Dublin Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Dublin Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Dublin is unique among the capital cities of Europe. It is on the sea with a bay of harbors and swimming areas; it lies nestled among hills and mountains; and it contains Phoenix Park, the largest park on the European continent. Dublin's streets have been described as bustling and lively. They have also been called congested. As all of these descriptions are accurate, the excitement of the city can best be enjoyed by moving from point to point via the comfort and convenience of local bus and rail service.

Within half an hour of Dublin's city center there are mountain walks, historic homes and gardens, sandy beaches and fishing villages. Within Dublin are countless places of interest to explore. It is a city steeped in history and tradition, but it is also youthful. Of the one and a half million people in greater Dublin, about half are under 25. It is a city that welcomes visitors of all ages. Activities for the family include enjoyment of the nature preserve, the grazing deer, the 700 animal zoo, and the well tended, formal gardens of Phoenix Park. There is a hands-on center where children can design and produce pottery pieces. Other family possibilities are horseback riding, sailing and the thrill of the interactive Dublin Viking adventure that recreates the sights, sounds and smells of Dublin as it was 1000 years ago.

Dublin began as a Viking trading post called Dubh Linn (Dark Pool), which soon merged with a Celtic settlement called Baile Átha Cliath (Town of the Hurdle Ford) – still the Gaelic name for the city. Because most of the early city was built of wood, only the two cathedrals, part of the castle and several churches have survived from before the seventeenth century. Much of the "newer" construction is from the Georgian period of the eighteenth century. Recent modernization has worked in harmony with the beauty and grandeur of the past.

Fine museums and art galleries recall Dublin's long and colorful history, while the pubs and cafes buzz with traditional Irish entertainment. Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral are all at the top of almost every visitor's list. Dublin's many other attractions range from sea world, museums and art galleries to the prestigious Guiness Brewery and the Temple Bar, which is the center of restaurants and nightlife.

Dublin is Europe's leading center for computer software, with more than 100 international companies and a growing home market. It is also a thriving center for culture and is home to the great literary tradition of Shaw, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett. It is the source of musical talent in groups ranging from the Dubliners and the Chieftains to U2. Street-side cafes and pubs are alive with animated conversations, and visitors can easily find themselves included in the discussions of sports, music, politics, and literature.

Dublin's economy is the fastest growing in Europe with 40,000 businesses employing over 525,000 people. Recent years have brought an upsurge in the growth of the city's population and an air of excitement as renovations and improvements to the city's housing and service sector have taken place. Dublin provides the visitor with countless opportunities for learning, for remembering and for relaxation which appeal to every taste and age group.

Dublin Attractions: Dublin Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Note: Dublin is bisected by the River Liffey, with most of the attractions being located south of the river.

Custom House/ Custom House Quay

878-7660

Mar.-Oct. 10-5 Mon.-Fri. 2-5 Sat., Sun.

Admission charged.

The Custom House, the most magnificent building in Dublin, was planned in secret by local merchants who were eager to keep the ships coming all the way into the commercial heart of the city after the old building had been outgrown.

The foundation stone was laid quietly in August of that year, in spite of mobs hired by the opposition to attack the builders and their work. The architect, James Gandon, received threatening letters and found it advisable to carry a sword when he visited the building site.Despite the death of Gandon's wife early in the work, and a fire in the partly completed building, the new Customs House opened in 1791. Gandon, stayed in Ireland for the rest of his life. He later designed the Four Courts and the Kings Inns.

Four Courts Inns Quay

872-5555

Admission Free.

Home to the Irish law courts since 1796 and also on the north of the Liffey, they were designed by Custom House architect, James Gandon. The four law courts were those of Chancery, King's Bench, Exchequer and Common Pleas. Despite political intrigues and a history of blockages and objections, the building was opened in 1796 and completed in 1802.

In 1922, at the outbreak of Civil War in Ireland, anti-treaty forces occupied the Four Courts. After a siege of two months, Government forces opened fire with field guns, causing massive damage.

The scars of the encounter are still visible on the columns of the portico. The three-day battle ended with a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the dome and the nearby Public Records Office with its irreplaceable contents. Many of Ireland's historical records, including wills and other official deeds, were destroyed . Since then, the building has been beautifully restored.

Inside is a magnificent central hall, sixty-four feet across and usually busy with lawyers in their traditional wigs and gowns. To the right of the entrance is a panel with more detailed information about the building and its history. There are fine views of the city from the upper rotunda of the central building. Open only when the Courts are in session.

Trinity College and Dublin Experience

Dublin 2 677-2941

Old Library and Book of Kells open 9:30-5 Mon.-Sat. 9 and noon-4:30 Sun. Admission charged. Children Free.

Dublin Experience open 9:15-5:45 daily May-Oct.

