Dublin Fair City
Dublin
fair city were the girls are so pretty!!! That’s how the line of the famous
song Molly Malone describes this famous jewel in the Emerald isle. Dublin is a passionate
city inhabited by a fiercely proud people who like nothing better than to laugh
and have a good time.
Laughter and song are the trademarks of the Irish people and
it’s almost impossible not to have a goodtime in this wonderful fair city.
Many a great night is spent in one of the many pubs and
restaurants that are scattered freely along the cobbled streets of Dublin, listening to
traditional Irish music whilst supping the black gold of the river Liffey,
Guinness.
This fabulous city has so much to offer the tourist that it’s
hard to know where to start.
Do we start at with the famous Guinness factory or the
Trinity College, maybe The natural history museum or Grafton Street and its wonderful shops.
No, let’s start at the birthplace of Irish independence,
“The General Post Office” on O’Connell
Street, opposite the giant stainless steel tower
in the centre of the street.
The General Post Office with its huge columns still pit
marked by the bullets that tried to quell the free spirit of the Irish people,
this is where the Irish freedom movement hoisted the Irish Republic flag during
the Easter rising of 1916 and announced the birth of the Irish republic; it was
their sacrifice that was to lead in 1921 to the birth of modern EIRE.
Cutting across O’Connell
Street is the new tram service that now allows Dublin a new modern
equivalent 
to an old style transport much loved by the populations of many
cities in the last century. On the western side of O’Connell Street are many
small streets leading over to the Connolly station and the docks beyond. Look
out for Joyce’s statue, one of the many little statues that seem to pop up all
over Dublin. On
the Eastern side is the many new shopping developments running along St Henry Street.
Here you can shop until you drop without leaving this one street alone.
At the bottom of O’Connell Street is O’Connell Bridge that
takes the traveller across the famous River Liffey, Its this River that
attracted the Viking settlers over one thousand years ago who established a
trading settlement on its banks. Take a moment to glance seawards towards the Custom
House or east towards the famous Gratton
Bridge, whose elegant
metal structure gracefully spans the famous black waters of the Liffey.
Running parallel to the Liffey on its southern side is Temple bar. Along this
cobbled road you will find many
delightful restaurants and bars, filled with
gayety and music from the entertainers and revellers that grace the area at
night. See the Bad Ass Café, this is where the singer Sinead O’ Connor, started
out as a waitress, before embarking on her singing career.
From O’Connell bridge heading south you quickly pass the
grand building of the Irish bank on your right and the gracious building of Trinity College on your Left. Continue down
towards the head of Grafton Street, passing the beautiful statue of Molly
Malone pushing her barrow, always a favourite place for that photo standing
next to this famous icon.
Just before you enter Grafton Street move left and wonder
into my favourite store AVOCA, it is a shoppers haven on three stories, the
basement has a wonderful selection of local foods, freshly baked breads and cakes,
a great deli and many cooking desires and gadgets.
On the next level up, there is a wonderful array of knitwear,
clothing and gifts for the home; you will always find a gift here, also
stocking Cath Kidson gifts and very comfortable Cath Kidson pyjamas!!! Browse and
be tempted by the desirable costume jewellery.
On level 2-3 is a landing with yet more gifts, then we move on
up to the upper level from the landing and become spell bound by traditional
children’s toys that take us back to yesteryear. This level is totally devoted
to children’s wear, toys and gifts, all carefully selected, and concentrating
on traditional story books and wooden toys. Just above here we have a superb
café come restaurant serving anything from a quick cup of fresh coffee to a
three course meal, give their home-made soups, and the carrot cake served
garnished with strawberries and cream a try, always welcome on a cold day!
When you leave this indulgent store, turn left crossing over
into the main shopping street in Dublin.
You are now on Grafton
Street with its fabulous shops. Take time to
browse and shop with a few moments spent in Bewleys with a nice coffee.
Although owned by another company the building will never lose this famous name.
It’s rooms traditionally named with references to the literary geniuses, and
decorative memorabilia. Don’t miss a visit to the Brown Thomas store, starting
up on the upper levels the designer wear collections, with everything desired
for yourself and your home, it also has an amazing beauty department, with
every cosmetic giant housed in here, and a great M.A.C. cosmetics bar and make
–up service, with really helpful staff.
At the end of Grafton Street, is St Stephens Green Park.
Turn left along St Stephens Green and on your left hand side you will find the
heart of Irish government. On the roads on your left are the seats of
Government, the National Library building and the Irish History museums,
housing enough culture to last several lifetimes.
The Natural History Museum, situated in Merrion Street and flanking the Irish
Houses Of Parliament, is a huge wooden floored building, containing large glass
cases in which it’s exhibits are displayed.
It has changed very little since 1857, when Dr Livingstone
gave a lecture on his African Discoveries.
You cannot miss the 20 metre long fin whale suspended from
the ceiling, take in all
the skeletal remains of species from land and sea.
For those who like a tipple, or if tired from walking around
the streets, a visit to the Guinness Factory, where the history and production
of this famous drink is brilliantly portrayed, also the modern way it delivers
the Guinness story along with the famous adverts, and past memorabilia on display,
is a great way to spend an afternoon, finishing with a complimentary pint of Guinness
whilst viewing a 360 degree amazing
view of the whole of Dublin city. This
location is best spent as the sun goes down over Dublin and the lights of
Dublin cast a new vision of the city across the horizon.
There is also a Jameson’s whiskey tour and museum, which is well
worth a visit, showing the famous Irish whiskey distillery, and its history.
How to top such a fabulous day!!
Why not dance the night away in one of the many nightclubs
around Temple Bar or spend a couple of hours singing your heart out in one of
the many traditional Irish pubs.
For those of you who have shopped until you have
dropped ,or have worn your poor soles
from your shoes, try relaxing over a meal and a glass of wine in one of the many superb Irish restaurants .
A stroll back across the River Liffey to you hotel will
compete the perfect ending to the perfect day.
On retiring for the night, drift off to sleep knowing that
tomorrow you will be greeted by a traditional Irish breakfast and a jolly
waiter or waitress wishing a “Top of the morning to you”!!
How to get there.
Dublin Airport is only just outside the city and is served by a regular bus service that will take you directly into the city centre.
Tickets can be purchased on the plane, at ticket machines at the airport or across the counters.
Ryanair operates cheap regular flights in and out of the airport with 3 a day from the city of Liverpool UK.
www.dublinairport.com
www.ryanair.com
There are also regular ferry services from Liverpool, Holyhead and Fishguard in the UK in and out of the port of Dublin.
www.directferries.co.uk
www.stenaline.co.uk
Tourist Information
www.visitdublin.com
www.dublintourist.com
www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/dublin
www.discoverireland.com
www.expedia.co.uk
Hotels
www.IrishCityBreaks.co.uk
www.Dublin-hotels.net
www.cassidyshotel.com
www.temple-bar-hotels.com