Barnacles hostels in Dublin and Galway.

Galway Arts Festival - One More Week of Crazy Fun

2009-07-20T14:29:00.003+01:00

Last night was the Macnas Parade for the Galway Arts Festival. There was a lot of crazy stuff going on and we took our camera down so you could have a look... Check out our photos

We also took a couple of videos so you can really see what was going down.

Why would you need a guitar?

2009-07-17T16:00:00.001+01:00

When you can make a guitar (and pets) out of cardboard? Might sound odd but that's just one of the crazy characters on the streets of Galway this week.

Barnacles Quay Street House is in the thick of the action for the Galway Arts Festival -- an event which runs from 13-26 July 2009. At lunch time today we took a walk down Quay Street and Shop Street and took some photos of all the craziness happening...

Check out the photos we took during our lunch time stroll.

Temple Bar Circus Festival

2009-07-13T16:46:00.004+01:00

This past weekend gasps of amazement could be heard all around Temple Bar as the Temple Bar Circus Festival hit town. As usual Barnacles Temple Bar House was right in the thick of things, so we stepped outside our front door and took a few photos for your enjoyment!

Galway Hostel Party Week

2009-07-13T11:51:00.002+01:00

Last week, 5th-9th July, we celebrated the kick off of summer (or what was suppose to be summer) with live music in our Galway hostel every night during the week. After free drinks and live music everyone then headed off on an awesome pubcrawl. Heaps of fun was had... Want to check out some pics we took inside the hostel... click here. We also took some videos... check them out!

Dublin LGBTQ Pride Festival

2009-06-30T10:16:00.003+01:00

Celebrations were a plenty this past weekend with thousands of people showing up for Dublin's Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade. The theme was "Pride and Prejudice" and celebrated literary gay icons throughout history. The parade was just down the road from Barnacles Temple Bar House and we showed up with our camera!!

What to do in Temple Bar on a Saturday?

2009-06-29T16:40:00.007+01:00

Well.... there's lots to do!!!

This past weekend we sent out our resident photographer (also known as Tanya, the manager of Barnacles Temple Bar House) to go and have a stroll in the sunshine around Temple Bar and take some photos of what was going on. You'll find these markets just minutes away from Barnacles Temple Bar House

1. Temple Bar Food Market: 10am - 4:30pm every Saturday, Temple Bar Meeting House Square .... Oysters, Mexican, Cheese, Crepes, Fruit, Fish, Sushi .......

2. Temple Bar Book Market: 11am - 6pm every Sat & Sun, Temple Bar Square ... second-hand, new, antique, vinyl .....

3. Designer Mart: 10am - 5pm every Saturday, Cow's Lane (off Lord Edward Street) ... jewellery, fashion, furniture, visual arts, photography ....

Check out more of Tanya's photos here!

Galway Film Fleadh, 7 - 12 July

2009-06-26T15:02:00.003+01:00

The Galway Film Fleadh celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and to mark the occasion - and as a way of combating the gloom of the recession - this year’s theme is ‘uplifting films’.
The fleadh will run from Tuesday July 7 to Sunday 12 and as well as plenty of feel good films, there will be Irish and world premiers, short films, documentaries, workshops, and a public interview.

This is all happening just minutes away from Barnacles Quay Street House. So make those last minute bookings and get in quick!

Longest Day of the Year - Temple Bar

2009-06-22T10:06:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was the longest day of the year and in Temple Bar it was celebrated with fire, feasting, film and a fair to mark Midsummer in Dublin.

All the action was just minutes away from Barnacles Temple Bar House!

Barnacles joins Twitter

2009-06-19T15:54:00.003+01:00

Follow Barnacles on Twitter to find out the best way to spend time in Ireland!

Battle of the Axe - BIG Barnacles Discount!

2009-06-18T11:00:00.007+01:00

Check out Dublin City’s latest emerging acts such as comedians, singer/songwriters, actors, poets, etc along with experienced and renowned MCs strut their stuff every Tuesday and Thursday at the Battle of the Axe. If you're staying at our hostel, Barnacles Temple Bar House, then you get 50% off the admission price.

Where? Ha'Penny Bridge Inn
When? Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30pm
What's coming up?

Thursday June 18th: Battle of the Axe Comedy Club & Damo Clarke MC + Special Guest Andrew Stanley
Tuesday June 23rd: Battle of the Axe Open Mic Comedy & Singer/Songwriters —Open Mic Special– the run continues Ruairi Campbell MC
Thursday June 25th: Battle of the Axe Comedy Club & Ha'Penny Laugh Improv with with Graeme Singleton MC & Birthday Boy Tommy NicklesonTuesday
June 30th: Battle of the Axe Open Mic Comedy & Singer/Songwriters - Open Mic Special - the run continues – Rory O’ Hanlon

Street Performance World Championships - Dublin

2009-06-17T18:16:00.003+01:00

The Street Performance World Championship run Thursday 18 June - Sunday 21 June! The best contortionists, piano jugglers, magicians, breakdancers, comedians and a whole assortment of world-class professional jesters will descend on Dublin and to battle it out for the most coveted title in street performance, the Street Performance World Champion. Come and check it out!!

Galway Summer Kick Off Party!

2009-06-08T13:55:00.004+01:00

Galway Hostel Summer Party ** 5th-9th July 2009

Barnacles Quay Street House in Galway is hosting a Summer Party on the 5th-9th July. Every night there will be LIVE MUSIC and FREE DRINKS in the hostel and then everyone can go out on an organised PUB CRAWL.

