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Dublin skyline
The first thing you notice about Dublin, is that it’s grey. Very grey. The sky is grey, the buildings are grey, even the River Liffey seems grey. But, despite the dreary exterior, Dublin has a lot to offer.
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you never know what might be going on in Temple Bar
Temple Bar
First and foremost is the famous Temple Bar area – billed as Dublin’s cultural and creative quarter it is the beating heart of Dublin and the best place for food, drink and music. It is all too easy to lose yourself for hours, sampling the variety of bars and pubs that make up this vibrant part of the city. Temple Bar is one of the oldest parts of Dublin, with roots dating back to the times of the Vikings, but it still rocks – there are festivals, markets, events and more…it has something happening 365 days a year.
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Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Storehouse
One of the bigger attractions of Dublin is the Guinness factory – which is in fact a self-guided tour the Guinness production process and the history of the Guinness brand. Visitors do not actually tour the brewery. It is a great way to spend a few hours, particularly if you are a fan of the Guinness brand and its famous advertising – but possibly the best part is the roof top bar with arguably the best view over the city. Be warned, despite being worthwhile it is not a cheap way to spend an hour or two, nor is it quiet – it is quite probably the most touristy attraction in Dublin.
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Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol
A little way from the city centre, Kilmainham Gaol is one of the biggest surprises. Walking around the prison gives you a guided tour through Ireland’s past – the gaol housing some of the countries most famous political and military leaders, such as Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell and Eamon de Valera.
The building itself is an incredible example of old-school prisons and was famously used in the original movie ‘The Italian Job.’
The prison gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what is was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishment and correction between 1796 when it opened and 1924 when it closed.
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The Dublin spike
Also – the spike!
Located on O’Connell Street, The Spire of Dublin, or it’s official title; The Monument of Light. It is also commonly known as The Spike, The Binge Syringe, The Stiletto in the Ghetto, The Nail in the Pale, The Pin in the Bin and The Stiffy at the Liffey.
It seems really quite pointless, but its sheer size is worth a look. Standing at the bottom and looking up is quite something – almost nausea inducing! If nothing else it is easy to find!
