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Dublin: Irish Dinner & Dance Show at Johnnie Fox's
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From €70 per person
Johnnie Fox’s has been pulling pints in the Dublin Mountains since 1798, which makes it one of the oldest pubs in Ireland - and at over 450 metres above sea level, it’s the highest one too. The village of Glencullen sits about 30 minutes’ drive from the city, and the pub itself looks exactly like you’d hope: walls covered in old photographs, farm tools, and two centuries of family memorabilia. This isn’t a themed tourist experience dressed up to look like an Irish pub. It’s the real thing that happens to put on one of the best traditional Irish nights in the country.
The evening kicks off with the three-course Hooley Menu. Starters run to seafood chowder, duck pate, and mussels steamed in cider. For your main you can choose from lamb shank, beef and Guinness pie, Irish lamb stew, or a seafood pie. Dessert brings homemade apple pie, banoffee cream pie, or the pub’s own whiskey cake, rounded off with tea or coffee. It’s hearty, well-made food and they’re generous with the portions.
Once the plates are cleared, the entertainment takes the room. A live session fills the place with fiddles, bodhrans, and tin whistles, then the dancers take the floor for a high-energy show. It gets lively and loud in the best possible way. The round-trip coach from Dublin city centre is included, so you don’t have to think about navigating mountain roads in the dark - and the 30-minute drive up through the Dublin Mountains is a lovely start to the evening in itself.
The drive up is part of the experience. The road to Glencullen winds up through the Dublin Mountains with views back over the city lights as the evening gets going. It’s worth paying attention out the window rather than staring at your phone on the way up.
Johnnie Fox’s gets busy on weekend nights, but that’s what makes it work. The energy in the room feeds the performance. If you’re someone who’d prefer a quieter dinner, this one isn’t the right fit - but if you want a full room singing and clapping along with the dancers, this is exactly the place.
Let them know about dietary needs when you book, not when you arrive. The kitchen can accommodate different requirements, but they need a bit of notice. A quick note at booking time means your dinner is sorted properly rather than scrambled together last minute.
Dress comfortably but bring an extra layer. It’s a mountain pub in Ireland. Even in summer the evenings get cool, especially on the coach journey back down. A light jacket tucked in your bag will serve you well.
If you can, take a look at the walls while you’re there. The memorabilia at Johnnie Fox’s spans two centuries and it’s genuinely worth a wander around the pub before the entertainment starts. There are photographs and objects in there that tell a real social history of this part of County Dublin.