Every year it's full of merriment with Irish music, dancing, plenty of Guinness and of course a sea of shamrocks and greenery. While it may bring the Irish weather with it, I've always enjoyed St. Patrick's Day. Perhaps that's due to my Irish heritage but even if I wasn't Irish, I think I'd still enjoy 'the craic'.
The emerald isle itself is very warm and welcoming with its capital, Dublin, voted the friendliest city in Europe. Due to my extensive Irish family, I've been to Dublin more times than I can count and I don't think I'll ever tire of it. While it may be a fairly small city, it is perpetually growing, with new places to constantly discover.
When thinking of where to begin with a visit to Dublin, there are the typical tourist hot spots to see:
- Trinity College
- Temple Bar
- The Guinness Storehouse
- Grafton Street
- Dublin Zoo
- Dublin Castle
- Kilmainham Gaol
and so on...
Not to say that these aren't well worth visiting, they definitely are. The Guinness Storehouse's Gravity Bar boasts incredible panoramic views overlooking the whole of Dublin, while seeing The Book of Kells in Trinity College is a must for any Dublin trip.
But, there are always those other sights which give you that closer insight into the real Dublin world.
Take St. Stephen's Green: the city's beautiful park. Aside a huge shopping centre and the main shopping street, Grafton Street, it is in the centre of town and indeed a lovely place to relax if the Sun comes out. However, due to its close proximity to the shopping areas, not to mention Trinity College, it can become a hotbed for tourists. Why not, instead, try The Iveagh Gardens. Only a short walk away from the commotion of Stephen's Green, the lesser known Iveagh Gardens offers a tranquil feel with its lush fountain, rosarium and maze. You won't find many tourists here either, but more of Dublin's working lunch crowd.
Other open spaces to check out include the vast Phoenix Park and the stunning Dublin Mountains.
For those interested in culture, go along to the National Gallery of Ireland, it's free and holds more than 15,000 works. Or, if interested in theatre, Dublin has plenty to offer, including The Abbey, The Gate and The Gaiety where you can often find many a wonderful production put on stage.
Another cultural gem is the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square. There is a huge amount to see, housing collections of Irish literary figures from the last 300 years, from Joyce to Wilde to Stoker. Not to mention the house, a restored Georgian mansion, is an attraction in itself.
Although Temple Bar is on all the typical travel guides' hit lists, there's more to it than just drinking in a few pubs. Whether for shopping, drinking, or eating there is always something to discover, as well as various regular cultural events taking place across the 'Cultural Quarter'. For more information on Temple Bar, have a look at: http://www.templebar.ie
While you can find a good Irish dinner at many of the local Dublin pubs, the seafood in Howth is definitely worth a try, in particular Aqua, which provides beautiful sea views. Howth, a scenic fishing and yachting Dublin suburb, is an enjoyable afternoon visit for a little respite from the city.
Wherever you go in Dublin, you're bound to have a good time. Its small size allows it to be manageable, yet it still encompasses a wide variety of attractions. Along with the wonderful Irish spirit, Dublin makes a great choice for a city break.
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