Things to do in Dublin...

Wed, 26 May 2010 02:46:51 -0700

There are lots of wonderful, fun and interesting things to do in Dublin. Obviously, no trip to Dublin is complete without a visit to the Leprechaun Museum, but here are a few other suggestions from us...

(We love a good chat here at the museum! If you let us know what your interests are, we'd be delighted to make some suggestions that we think you personally would enjoy while in Dublin (and/or the rest of Ireland). Just ask any of our storytellers and guides while visiting the museum!)

The Phoenix Park

The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe and is Dublin's playgound! Located just 3km from O'Connell Street (and just 4 Luas stops away from the Leprechaun Museum) it houses Áras an Uachtaráin (the official residence of the President of Ireland - which is open for public tours), Dublin Zoo, Victorian Tea Rooms, Farmleigh House and and over 2000 sporting and recreational events annually.

Explore it for yourself on one of the many many walking trails, rent a bike or go to the visitor centre to find out more about the park and the events held there (including markets, festivals, concerts, sporting events, open air movies...)

Leprechauns are also said to make full use of the park and its woodlands. In 1952 a local couple ( Kathleen and Mary Maguire) claimed that they had found a little dead fairy man underneath a mushroom in the Phoenix Park. They bottled the deceased homunculus and charged threepence-a-look at a nearby funfair, collecting £35 in seven weeks (a significant amount in those days). One day, however, 'four country lads' liberated the bottle and occupant never seen to be seen again.

The Phoenix Park Shuttle Bus services all the main features of the Park, The service operates every 60 minutes, on the hour every hour, between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m, on weekends and bank holidays. Starting and finishing at Parkgate Street, close to Hueston Station and the Luas.

The Guinness Storehouse

Visit St James’s Gate Brewery, which has been home to the black stuff since 1759.

Or pop into The Church (just next door to the Leprechaun Museum), which has been converted into a bar and restaurant where you can have a glass of the black stuff where Arthur Guinness got married!

The Old Jameson Distillery

Re-live the story of John Jameson & Son through the history, the atmosphere and above all the taste. You will discover the time honored secret of how three simple ingredients- water, barley and yeast - are transformed into the smooth golden spirit that has always been and continues to be Jameson Irish Whiskey. www.jamesonwhiskey.com

Walking tours of Dublin

The best way to get to know Dublin is to go exploring... with the help of a knowledgeable tour guide!

There are loads of great walking tours available, here are a few of our suggestions:

Pat Liddy's Walking Tours - ideal if you’d like to get a real insight into what real Dublin’s about. Pat’s a renowned local character who is also a historian, writer and artist. On one of his tours you'll gain a fascinating insight into things you might ordinarily just walk past.

1916 Rebellion Walking Tours - walk in the footsteps of those involved in the Easter Rising

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl - a show that crawls from pub to pub with professional actors performing from the works of Dublin's most famous writers - Joyce, Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and many more.

Hidden Dublin Walks - Dare to walk in someone else's shoes and discover the Dublin life of yesteryear.

Alternatively, download one of the iWalks from the Dublin Tourism website, and take it at your own pace.

The Book of Kells at Trinity College

Take a tour through the cobbled stones of Trinity and get an overview of the history of the 18th Century College, its architecture, famous graduates, and an introduction to the Old Library and the Book of Kells. The campus tour also includes admission to the Old Library and admission to see the Book of Kells - a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world.

If you're a fan of Star Wars, you may very well feel like you're visiting Jedi School in the Long Room

Dublin Nightlife

Dublin is reknowned as being one of Europes most vibrant cities and boasts a brilliant nightlife. Dublin’s pubs are slices of its living culture. They are the famous haunts of its literary set, politicians, rock stars and of course, Dubliners! Our capital city is home to some 1,000 pubs and no visit to Dublin would be complete without sampling a local brew in a real Dublin pub! As there are so many, choosing is difficult, but here are a few that we've been seen in recently...

Ireland's oldest pub The Brazen Head (also home to an evening of food folklore and fairies)

The Cobblestone in Smithfield - famous for its trad sessions.

Temple Bar is heaving with bars... try The Palace on Fleet Street for something more traditional or The Garage for something more trendy - not only are these two bars at either end of the spectrum, they are also at either end of Temple Bar... it's up to you how many stops you take journeying from one to the other!

If you'd like to break away from Temple Bar and the tourists, take a ramble down one of the side streets off Grafton Street and you'll find many more bars...

Theatre in Dublin

Dublin was and is home to some of the worlds greatest playwrights, and world class theatre is always available in around the city. As well as major Irish and international plays which run in world famous theatres such as the Abbey Theatre and the Gate, there are many smaller theatre spaces, such as Project Arts Centre, and annual festivals such as the Dublin Theatre Festival and the Dublin Fringe Festival, where you will find an array of new and experimental works from Irish and international artists.

Literary Dublin

The Irish literary tradition is one of the most illustrious in the world, famous for four Nobel Prize winners and for many other writers of international renown. Birthplace of James Joyce and Nobel Prize for Literature winners William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney, Dublin is one of the literary capitals of the world. Dublin’s literary tradition dates back over a thousand years when monks would transcribe the bible into beautiful manuscripts. We are very proud of our literary heritage and the city is full of literary landmarks.

Dublin Writers Museum - Situated in a magnificent 18th century mansion in the north city centre, the museum features the lives and works of Dublin's literary celebrities over the past three hundred years. Swift and Sheridan, Shaw and Wilde, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett are among those presented through their books, letters, portraits and personal items. An essential visit for anyone who wants to discover, explore or simply enjoy Dublin's immense literary heritage.

Whether you would like to get an in depth knowledge of our prominent literary figures or would like to visit the sights and scenes of James Joyce’s Ulysses, Dublin won’t disappoint.

Family fun in Dublin

What is there to do with kids in Dublin? Quite a bit...

Visit the Ark - A Cultural Centre for Children in Temple Bar, see the stars at the Wax Museum Plus, or explore the Natural History Museum. Check out the African Planes in Dublin Zoo, take a trip on the Viking Splash boat, or loose yourself in Viking and Medieval Dublin at Dublinia. Experiment at the Science Gallery, go deer watching in the Phoenix Park, or take the Dart out to Lambert Puppet Theatre.

Dublin is a thriving, vibrant city with plenty to offer families. In addition to perminant attractions there are countless outdoor activities, festivals, arts and entertainment thoughout the year. Have a chat with our storytellers and guides while at the Leprechaun Museum to find out more...

For a more comprehensive list of all that Dublin has to offer go to www.visitdublin.com

National Leprechaun Museum