Admission charged

Trinity College is uppermost in the list of attractions south of the river. It is wise to arrive early in the day to avoid crowds. Founded by Elizabeth I in 1592, the university complex contains a campanile and many glorious old buildings. A major attraction is the library containing the Book of Kells: an illuminated manuscript of the Gospels dating from around 800 AD, making it one of the oldest books in the world.. The library houses some three million books in buildings constructed between 1712 and 1732.

Bank of Ireland and House of Lords

2 College Green

Dublin 2

661-5933

10-4 Mon-Wed, Fri. 10-5 Thurs. Guided tours Free . Admission Free. Originally built to house the Irish Parliament, the fine wood paneling and vaulted ceiling add an air of grandeur to the House of Lords. Eighteenth century tapestries depict scenes from Irish history. The Parliament was abolished in 1800 with the Act of Union and Francis Johnston converted the buildings for use as a bank.

Dublinia Christchurch,

Dublin, 8

6794611

Bus Number 50 from Eden Quay; Bus Number 78A from Aston Quay

April - September 10- 5 daily; October - March: 11 - 4 ; Monday to Sat., 10 - 4.30 Sunday and Bank Holidays

Admission charged.

Dublinia has been developed by The Medieval Trust to recreate the formative period in the city's growth from the arrival of the Anglo Normans in 1170 to the closure of its monasteries by Henry VIII in 1540. It is situated in a beautifully preserved building in the heart of the old city, next to Christchurch Cathedral, to which it is linked by a bridge. Journey through time and experience the drama and magic in life-like displays of memorable episodes in Dublin's history over 400 years. A scale model of the city, shows the location of public buildings and the layout of the streets. Life-size reconstructions illustrate the city environment of the Middle Ages. As a finale to the exploration of Dublin's past, climb the 17th century St Michael's Tower for a unique panoramic view of modern Dublin.

St Patrick's Cathedral

Patrick's Close; Lower Dublin 7

475-4817

9-6 Mon.-Fri. April-Oct.; 9-11AM and 12:30-3PM Sat.

Services: 8:30 daily and 11:45AM Sunday.

St. Patrick's is the oldest Christian site in Dublin. It is said that it was built on the grounds where St Patrick baptized converts during the 5th century. The present building dates from 1190 (or possibly 1225). Writer Jonathan Swift was dean here from 1713-1745, and his tomb is in the church. The cathedral choir school dates back to 1432, and is still in existence.

Dublin Castle

Dame Street 677-7129 Bus 49; 50; 54A; 77; 77A

10-5 Mon-Fri. 2-5 Sat; Sun.

Admission charged

More a palace than a fort, it was originally built on the orders of King John in 1204. The state chambers contain a large collection of antiques. The castle has been rebuilt, renovated and extended. Deep scars in the stone work can be seen in the Guardroom at the main entrance. They are the result of bayonet sharpening by the guards during the 950 years of British rule. Many of the state apartments are open to the public. The Chapel Royale is an elaborate area designed and decorated in 1814 in the neo-Gothic style. It contains some 90 carved heads of famous historical figures. The interior has lavish plaster vaulting and carved oak galleries.

Temple Bar

An area of the city that has been renovated in recent years and now contains many restaurants and pubs that have become the center of Dublin's nightlife. It is located behind Dame Street and offers excellent views of the River Liffey. In addition to the restaurants and pubs there is also the Irish Film Center which shows a wide range of rare films and the Art House, a multimedia center where one can surf the Net The well known Irish rock band U2 performs at The Kitchen nightclub in the Temple Bar area. Rounding out the offerings are a number of trendy shops, book stores, antique shops and boutiques.

Note:

The National Museum of Ireland in association with Dublin Bus has available a bus service linking the 3 Museum sites in Dublin. Hop on the 'Museumlink' bus to visit any of the locations of the

National Museum of Ireland

.

Kildare Street Dublin 2

677-7444

DART Pearse Station/ bus 10,11,13 or Museumlink.

10-5 Tues.-Sat. 2-5 Sunday Admission: Free

This is one of Dublin's most popular attractions. It is split between the 19th century building on Kildare Street and the newer section at the restored Collins Barracks (see below)

The Kildare Street site concentrates on archeological material and artifacts relating mostly to Ireland. There is a permanent display of Bronze Age Irish gold and another of metalwork from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages. There are also displays of artifacts from prehistoric and Viking Ireland and from ancient Egypt.

National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks

Collins Barracks Benburb Street,

Dublin 7

677-7444

Buses: 90 (from Busaras, Connolly and Tara Street DART station) , 25, 25A, 66, 67 (from Middle Abbey Street)

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10 - 5, Sunday 2 - 5 Closed Good Friday

On display are artifacts ranging from weaponry, furniture, folk life and costumes to silver, ceramics and glassware.

