Private Songs and Stories of Dublin (Walking Tour)

About This Tour

Kids go free on this one - which makes it a genuinely good option if you’re travelling as a family. It’s a private walking tour of Dublin that brings together the city’s storytelling tradition and its musical heritage, and it works for all ages without feeling like it’s been watered down for anyone.

As you move through iconic spots around the city, your guide performs live a cappella - folk ballads, revolutionary songs, the pieces Dubliners have been singing for centuries. You’ll hear the stories behind the music and the stories that stand on their own: Dublin’s history, its mythology, the characters who made the city what it is. You’ll sing “Molly Malone” together. The whole tour is tailored to your group, so if something catches your interest, the guide can lean into it.

Your guide meets you at the main entrance of St. Stephen’s Green Park on St. Stephen’s Green North. Walk straight ahead along the central path to find the Robert Emmet Statue near the northwest corner of the park.

What’s Included

• Experienced, qualified, Irish guide in person (English)
• Hotel meet-up available for central locations
• Private tour, tailored to your group

What’s Not Included

• Food and drinks (there’s a stop mid-tour for tea, coffee, or a pint - your own cost)
• Gratuities

Itinerary

1. “A Nation Once Again” - the story behind this song and what it meant (15 min)
2. The Molly Malone statue - sing along and hear about Dublin’s most famous local character (30 min)
3. Irish music’s broader impact and the notable artists who shaped it (30 min)
4. The legendary romantic freedom fighter, and the song inspired by his execution (25 min)
5. The statue of Cú Chulainn and the story of his death from Irish mythology (35 min)
6. A hidden remnant of medieval Dublin - the remains of one of the original 13th-century perimeter towers, plus the tale of Tristan and Isolt and its Irish roots (15 min)
7. Luke Kelly’s statue - the main voice of The Dubliners frozen mid-song, brought to life as your guide performs the very piece he’s captured in (15 min)
8. The Phil Lynott statue - frontman of Thin Lizzy and one of Ireland’s great rock characters (15 min)

Meeting point: St. Stephen’s Green Park, main entrance on St. Stephen’s Green North. Walk straight ahead along the central path to the Robert Emmet Statue near the northwest corner.

Good to Know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Prams and strollers welcome
• Service animals allowed
• Public transport nearby
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Conducted in English

Local Tips

The live a cappella is the thing that surprises people most. Walking tours in Dublin are common; a guide who performs the songs rather than just describing them is not. The a cappella is woven into the stops rather than bolted on at the end, so you’re hearing “The Rare Old Times” or “A Nation Once Again” in the place where the story happened. It changes how the history lands.

Luke Kelly’s statue is one of the most striking public sculptures in the city. It was unveiled in 2019 and captures him mid-performance - head back, mouth open, completely in the music. The sculptor Vera Klute caught something real in it. Your guide performs the piece Kelly is captured singing, which is the kind of moment this tour is built around.

The medieval tower remnant is genuinely hidden. Most people walk past it without noticing it’s there. Dublin had 13 perimeter towers as part of its city walls in the 13th century, and the fact that any traces remain in the modern city is remarkable. Your guide knows where to find it and what it connects to.

The mid-tour stop for tea or a pint is worth taking. It’s a natural break in the walking and gives your group a chance to chat about what you’ve seen so far. If you have kids with you, a hot chocolate or a snack goes a long way at the halfway point. The guide will know the right spot nearby.

St. Stephen’s Green is the meeting point, and it’s easy to find. The main entrance on St. Stephen’s Green North is right on the south side of Grafton Street at the bottom - there’s a large gate and a clear path through the park. The Robert Emmet Statue is a few minutes’ walk straight in along the central path, near the northwest corner. If you’re coming by Luas, the St. Stephen’s Green stop puts you almost at the gate.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Private Dublin Pub Odyssey - continue the musical theme into the evening with four real Dublin pubs and a storytelling guide who knows his way around a pint
• Private Dublin Food Tour with Expert Local Guides - start at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a five-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green, for a two-hour tour of Dublin’s food scene
• Private Dublin Whiskey Trail - if the history of the walking tour has you curious about Irish culture in a glass, the whiskey trail takes you from Temple Bar to Francis Street with tastings along the way