I recently travelled around Ireland for 10 days. The cities I visited were Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway & saw some friends in a small town.
Dublin is hit and miss, entirely depends what time of year to go to. The nightclub Copper Face Jacks will be busy all year though (situated at the top of Grafton Street). Freshers months, rag week or post exams (May time) are the best for Dublin. I went in Feb/March this year and it was much quite than in October last year. Clubs I went to on both trips were Club M (shit hole) & alchemy (not great but I got free entry)
Cork was fantastic, my hotel was centrally located but the night porter was an ass hole when it came to bringing girls back. Bar I went to were 6ix, the night club was called the savoy and another bar that I can't remember the name was. I arrived via train and I'm a young short lad, I was wearing a suit waiting for the taxi and there were plenty of 7s or 8s running past me to get into the station say hey. The people are very friendly, flirty and fun. Cork was probably the best city I visited. There is a noticeable polish community there although the few I spoke to seemed to be very disrespectful about Ireland (and the UK).
Limerick. I was fortunate to have gone during rag week. The bar I went to was Smyths bar that play live music every day (one band is called free beer which always gives the bartenders a laugh) at about 11pm the you go down some stairs in to the nightclub there called Icon. As I was there during rag week I can not say what it is like on a normal night but it was fucking packed. There two dance floors and a few bars scattered about, not many toilets and two tiny smoking areas. No where to speak to a girl.
Galway is another student town, will find international students there (mostly Americans). Bars I went to were the quays, hole in the wall, carbons, front door and electric. Hole in the wall is a fantastic little venue, it's where the young Irish girls go to dance to more cheese songs (Brice Springsteen - Dancing in the dark) is the song most memorable from my time there. Then soon as nightclubs open at 11 in dies down dramatically. Carbons on a wednesday is a must for cheap drinks, I paid €5 for a double Jameson and then it was buy one get one free too. so a quadruple Jameson for €5. Venue is fairly small though. Front door has more international customers drinking there. I did not rate electrics that much (possible due to fatigue as I did 8 nights out in a row).
Finally Castlebar. Avoid. Not worth your time. The nightclub, Mantra, is very dated but there is two rooms. One for over 21s which may be better. But avoid that place.
Out of the places I visited I would rate them like this
Cork
Galway
Dublin (Is fantastic during the right season)
Limerick
Castlebar
I have never visited Scotland so I can't comment there. All the best on your trip.
Dublin is hit and miss, entirely depends what time of year to go to. The nightclub Copper Face Jacks will be busy all year though (situated at the top of Grafton Street). Freshers months, rag week or post exams (May time) are the best for Dublin. I went in Feb/March this year and it was much quite than in October last year. Clubs I went to on both trips were Club M (shit hole) & alchemy (not great but I got free entry)
Cork was fantastic, my hotel was centrally located but the night porter was an ass hole when it came to bringing girls back. Bar I went to were 6ix, the night club was called the savoy and another bar that I can't remember the name was. I arrived via train and I'm a young short lad, I was wearing a suit waiting for the taxi and there were plenty of 7s or 8s running past me to get into the station say hey. The people are very friendly, flirty and fun. Cork was probably the best city I visited. There is a noticeable polish community there although the few I spoke to seemed to be very disrespectful about Ireland (and the UK).
Limerick. I was fortunate to have gone during rag week. The bar I went to was Smyths bar that play live music every day (one band is called free beer which always gives the bartenders a laugh) at about 11pm the you go down some stairs in to the nightclub there called Icon. As I was there during rag week I can not say what it is like on a normal night but it was fucking packed. There two dance floors and a few bars scattered about, not many toilets and two tiny smoking areas. No where to speak to a girl.
Galway is another student town, will find international students there (mostly Americans). Bars I went to were the quays, hole in the wall, carbons, front door and electric. Hole in the wall is a fantastic little venue, it's where the young Irish girls go to dance to more cheese songs (Brice Springsteen - Dancing in the dark) is the song most memorable from my time there. Then soon as nightclubs open at 11 in dies down dramatically. Carbons on a wednesday is a must for cheap drinks, I paid €5 for a double Jameson and then it was buy one get one free too. so a quadruple Jameson for €5. Venue is fairly small though. Front door has more international customers drinking there. I did not rate electrics that much (possible due to fatigue as I did 8 nights out in a row).
Finally Castlebar. Avoid. Not worth your time. The nightclub, Mantra, is very dated but there is two rooms. One for over 21s which may be better. But avoid that place.
Out of the places I visited I would rate them like this
Cork
Galway
Dublin (Is fantastic during the right season)
Limerick
Castlebar
I have never visited Scotland so I can't comment there. All the best on your trip.