The Irish in Washington, DC
The nation’s capital has long been home to a proud Irish community, with ties dating back to laborers who helped build the city and later waves of immigrants who shaped its neighborhoods. Today, Irish culture thrives through institutions like the Irish American Club and pubs such as The Dubliner near Capitol Hill and Ireland’s Four Provinces in Arlington, which serve as gathering spots for music, sport, and conversation. Each March, the city celebrates with the Washington, DC St. Patrick’s Parade along Constitution Avenue, while cultural diplomacy is strengthened through events at the Embassy of Ireland, making DC a unique crossroads of Irish heritage and national life.
Thu, February 26th - Sun, March 1st
12:00 AM
Solas Nua is proud to present the annual Capital Irish Film Festival, in partnership with the American Film Institute, at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Now in its 20th year, CIFF is one of the largest programs of Irish cinema in North America. The four-day festival brings the best of contemporary Irish cinema by filmmakers from the island of Ireland to audiences in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. As it marks two decades of presenting Irish film in Washington, D.C., CIFF continues to celebrate the rich contemporary culture, identities, and heritage from across the island of Ireland on screen. The four-day festival provides a US platform for emerging voices in Irish cinema, showcases the exceptional home-grown creative talent both on screen and behind the camera, and reflects the rapid expansion and success of the Irish screen industry internationally. As well as providing audiences with the opportunity to see a selection of the latest Irish films never before screened in the Washington metropolitan area, CIFF also gives attendees the chance to meet and greet the many visiting filmmakers and artists from Ireland after the screenings. This year’s program includes North American and East Coast premieres, debut features, VIP guests and dignitaries, Q&As, talkbacks and gala events, as well as special talent appearances. Festival passes are on sale now and individual tickets will go on sale Friday, January 30, 2026.
Latest Events this week
January 23
Live Music: Drew Smith Band
After studying music composition and performance at Salisbury University, Smith migrated from the small-town atmosphere of his youth on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, where he has since been playing music for a living. He now performs regularly along the mid-Atlantic region of the US, occasionally touring in other parts of the country as well. In the process, he has developed a strong fan base and attracted attention from many well-known names in the music industry and beyond, from Performing Songwriter magazine to Dean Dinning of Toad the Wet Sprocket to Ben Stein. With his addictive melodies, a soulful vocal style and an off-the-beaten-path kind of pop-sensibility, Smith is steadily becoming a well-known performer on the East Coast. He has shared the stage with/opened for an eclectic mix of acts both solo and with his full band, including Maroon 5, Toby Keith, Owl City, Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Night Ranger, My Chemical Romance, The Used, Thrice, Story of the Year, The Bouncing Souls, Eric Hutchinson, Graham Colton and Virginia Coalition. He has also been a featured act for the Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals and the Citi Open (formerly the Legg Mason Tennis Classic).
Friday10:00 PM
Duffy’s Irish Pub
1901 C St SE
Laid-back and lively, Duffy’s Irish Pub is where D.C. goes for proper pints, unbeatable wings, and game-day energy. Whether you’re cheering with fellow fans, catching a comedy show, or just dropping by for a casual night out, Duffy’s delivers that easygoing Irish pub vibe with a local twist.
Exiles Bar
1610 U St NW
Popular bar on U Street, popular with Irish and Irish American crowd. Irish owned bar but not Irish themed
Josh’s Front Porch
Kelly's Irish Times
14 F St NW
Established in 1978 and located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC, Kelly’s Irish Times is one of the most celebrated pubs in America.
Kirwan’s on the Wharf
749 Wharf St SW
Our intention in opening Kirwan’s was to celebrate our homeland by making your experience as authentically Irish as possible. To do this, we contracted eight carpenters from Ireland who flew over with huge containers bearing all of our interior furnishings and materials. Every bar, tile, table, chair, panel and photograph you see is from Ireland. About those photographs on our walls - each one was selected and brought over by owner Mark Kirwan’s dad from The Photography Institute in Ireland. The historical subjects of horses and GAA sportsmen are particular interests of Mark’s. He takes pride in his heritage and enthusiastically shares it with everyone who walks through the doors of Kirwan’s.
Kirwans On The Wharf
Nanny O'Brien's Irish Pub
3319 Connecticut Ave NW
Cleveland Park’s Pub. Legendary Wings & Best Guinness Pour in DC.
