Traveling to Dublin solo

I'm an american woman in her late 40's who has been to Ireland a few times before but I've never solo. I love the country and Dublin, well actually the west coast too:) Any suggestions for making acquaintances for some fun company. Not too sure about going to the pubs solo. I'll be traveling for about two weeks and would love to make some Irish friends. Any suggestions? Thanks!

A good bet for having a fun night and meeting possible travel companions would be on one of the various commercial pub crawls. I've no personal experience so I can't recommend any specific companies (google and several pop up), but I've had a few visitors who've said they had a great time on them and met nice people. Some have a 'theme' (literary, musical, etc.,), but I think the ones without a theme (apart from drinking of course) are the best for actually talking and meeting other travellers.

It shouldnt be for me to have to say, but so many tourists these days dont stay in hostels. Stay in one. Its the best place to meet people, and when youve got a feel for it, you can go out and get a taste of the hostility. Just avoid The Temple Bar (the red pub, not the area, although that is deemed a tourist place).

I could recommend some other things, but as Dublin is the worrst place on the planet, in its entire history no doubt, my main recommedation would be to get the hell out of there and see somewhere properly Irish like Donegal or something.