Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is situated halfway down the east coast of the country at the mouth of the River Liffey. A settlement was established by the Vikings over one thousand years ago and it has been Ireland’s most important town since medieval times. Dublin has evolved in recent years into one of the liveliest capitals of Europe. It is a splendid city with many fine Georgian buildings, old churches and large parks. In Dublin County there are also a number of medieval castles. There is hardly a street without a pub and restaurants abound. The Irish as a nation are renowned for their friendliness and willingness to engage in conversation. You will always be assured of a welcome in Ireland.
Go to Dublin to experience its rich cultural history, its churches and museums, its Georgian architecture and its castles and you will not be disappointed. Go to Dublin to enjoy its shops and nightlife and you will be more than satisfied.
A Dublin holiday has wide appeal. It attracts those interested in cultural activities as well as those who enjoy exploring city streets. The range of shops is excellent, the pubs too numerous to count and the nightlife buzzes. These qualities bring many young people to Dublin to celebrate their stag and hen weekends. The golf courses attract many people to the area.
Although Dublin can be visited at any time of year, from Easter to autumn are the most popular times. Saint Patrick’s Day on the seventeenth of March brings thousands of visitors to the city to celebrate with bands and parades and plenty of drinking.
Dublin hosts a film festival in April and a music festival in July when thousands of music lovers make their way to Punchtown.
Dublin is the cultural centre of Ireland with fine museums and churches. Apart from the National Museum, the National Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art there are many small collections in private hands. Trinity College Library must be visited in order to see the Book of Kells the wonderful illuminated manuscript that is twelve hundred years old.
The oldest building in Dublin is Christ Church Cathedral, built in 1030. The Treasures of Christ Church exhibition contains manuscripts, gold and silverware and historic artefacts. The cathedral has an excellent choir that was established in 1480.
Guided walking tours are the best way of learning a little of the history of the city and Ireland as a whole. These include an Historical tour, a Literary pub crawl, a Musical pub crawl and a Rebellion tour.
Dublin is a popular place for golfers as there are over sixty courses in the county, all of which offer excellent facilities.
If you fancy leaving the city for a while you can take the Dart train north to Malahide and visit its castle or south to Dalkey near to the beach.
A Dublin holiday invites you to enjoy yourself among friendly people offering plenty to occupy your days and lively entertainment to while away your evenings.
Dublin has gained a reputation as a party city, partly because of its youthful inhabitants, almost fifty percent of whom are under twenty six, and partly because of the young visitors who arrive on their stag and hen weekends. Temple Bar, south of the Liffey, is the most lively with dozens of bars and clubs. There are a number of gay venues here.
Near here is Dame Street where the pubs and restaurants are more upmarket.
There is much live music in Dublin, both in the pubs and on the streets.
Dublin has retailers to satisfy even the most ardent of shoppers. The centre of the city has pedestrianised areas, often with street entertainers, where you can find a wide range of shops. On the outskirts of town there are a number of large shopping centres. Francis Street in Dublin is now known as the ‘antique quarter’ and here you can find handicrafts, contemporary art and jewellery as well as antiques and curios.
The Blackrock Market sells a wide range of goods from new to second hand and from hand crafted articles to antiques. It is open every weekend and on Bank Holidays.
Dublin has a huge variety of pubs and restaurants providing a range of foods to cater for most palates. Restaurants can be expensive so check the price list carefully if you are on a tight budget.