Shenanigan’s Irish Pub
2450 18Tth St.NW
Shenanigan’s Irish Pub in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC is a lively neighborhood favorite that mixes classic Irish hospitality with the area’s vibrant nightlife. Known for its rooftop bar, hearty pub fare, and perfectly poured pints, it’s a go-to spot for live music, DJs, and big sports watch-parties. Whether you’re starting your night or settling in for craic with friends, Shenanigan’s delivers an energetic Irish welcome in the heart of Adams Morgan.
Skip’s
The Dubliner
4 F St NW
The Dubliner in Washington, DC, is one of the city’s most iconic Irish pubs, located just steps from Union Station. Known for its warm, wood-paneled interior and traditional Irish hospitality, it has been a gathering spot for locals, politicians, and travelers alike since 1974. Guests enjoy hearty Irish fare like shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage, alongside perfectly poured pints of Guinness and an extensive whiskey selection. With live Irish music most nights, The Dubliner offers an authentic taste of Ireland in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The Harp Cask & Kiln
The Harp DC
3126 12th St NE
The Harp in Brookland, where Irish charm meets Capitol hospitality! We're serving up authentic craic with a side of warm welcomes since day one. With a stellar pint of Guinness, a modern twist on authentic Irish fare, live music Wednesday nights, trad session on Thursdays, and Premier League specials, it’s the perfect spot to unwind or kick off a lively night out. Come for the craic, stay for the conversation.
The Irish Channel
500 H St NW
The Irish Channel Restaurant & Pub would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. We are a family-owned business run by Tom Stack, who hails from County Cork, Ireland. Tom runs a friendly, fun staff and would love to welcome all of our guests, young and old. Our food is our number one priority as he is a certified chef. We serve only fresh produce, fish and meat in our restaurant and buy locally grown whenever possible. Our pub emanates a wonderful character that will make you feel just like you're in Dublin. So the next time you are in the area give us a try. We promise you won't be disappointed. We offer live entertainment four nights a week (Wednesday through Saturday) where we feature local, renowned Irish singers and musicians.
Fáilte go Shift
Welcome to Shift! ☘️ We have so much planned for this app in the coming months, and are delighted and humbled that you're along for the ride. You’re one of the first people in the world to have the app and we appreciate you being here in these early days. We recently launched Shift in the Washington DC area, because that's where we, the founders of Shift, Patrick and Paul, found each other. As we grow the community and the directory of Everything Irish, we're asking for your help. You can support your local Irish community by adding your favorite pubs, organizations, events and artists! We encourage you to share your best stories or memories tied to these places so others can discover them too. Most importantly, you can start inviting and connecting with Irish people near you as the community grows. So, let’s do this together. Invite your friends and family of course, and you can also add impromptu “get togethers” with these old and new friends that Shift helps you connect with. We’re so happy you’re here for the Shift app. This is going to be an adventure. Go raibh maith agaibh. Patrick, Paul, Darren, Vivienne and the whole team at Shift.
Irish Network DC
The Irish Network DC serves as the heart of the diverse Irish and Irish-American community in Washington, D.C. We embrace all connections to Ireland and serve as a conduit to collaboration between our communities both in Ireland and the United States.
Solas Nua
8633 Colesville Rd
🎉 To celebrate annoucement of the Capital Film Festival in February, we're giving away two pairs of tickets to this Sunday's screening of WHITETAIL in the AFI Silver Spring! To be in with a chance of winning, simply LIKE (that the big heart up on top-right) Solas Nua. We'll let you know if you're a winner! 💚 Solas Nua is the leading Irish contemporary arts organization in the United States, based right in Washington, DC. With a name that means “new light” in Irish, they shine a spotlight on the freshest voices in Irish theater, film, literature, music, and visual arts. From immersive performances to film screenings and poetry nights, Solas Nua delivers bold, boundary-pushing work that celebrates modern Ireland. It’s where tradition meets innovation, and Irish culture gets a vibrant, 21st-century stage. Creative, daring, and distinctly Irish.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians DC
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is the oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization in the United States, with a proud history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is an Irish-American Catholic men’s fraternity, complemented by the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), working side by side in shared mission. The AOH is dedicated to charitable works that serve all people regardless of ethnicity, the advancement and preservation of the Catholic faith, and the celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
Nearby Irish Cities
Arlington’s Irish community thrives just across the river from Washington, DC, blending historic roots with a lively modern presence. The Irish Network DC connects professionals and fosters cultural ties, while the Embassy of Ireland often supports events that extend into Northern Virginia. Pubs like Ireland’s Four Courts near Courthouse and Celtic House on Columbia Pike offer authentic food, music, and camaraderie. Each March, Arlington joins the region’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, keeping Irish heritage alive in the heart of Northern Virginia.
Events
162
Pubs
7
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