How to get to Johnnie Fox's

Where Glencullen is

Glencullen is a village in south County Dublin, about 14 km south of the city centre, on the slopes of Two Rock Mountain. Its highest ground is roughly 300 metres up, which makes it one of the highest villages in Ireland, and its Irish name means valley of the holly. The pub stands in the village on a rural road, with no street parking, so the whole night starts with the drive up. The pub's address is Glencullen, Dublin Mountains, D18 X635. Use that postcode for any taxi booking or satnav. The Dublin Mountains are simply the part of the Wicklow Mountains that lie in County Dublin.

By taxi

The pub's accessibility guide calls a taxi the most reliable option, and its FAQ explains how to book the return. It puts the trip at roughly half an hour from the city centre by car, traffic allowing, and warns that the roads are narrow and winding, so allow extra time. For the way home, the pub suggests telling your server an hour before you want to leave. The server arranges the taxi with the taxi company and tells you when it arrives, so you are not left waiting in the hills for a car that may not come. Waiting times for the outbound ride vary with the day and the hour, so ask your hotel to book it for you if you prefer certainty.

By shuttle bus

An independent bus company runs a shuttle between a set of city-centre and south-side hotels and the pub, and the pub promotes it for guests. You book the seat separately from your Hooley ticket, with the bus provider, and the pub advises booking a day ahead. The pub's FAQ says the shuttle runs on Friday and Saturday evenings, while its shuttle page says nightly, so check that page for your date before you rely on it. Be at your pick-up point a few minutes early, because the driver cannot wait on a busy road, and choose the pick-up nearest your hotel when you book.

By car

If you drive, the pub has a free car park outside the door, with spaces for disabled drivers close to the entrance. From the M50 the pub's directions use the exit for Kilternan and Leopardstown, then roads through Kilternan and Glenamuck, and it gives about 12 minutes from the motorway. Its directions from the city centre, the airport, the ferry terminal and Wicklow all end at that same exit. Put the postcode, D18 X635, into your satnav and expect narrow, winding roads in the dark. The evening includes drinks, so decide who drives before you sit down, and remember that a taxi home leaves the car in the hills overnight.

By public bus

A local bus serves Glencullen, but the pub's accessibility guide says it runs on weekdays only, with no weekend service, and that guests with mobility needs usually prefer a taxi or pre-booked transport. Because the Hooley is an evening event, do not rely on the bus for the ride home. The pub's accessibility guide names the nearest stop after the pub itself, so the stop is easy to find if you do ride. Check the current timetable on the transport operator's own site if you want it for a daytime visit, for example a walk in the hills, and confirm the last service before you leave the village.

From the airport or the ferry

The pub gives about 45 minutes from Dublin Airport and about 30 minutes from the Dun Laoghaire ferry terminal by car, in both cases by way of the M50. The times assume normal traffic, so allow more on a busy evening. If you land or dock on the day of your Hooley, leave room for check-in and a rest first, because the evening is long. Hire-car drivers should note that the final stretch is a narrow country road, which is easier to drive in daylight than at night.

Arriving

The start time for your night is on your confirmation. The pub's running order opens with a welcome and a seat at your table for drinks before dinner, so arrive in good time rather than at the last minute. The room is indoors and the mood is relaxed, so nothing about the ticket asks for dressing up. Bring a layer for the walk from the car park, since damp weather is common in these hills. The ticket includes reserved seating for the show.

Read next: Johnnie Fox's Hooley tickets

If you have mobility needs

The pub calls a taxi the most reliable option for guests with mobility needs, and it has disabled parking spaces close to its entrance. Its public areas are on the ground floor with no lift, and the Hooley room is fully accessible, though the Top Kitchen has small steps with a step-free outdoor entrance as an alternative. The road up is narrow and winding, so a taxi that can stop close to the door helps. Contact the pub before you book if you have specific questions, using the details on its website.

Making a day of it

The pub's own local guide lists walks that start near its door. The pub's walking guide includes a route towards The Gap in Ticknock Forest that joins the Dublin Mountains Way and the Wicklow Way, and Two Rock Mountain, the pub's home mountain, has a summit known as Fairy Castle. Hell Fire Club on Montpelier Hill, with the ruins of a hunting lodge, is a short drive away, according to the pub. The area also has a mountain bike park, Glencullen Adventure Park, known as The Gap. Wicklow's mountains have mild, damp summers and cool, wet winters, so pack for rain.

Planning the evening backwards

Start from the time printed on your confirmation and count backwards. Settle your ride home first, because that is the part that goes wrong. Then choose how to arrive: a taxi booked for the way out, the shuttle or your own car with a designated driver. Add a margin for the narrow roads. If your hotel is on the far side of the city, give the trip more time, and let your server organise the return taxi an hour before you leave. A short list of three questions helps: who drives, when you leave and how you get back to the hotel.

• How do I get there, and who is paying for it?
• When do I tell the server I want a taxi back?
• Where does the shuttle collect me, if I use it?

Who this isn't for

This ticket is a poor fit if you rely on public transport after dark, because the local bus is weekday-only and the shuttle needs a separate booking. Nor is it ideal if you want to be back in the city early, since the evening runs long and the ride adds more time. It is also a poor choice for the night before an early flight, because the ride back adds time you cannot predict. And if mobility is a concern, ask the pub about arrival and step-free arrangements before you book, using the contact details on its website.