated with the luminaries of Irish literature, such as James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and many of their...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


16 Distinctively Irish Things to Buy in Dublin

16 Distinctively Irish Things to Buy in Dublin

The birthplace of many artistic talents, such as Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, Dublin is the show-window of Ireland, a small country renowned for its rich cultural scene encompassing music, writing, poetry, dance, craftsmanship and more. The food & drink scene of Dublin (much as the whole of...