Hell hath no fury than a pack of gals out on a hen night, so you can only imagine what the WhatsApp looked like in the lead-up to it. With so many disparate elements to appease, hen nights can be a veritable minefield, so here’s a couple of ideas to hopefully make that process a little easier:
14. Pitch and Putt
Swingyard, Dunsink, more info here
To some golf might sound like the absolute antithesis of fun, but if you fancy getting an activity in during the hen, pitch and putt can genuinely be a fun choice. At the newly opened Swingyard there are 22 bays to hit from day or night, you can rent clubs, and unlimited balls to whack, plus you can get food and drink there. Plus since you aren’t doing that much activity, you are realistically not going to get too sweaty. Score, or should we say FOUR!
13. Wine tasting
Ely Wine Bar, Ely Place, more info here
For a classy type of a hen, wine tasting in Ely is a gorgeous setting for a hen. Set in a converted Georgian mansion in central Dublin, you get to try four different (generous) glasses of wine, which are picked based on the weather and whatever bottles piqued the team’s interest that day. It makes for a more interesting wine tasting, than some of the more formulaic ones that choose very fixed grape varieties/wine styles. Sommelier Ian chatted with us about each glass in great detail, discussing wine-making processes and tasting notes. There’s also some excellent cheese and charcuterie sharing plates because you gotta know how the wine tastes with the food yanno. It’s on most Wednesdays during the Summer (check their website for all the dates), but get in touch with the folks there who are always happy to do once-off events for larger groups.
12. Jewellery Making
Silverworks, Drury Street, more info here
For a hen activity that’s out of the ordinary, a jewellery-making-course at Silverworks is a great way to spend some of the day. Their 2-hour workshops are incredibly popular you can either make rings or necklace pendants. It’s a little on the spennier side of things but you genuinely learn a lot about the process and also get a handmade piece of jewellery to take home and remember the day by-winner winner!
12. The Hideout
South William Street, more info here
A Dublin institution that some might be more familiar with spending time in when they were mitching off school. It’s a deceptively big pool hall with table tennis facilities too. It’s pretty reasonable costing €15 or €20 per hour depending on the day, plus it’s BYOB (bring your own bottle). Attempting to play pool while sinking some cans is genuinely the dream, hen or no hen.
11. Roller Disco
Fusion Rink, Long Mile Road
Dublin’s only roller disco and dance centre can be found off the Long Mile Road in Walkinstown. Priced at €10 it’s open to all open to all levels and all ages, with lesions available for beginners if you need that extra push. Whether you are a seasoned skater or not, it’s great fun to whizz around the rink and pretend you are in Blades of Glory (without the ice) in your hen rigout.
10. Crazy Golf
Rainforest Adventure Golf, Dundrum town centre, more info here
A tried and tested way to spend an enjoyable afternoon, where armed with some novelty-sized golf clubs over the course of an absurd course you’ll all be laughing your asses off. This rainforest-themed indoor golf spot is suitable for all ages, but that is no guarantee on who can get the ball in the hole (wahay). Plus an afternoon spent in Rainforest Adventure Golf is always time well spent (at least you can get your frustrations of who didn’t pay up on time or who is being awkward in the group chat, by whacking the golf ball).
9. Pottery painting
Dublin Pottery Painting, Smithfield’s Queen Street, more info here
Anyone who grew up going to birthday parties in Leisure Plex will be familiar with the rite of passage that was decorating a bowl, mug, soap holder, you name it, at the institution known as Pompeii Paints. While Q-Zar and bowling were of course a bitta craic too (although did anyone else experience complete annihilation when finding themselves on the Green Team playing Q-Zar, because the system was definitely rigged) getting invited to a Pompeii Paints party was something else – peak Celtic Tiger behaviour. Opened back in February the new studio is open Thursday to Sunday to the public, but also available for private hire seven days a week. There are 11 different ceramic items you can choose to paint, and with the assistance of the staff, you’ll have a gorge new piece for the mantelpiece. All pieces are fired in the kiln and ready for collection within a few weeks, so you’ll have something to remember the day by!
