I've stayed at the Best Western Acadedemy my last two times there and it was fine. Easy walking distance to Temple Bar. Just up O'Connel St on the north side. I never found it scary to walk around there. There is also a Jury's across the street from Christchurch and the crowds outside might not be as disturbing as the bells ringing. That's a very easy walk from Temple Bar. I haven't stayed there for years. If you stay there, someone will inevitable mention the chipper around the corner as the best fish and chips in Dublin. They are certainly the greasiest and if that is the standard, then they are the best. Some of the best I had was from a roadside truck in Donegal ... but that's another story.

Some folks have suggested a few hotels in the Smithfield area. There is a great trad pub, the Cobblestone, that looks like a dive but is fantastic and has some great sessions. Be aware though that these are sessions and not concerts. There are no microphones and plenty of chatting amongst the players between tunes. On Sunday's I believe they have music going much of the evening.

So it sort of depends though on what you have in mind for Irish music. If you are looking for sing songs, (Molly Malone and such), there are a number of pubs in Temple Bar that do that all day long (The Temple Bar, Gogarty's etc). There will do a bit of trad while they are at it too. If the concierge at your hotel suggests the Arlington (as most of them do for all American Tourists) ignore them and pick another. The Brazen Head has a reputation for being heavily "touristed" but on a Sunday or Monday night, you are likely to find some great trad going on. I haven't heard a bad session there. It has been crowded at times thogh. O'Donoghue's has a great reputation for trad and sadly, I haven't been, but I will.

Thos are my thoughts. Generally, the city center is pretty small so you should be able to find something that will work.

Kush,

Good suggestions. Also see Melissa5 posts about quiet hotels in Dublin. Check on Buswell's, Brook's and the O'Callaghan group of hotels.

Michele