When it comes to entertainment, Dubliners with their naturally friendly and fun-loving attitude certainly know how to enjoy themselves.

Night or day, any time of the year, there is always something to entertain you. Pubs, comedy nights, concerts and cinema are just some of the ways to be entertained. Dublin embodies the best of the traditional, diverse and the cosmopolitan.

Pubs
Dublin is probably the world's most famous drinking city and that of course is down to the unique atmosphere of its pubs. Most of the city's more famous public houses date from the early or mid 19th century and their beautiful interiors are typically high-celinged and ornate with long wooden bars and huge mirrors. The charm of Dublin's older pubs derives from the fact that they are simple no nonsense places and many remain relatively unchanged for decades. Visitors can experience lively chat and a good pint of Guinness or "the black stuff".

As well as the older traditional pubs there is a great mix of modern late bars and clubs. There are over seven hundred pubs in the city so there truly is something for everyone. Temple Bar has a selection of pubs and bars serving up live music as well as food and drink. There are many busy, sociable bars around Grafton Street, South William Street, Dawson Street and South Great Georges Street. The suburbs also have a fine selection of pubs and late bars.

The legal age to buy alcohol is 18. Closing times are: Monday-Thursday 11.30pm, Friday-Saturday 12.30am and Sunday 11pm, with half an hour drinking up time given. Most nightclubs and late night bars will serve alcohol until about 2.30am. Pubs in Ireland are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Music
Dublin is internationally known for its music and many venues offer live music sessions. Besides traditional Irish music, a number of other genres can be experienced, including jazz, blues, classical, folk, country, rock, indie, punk, techno, disco and alternative. Follow the Rock n' Stroll music trail to uncover the city's main contemporary musical connections. Check out local newspapers and event guides for the most up to date concerts and sessions. Tickets and information on major upcoming concerts are available from Ticketmaster in the Dublin Tourism Centre on Suffolk Street as well as music shops and venues.

Traditional music is popular with visitors and there is ample opportunity to hear it. The most common place to hear live traditional music is in a pub but details of traditional music nights can also be found under event listings in the newspapers and event guides. Many pubs have sessions, some of which are genuinely impromptu - pubs such as The Brazen Head and Oliver St. John Gogarty welcome locals and tourists alike to share in the music making.

The city has two resident orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, both of which perform at the National Concert Hall. Concerts take place almost every night throughout the year, along with a number of lunchtime concerts.

Dance
Visitors can try traditional Irish dancing in numerous venues around the city and county. Irish nights in Taylor's Three Rock, Rathfarnham and Johnnie Foxes in Glencullen as well as The Arlington Hotel in the city centre allow visitors to experience traditional Irish music and dance. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Monkstown will teach traditional dancing to willing participants. There are also plenty of modern night clubs and late bars in Dublin.

The city is developing a contemporary dance scene. Performances by the various modern dance theatres take place in venues around the city. Visiting international dance groups often perform in Dublin also. Check the local newspapers for current events. The International Dance Festival Ireland showcases the best in contemporary dance and takes place in May.

Comedy
Comedy in Dublin has grown in popularity in the last few years with a number of pubs and venues providing at least one comedy night each week. There are also venues which specialise in comedy theatre and feature both Irish and international acts, from established players to up and coming artists. Details of comedy nights are available in the daily newspapers. The Bulmer's Comedy Festival takes place in September at a number of different venues across the city.

Cinema
Dublin has a variety of cinemas in the city centre showing mainstream films and there are a number of large cinema complexes in the suburbs which ensure that there is an extensive and comprehensive choice for all. Two art-house cinemas in the city centre continually show a changing repertoire of alternative films. Details of cinema programmes are available in the daily newspapers. The Dublin International Film Festival takes place in four main venues during February and celebrates the best of Irish and world cinema. The Dublin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival takes place in the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar in August.

For further information on Dublin, visit the official online tourist information centre - www.visitdublin.com.