It's a great way to experience Galway and get to meet your fellow travellers.

There is no additional cost - the price is included in your bed price. For more details visit our website

Dublin on a Budget

2009-06-04T16:33:00.002+01:00

Want to get some ideas about what to do in Dublin if you're on a budget? Check out this Insider's Guide from Visit Dublin.

Everything they recommend is only a stones throw from Barnacles Temple Bar House - so it really is the best place to stay in Dublin!

Bloomsday - Temple Bar, Dublin - 16th June

2009-05-28T17:53:00.011+01:00

BLOOMSDAY marks the day in 1904 on which all the action of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses takes place. It is celebrated every year on 16th June by Joyceans all over the world. In Dublin, where the novel is set, Bloomsday celebrations go on for a week, with most of the attention on the day itself.

Need a place to stay?

Enjoy the Bloomsday entertainment at Barnacles Temple Bar House! We still have beds available, so get in quick!

Temple Bar Bloomsday Line Up:

** 11am - 3pm: Reading & Songs in the Square (Meeting House Square)
** 12pm - 2pm: Blooms Day Jazz Band (Bank of Ireland College Green)
** 12:30 - 2pm: Guinness Jazz Band (Temple Bar Square)
** 1:30 -3:30pm: Jazz Quartet (Fleet Street)
** 7:30pm: Special screening of John Huston’s classic film adaptation of Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’ story at the IFI this Bloomsday. (Irish Film Institute)

CHEAP AS CHIPS BEDS

2009-05-26T15:28:00.002+01:00

Are you coming to Dublin this weekend? 29-31 May

Despite the fact it's a bank holiday we have the best price on offer for a 6 bed dorm - only €20 (where it would usually be €32.50).

Just book online - and get in quick!!

Volvo Ocean Race HITS GALWAY!

2009-05-26T15:18:00.006+01:00

The Volvo Ocean Race has taken Galway by storm. If you're not here then you definitely should be. With entertainment happening in the race village as well as in every pub and club in town - this two weeks is going to be one to remember.

Barnacles Quay Street House have a few beds left if you want to head on over -- Check availability and book here.

We have a WINNER

2009-05-26T15:15:00.002+01:00

A massive thanks to everyone who completed our online survey. Our lucky winner is Kathryn Pesch of the USA. The beautiful new Apple iPod Touch will be coming your way with love from the Barnacles team!

Barnacles on YouTube!

2009-05-05T17:32:00.005+01:00

Want to meet the staff? Take a tour of the Barnacles facilities? See what Dublin and Galway are really like? Or hear what other guest have to say....? Then watch our new videos!

The videos will show you what Barnacles is like and let you know why you should choose Barnacles as the place to start your Irish experience!

Win a brand new Apple iPod Touch

2009-04-21T17:12:00.005+01:00

Have you stayed at Barnacles recently?

If so, we want to know how you found it! By just completing our survey you could win a fantastic new Apple iPod Touch 8GB valued at over €200! We'll send it to where ever in the world you are!

Your help is hugely appreciated and it will only take a few minutes... Start Survey

The lucky winner will be announced on the 20th May 2009

i102-104's Indecent Proposal Promotion

2009-04-15T10:01:00.006+01:00

A couple of weeks ago local radio station i102-104 ran their latest promotion called Indecent Proposal. Two lucky couples were locked away in a shop front on Quay Street, Galway for a week. Luckily they had showers just down the road at Barnacles Quay Street House! Check out the i102-104 website for all the goss.

Happy Easter

2009-04-14T16:03:00.009+01:00

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter this past weekend! There were lots of fun times to be had at Barnacles with yummy Easter eggs given away in our Dublin hostel and shots of chocolate to our guests in Galway.

World Harmony Run comes to Barnacles

2009-03-25T09:18:00.008Z

On the 21st March the World Harmony Run was launched sending a relay team of 14 runners from all over the world on thir way to begin a 1400km journey around Ireland as part of the world's largest global relay event.

The runners will carry a flaming torch around the entire coast of Ireland, a universal symbol of the friendship between cultures and nations that the World Harmony Run seeks to promote. The team will cover 90 to 120 km each day, each runner covering 5km or more.

When the runners visited Galway on the 27th March some stayed in Barnacles Quay Street House. ant to find out more? Visit the World Harmony Run wesbite.

St Patrick's Day FUN!!

2009-03-20T14:07:00.008Z

We hope everyone who stayed at Barnacles (in both Galway and Dublin) had an amazing St Patrick's Day experience. Who wouldn't have with the amazing weather that we had!

We've put some photos up on our Flickr page, so check them out and see if you can spot yourself. If you have some photos you want to share, either upload them to our Flickr group or send them through to marketing@barnacles.ie

Join the Barnacles Facebook Group

2009-03-09T14:28:00.007Z

Are you....

Thinking about coming to Barnacles? Join our Facebook group to ask us or past guests a question or check out our photos.

A past guest? Load up your photos to our Facebook group and let people know what your Barnacles experience was like.

An ex-staff member? Find other staff and reminisce about the old times on our Facebook group!

St Patrick's Day is coming quick.....

2009-02-12T17:42:00.005Z

It's not long now until the biggest celebration in Ireland - St Patrick's Day!

Barnacles Temple Bar House in Dublin is now ALL BOOKED UP for that weekend - so if you're thinking about coming over to enjoy the St Patrick's Day festivities book our Galway hostel now!!!