In the four plus decades since it was first launched by Irish bookmaker Terry Rogers, the Irish Open has grown from a tiny niche event in a hidden-away Dublin poker room to one of the biggest poker festivals in Europe. It’s a journey that has seen the Irish Open break countless records along the way – with schedules, turnouts and prize money growing every year.
But the event’s huge numbers are only part of the reason why players keep coming back to the Irish Open every year – and new players yearn to take part.
Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll tell you that what makes the Irish Poker Open so special isn’t just what happens at the tables. It’s the unique atmosphere or, as the Irish put it, “the craic.”
From seasoned professionals like 2022 champion Steve O’Dwyer – with multi-millions in live tournament winnings under his belt – to an online qualifier who’s never stepped foot in a live tournament room, the Irish Open is a truly epic experience.
Come for the poker, stay for the craic
The Irish Open has earned a reputation as one of the friendliest festivals in the world – and it’s one that’s thoroughly deserved. Forget the stuffy formality or ruthless competitiveness of many poker events.
Top pros relish the Irish Open atmosphere. EPT Paris champion Barny Boatman described it as “like coming home for Christmas” while Irish Open Ambassador Chris Dowling said: “There is no event like The Irish Open. You just can’t replicate the atmosphere in the rooms and the players’ lounge. The craic is easily the best.”
Award-winning podcaster Dara O’Kearney said: “The Irish Open is unique… it combines a wonderful schedule for all budgets, a massive Main Event, a storied history and a uniquely Irish atmosphere of craic.”
What sets the Irish Open apart is the atmosphere: the camaraderie, the banter and, of course, the Craic Den.
The Craic Den is the beating heart of the Irish Open and, for many players, action at the tables really does play second fiddle to all the fun that takes place later in the players’ lounge. The Irish Open is world-renowned for its non-stop roster of games, competitions and live music and for delivering the kind of nights that players talk about long after the last card is dealt.
Now, for the first time, we’ll be taking the Craic Den overseas!!!! With Phil “Let me Entertain You” Baker at the helm, we’ll be hosting the Craic Den at all our international events including Irish Open Sydney next month.
The Craic Den is where the Guinness flows and the competitive spirit knows no bounds. From beer pong and karaoke to Sumo wrestling and banging bingo, no night in the Craic Den is ever the same. It’s entirely possible to bust a tournament before dinner and still end up having one of the best evenings of your trip. For a true taste of Craic Den shenanigans, check out Dom Clementson’s post about his first ever visit there.
Historic event
As Europe’s longest-running No Limit Hold’em tournament, the Irish Poker Open also occupies a unique place in poker history. And it’s the chance to take part in the oldest poker event outside of Las Vegas that draws many players.
Generations of poker legends have competed at the Irish Open including some – like 90-year-old veteran George McKeever – who have been playing the event since the day it started.
For Irish players in particular, winning the Irish Open is the ultimate accolade. O’Dwyer, who lives in Dublin and is immensely proud of his Irish heritage, says that taking the event down in 2022 meant more to him than any other tournament. And it was no surprise that home supporters went wild for champion Simon Wilson when he secured victory in 2024.
Ideal for first-timers
The Irish Open has also earned a reputation as one of the friendliest festivals in the world making it the perfect place for players competing in a live event for the first time. How do you handle the chips? What happens if you make a mistake? Will everyone at the table know you’re new?
Friend of the Irish Open Elizabeth Bennett-Martin said: “I always tell everyone I know that they will LOVE the Irish Open and have the time of their life, and they do, and so they keep coming back. It’s the atmosphere; everyone associated with the event is so friendly and the welcome to new players (and the welcome back to regulars) is so heart-warming.”
The reality is that the Irish Poker Open is one of the easiest places in the world to start your live poker journey. The friendliness and warm welcome from players and staff alike are guaranteed to put you at ease. Every year, hundreds of players compete in Dublin after winning an online satellite and, by the end of the week, they’re already planning their return. For more on this, see our 2026 guide for newbies.
Something for every bankroll
When JP McCann and Paul O’Reilly took over ownership of the Irish Open in 2016, one of the first things they did was to reduce the buy-in to from €3,500 to €1,150. And keep it there! Their aim was to make the Main Event the best €1k tournament in the world and truly affordable for players of all kinds.
With more and more tournaments added to the schedule every year, the duo still ensure that there are plenty of low buy-in tournaments, and a wide range of super satellites enabling people to win their way into higher- buy-in events.
Across the festival, players can choose from dozens of tournaments covering almost every buy-in level. Whether you’re looking for affordable side events, mystery bounty tournaments, mixed games, satellites or flagship championship events, there’s something to suit every budget.
2026 Main Event finalist Daryl McAleenan said: “The Irish Open is definitely the one tournament in the year that all your smaller-stakes players will want to play. If they are going to play one event, that’s the one.“
The hugely successful partnerships with PokerStars, Paddy Power and iPoker for the Dublin edition of the Irish Open have also meant hundreds of players have competed in the Main Event for virtually nothing after winning their seat online.
Poker round the clock
One of the joys of the Irish Open is that there’s always something to play, whatever your taste in poker. With an ever-expanding schedule, Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann have gone the whole hog on new variants. At the 2026 festival in Dublin, tons of new events were laid on – from Kings and Queens to the new Cuatro Knockouts, from Old Dogs and Young Pups to the Sviten Special, plus exciting formats such as Flip and Go, the Shoot-out Championship and the Triathlon Championship. The schedule is packed from start to finish, allowing players to build an entire poker holiday around the festival.
As well as exciting tournament additions, the Irish Open also prides itself on a fabulous cash game offer. The dedicated cash game area at the Dublin edition of the Irish Open runs round the clock and is rammed nearly all the time.
You never know who you’ll meet
The Irish Poker Open consistently attracts some of the biggest names in the game.
Poker ambassadors, streamers, online legends and former champions mingle with recreational players throughout the festival. And, unlike many sporting events, poker offers you the chance to sit directly opposite someone you’ve admired for years!
Regulars include such illustrious names as Steve O’Dwyer, WSOP record-breaker Benny Glaser, former Hendon Mobsters Ross and Barny Boatman, EPT founder John Duthie, EPT Barcelona runner-up Andrew Hulme and Triple Crown winner Niall Farrell.
True community and global reach
PokerStars ambassador and award-winning podcaster David Lappin has often spoken about the Irish Open as more than just a tournament. It’s where the poker community comes together, catches up with old friends, makes new ones and creates memories that last long after the chips have been put away.
The huge Canadian contingent that comes every year look on it as an annual reunion with Friend of the Irish Open Raph Verdugo from Montreal dubbing it “the world’s biggest home game”. Since the first Canadians came in 2016, the number of Canucks has been growing every year. The 65-strong cohort in 2026 including Kim Kilroy, Elizabeth Bennett-Martin, Tim Silman, Irish Open live stream commentator and 2017 champion Griffin Benger and Irish Open Deaf Ambassador Darren Chow.
Whether you’re chasing a trophy, hoping for your biggest score, or simply looking for an unforgettable poker holiday, there’s a reason so many players return year after year.
Play the Irish Open just once and we guarantee you’ll be hooked! The Irish Open isn’t just another stop on the poker calendar—it’s utterly unique – and the one event that everyone should have on their bucket list.