8. Rage Room
Ballyfermot, more info here
We’ve all seen that strangely wholesome scene in Season Two of Sex Education where Maeve, Ola, Lily, Olivia, and Viv try to help Aimee get her rage out by smashing a car to bits – we might not quite understand why it feels good to smash stuff to literal smithereens, but it can’t be denied that it’s therapeutic, and now we can experience it for ourselves in Dublin, with Ireland’s first Rage Room. It’s a space to de-stress, and naturally, given the name, to unleash your inner rage, also a space where you can see just how violent the soon-to-be bride really is (cute). A speaker is provided so you can choose exactly what soundtrack you rage to, and the smashable items include anything from glassware and crockery to printers, TVs, monitors, and copiers. You can even bring your own items to smash if this is more cathartic to you – or you just have some ugly kitchenware that you’ve been looking for an excuse to get rid of. A session in the Rage Room lasts 20 minutes and can hold between one and three people inside. Participants will be supplied with the appropriate gear for the experience, and inside the room, there will be 25 small smashable items and three medium smashable items. The session costs €35 per person and you must be at least 18 years old to enter the Rage Room.
7. Vintage Tea Trips
No fixed abode more info here
You might have seen the distinctive yellow and blue bus roaming around the streets of Dublin, with a pile of guffawing happy customers plonked into seats chowing down on tiny sandwiches. Hoping on the vintage Routemaster buses (old London Transport), while having your afternoon tea and listening to some 1950s crooners, is truly an amazing way to spend a few hours in the city (rain, hail or shine). The buses even have names Pauline, Kitty and Jean which are named after the owner’s Grandmothers and great auntie) because they used to welcome everyone into their home for tea and cakes whether you were the postman or the Pope. A truly unique Dublin experience, go with your mam, go with a gaggle of hens, have your wedding on there or drag the work crew along for some team bonding. The bus boards from Stephen’s Green, and the tour runs for 70-80 minutes where you journey all around the city centre (passing all the sights like Christ Church, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the grand buildings of Georgian Dublin). This is a semi-guided tour, so expect to hear some favourite Dublin stories from your host while also having plenty of time in between for a catch-up and gossip. Catering to all dietary requirements, the afternoon tea is available in either traditional, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan afternoon tea, with prices from €49.50pp for adults and €27pp for kids.
6. The Viking Splash
From Stephen’s Green, more info here
While the amphibious buses that float along the Grand Canal Basin, may seem like they are more suited to tourists than Dubliners, they are actually super informative and a bit of craic. If you and the gals fancy learning some history, don a viking helmet and roar at people, look no further than the Viking Splash.
5. Axe Throwing
Axe Club, Gaelic Street, more info here
If you fancy a more endorphin-fueled hen night, flinging axes around the place might be a good shout. About a 10-minute walk from Connolly Station, grab an axe (don’t grind it) throw it at the target, then with all that frustration thrown out of you, before heading for dinner and drinks afterwards. It’s an affordable enough night, coming in at €27 per person for a 1-hour session.
4. Karaoke
Maneki, Dawson Street, more info here
If the bride is musically inclined, Karaoke is surely a no-brainer for their hen. Plus the beautiful thing about karaoke is that the rest of the hen party don’t even need to be able to sing, they are just there to applaud the bride. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to perfect their take on the classics from Seal, Barry White or even Chappell Roan, ahead of the wedding. Grab a bite to eat from the delicious Maneki kitchens before entering into the private groovy karaoke room for the night to sing and smooch to your heart’s content.
3. Dumpling-making workshop
Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar’s Asdill’s Row, more info here
For all our foodie followers, this Dumpling-making workshop is a great combination of activity and food. You can book it with the sound as a pound team at Lucky Tortoise through their Instagram page. Included in the night is a welcome drink, a demonstration from chefs, the chance to eat what you’ve made and even a prize for the best-made dumpling. The team also cater to vegan and vegetarian participants on the night.
2. Dublin Bay Cruises
From Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, more info here
With five trips between Dublin City Centre, Dún Laoghaire and Howth departing each day, Dublin Bay Cruises, located on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Grand Canal Dock is a class idea for a day trip. Hear commentary and enjoy a tipple from the on-board bar, while you sail across Dublin Bay, learning about the history of Dublin via landmarks like Dún Laoghaire Harbour, the James Joyce Martello Tower, Dalkey Island, Bull Island Nature Reserve, Baily Lighthouse, Ireland’s Eye Island and loads more. Pack your rainjacket and a bobbin ‘cos it can get windy out there!
1. Cocktail making
Vintage Cocktail Club, The Quays
Enjoy a fun (and informative) cocktail-making class in your own private candlelit cocktail bar. You’ll learn how to make some classic and modern cocktails and have a laugh with the other chicks at the same time. The classes cater for groups of six to twelve people and are available, the team are happy to teach the basics or get more advanced depending on the group’s level. There’s a range of different prices and packages, depending on how many cocktails you want per person (helpful depending on how liquored up you want ’em to get!).
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