Saibh Skelly is an 18-year-old singer from Walkinstown, whose debut EP Undercover Heartbreak made her the youngest home-grown artist to appear in the top 10 of the Irish album charts in a decade.
She tells Dublin Live about life in the west of the city, and the coolest and best spots to check out in Dublin.
Home is...
I live in Walkinstown in Dublin, just me and my mam. I really like it here. We're living in an apartment above a shop, a hairdresser and a takeaway, so everything's really near to us. It makes it really easy to get everything done.
I think it's a great atmosphere around here. It's kind of like everyone knows each other, which is nice. It's a small community and everyone's very friendly. If you're walking down the road, you'll always get a smile or a wave.
How I get around the city:
I usually take Dublin Bus in and out of town. It's very handy for me – it's just outside where I live and it brings me very central into Dublin. But I'm working on getting my provisional licence so that I can learn to drive.
I usually listen to music [on the bus], or if I'm currently recording my own demos or something, I'll listen to them and try to get some work done if I can.
The best place in the city for a date:
Somewhere like Dún Laoghaire – a little walk on the pier, and maybe get a Scrumdiddly’s or a Teddy's ice cream. A nice little evening walk when the sun is setting – that's nice.
My favourite pub in the city:
I have been to a lot [of pubs] recently, because I'm only just 18! One of my favourite pubs in Dublin is Mary's Bar and Hardware on Wicklow Street.
I did a couple of appearances busking outside there; the staff are so lovely, and it's just a lovely bar. They have a little Wowburger downstairs, so it's really handy if you're hungry as well.
My favourite restaurant in Dublin:
There is a bar called The Wiley Fox on Eden Quay, and they have a menu called Bosh Burger at the moment. I love the burgers from there, I always drop in to get a burger and a pint.
My go-to café or coffee shop:
There's a little cafe really near to where I live, in Templeogue, called Deja Brew. It's just a little hut and they have the best coffee around – that's my opinion, anyway! – and they have lovely toasties as well.
They do a really good ham and cheese – it's not just a normal ham and cheese, it's maple ham and cheese.
Where I get my exercise:
I wouldn't be one to go to the gym, but if I was exercising it would be in my local park which is Tymon Park.
I love to go on a run or a walk around the lake there, I think it's a lovely park and it's quite quiet.
My favourite shops:
I'm a big one for the clothes shopping, I have to say. I think my favourite shop in Dublin is Urban Outfitters in Temple Bar. There are so many pieces in my wardrobe that are from that shop.
It really fits my fashion style at the moment – vintage-inspired clothes, and they do have actual vintage lines which is really cool. I love thrifting and stuff.
My favourite place for a haircut:
I get my hair done downstairs from where I live, which is called Audace Hair and Beauty. They're amazing.
I get a blow dry every week, and people think I'm crazy but I've always kind of struggled with my hair since I was a kid. My dad is from Venezuela, so I kind of have half Irish, South American hair, which was always a problem for me.
I found when I started getting my hair done that it was just so easy for me, and it lasts me the week. I have to do so many appearances and stuff, and it just means that that's a problem I don't have to worry about – it's ready all the time.
My favourite place in Dublin to get away from it all:
My mam used to take me up to Massey's Woods, which is where the Hellfire Club is. We used to take our old dog for a walk there, and I think it's one of the most peaceful places I've been to.
There's always a swing on one of the trees, which I always really enjoyed when I was younger. It's a long walk through the woods, and you kind of feel like you're in like a different world.
My favourite place to let my hair down:
At the moment, I'd probably go to either The Sound House or The Academy. I like nights where I know they're going to be playing music that everyone knows – the classic hits, I suppose.
The last live event I went to:
I went to see Ed Sheeran in Croke Park, and that was absolutely amazing. I'd never seen him before. He was always a huge, huge inspiration to me, so finally getting to see him live was insane for me.
His support act was a girl called Maisie Peters, who I'm also obsessed with at the moment. So getting to see both of those people for the same night was just crazy.
Dublin's best kept secret:
There's a gig on every Tuesday called The Ruby Sessions, and it's in a pub called Doyle's in the city centre. Every week, they have three acts playing, and you don't know who the acts are going to be.
You buy a ticket and all of the proceeds go to The Simon Community, which is great in itself, but there are always such amazing artists playing at The Ruby Sessions. And they've been doing it for 23 years now, every Tuesday, which is insane. If you have not been to The Ruby Sessions, it is my number one recommendation.
My mam was actually at it when Ed Sheeran played! She said it was insane to see him in such a small venue. She got to stay back afterwards and Gavin James came, and it was one of the best nights of her life, she says.