Natural History Museum

Merrion Street, Dublin, 2

6777444

Buses: 7, 7A, 8 (Burgh Quay). Nearest DART Station: Pearse Station (Westland Row) or Museumlink.

Tues.-Sat. 10 - 5, Sunday 2 - 5 . Closed Good Friday

Admission: Free

The Natural History Museum which is part of the National Museum of Ireland, is a zoological museum containing collections illustrative of the wild life, both vertebrate and invertebrate, of Ireland. Skeletons of two whales found stranded on the Irish coast are suspended from the roof.

National Gallery of Ireland

Merrion Square West, Dublin 2

661-5133 Fax: 661-5372

DART Pearse station/ bus 5,6,7,7A and 10 10-5:15 Mon-Fri., Sat. Thurs. 10-8:30 Sun. 2-5 Admission: Donation

Ireland's National Gallery houses a premier collection of European and Old Master works from the 14th – 20th centuries. George Bernard Shaw was a major benefactor. There is also an excellent collection of the work of Irish masters. Jack Yeats, Roderic O'Connor, William Arpen, Nathaniel Hone and Walter Osborne are all represented. Caravaggio's "The Taking of Christ" is on permanent display. There is a multimedia center where the collection can be researched via computer.

Heraldic Museum

2 Kildare Street

677-7444

Bus 10,11,13

10:00-8:30 Mon.-Wed. 10:30-4:30 Thurs.,Fri. 10:30-12:30 Sunday

Admission: Free

The museum is an integral part of the National Library, and is housed in a colorful mid-nineteenth century building, the former Kildare Street Club. Decorative birds and monkeys playing billiards and musical instruments form the window carvings. Modern banners of Ireland's ancient chieftains hang from the ceiling. Visitors seeking to trace their Irish ancestry and family history can make inquiry at the Consultancy Service at the National Library itself which is located just a few doors away.

Dublin Civic Museum

58 South William Street Dublin 2

679-4260

All cross city buses 10-6 Tues.-Sat. 11-2 Sunday.

Admission: Free.

The highlights of this small museum for history buffs are: Charles Brookings's 1728 map of Dublin and a set of James Malton aquatints from 1793 that show Dublin at the height of it Georgian development.

Rotunda Hospital

Parnell Street

The founder of the hospital, Dr. Bartholomew Mosse, took up midwifery in Dublin in 1742 and launched a campaign to provide a suitable hospital for mothers to promote safety in pregnancy and childbirth. He and his committee acquired the Parnell Square site in 1748 and invested as a fundraising venture. The ceiling of the chapel, decorated by the stuccodore Barthelemy Cramillion, has gained an international reputation. The woodwork of the pews, paneling and fluted columns is of mahogany and the gallery has some intricate ironwork. Mosse died at the age of 47 in 1759, three years before the Chapel was opened.

National Wax Museum

Granby Row Parnell Square, Dublin 1

8726340

Monday to Saturday 10am - 5.30pm, Sunday noon - 5.30pm

Admission charged

Buses: 11, 13, 16, 22, 22A from Westmoreland Street

Discover a world where fantasy and reality combine and heroes of the past and the present come alive before your eyes. The Children's World of Fairytale and Fantasy is a display that especially appeals to children as they wander through the Kingdom of Fairytales to find the magical lamp and the all powerful genie! The main section of the wax exhibition broadly reflects the historical and cultural development of Ireland. Displays have an informative and educational narrative which can be heard at the touch of a button.

The Municipal Gallery of Art

The Hugh Lane Gallery Parnell Square, Dublin 1

874-1903

Bus 3,10,11,13,16,19,22 9:30-6 Tues.-Fri. 9:30-5 Sat. 11-5 Sun.

Admission: Free

The museum which now occupies the building, was established with the presentation in 1905 by the connoisseur Sir Hugh Lane of his valuable collection of Impressionist paintings to Dublin Corporation on condition that they would be housed in a suitable building. The museum also features an exhibit of art nouveau stained glass panels by Harry Clarke. Additionally, there is a collection of works by international and local contemporary Irish artists. Free Sunday concerts are held on premises. (Call for schedule)

The Dublin Writers Museum

18 Parnell Square Dublin 1

475-0854 Fax: 872-2231.

Ten minutes walk frim DART Connolly Station. Bus 10,11,11A,11B,13,13A,16,16A,19,19A.

Dublin is famous for four winners of the Nobel prize for Literature: George Bernard Shaw; William Butler Yeats; Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney and for many other world-famous writers who were born or lived in Dublin. This museum was established to interpret the tradition and the lives, works and literary heritage of its writers over the past 300 years.. The building itself is a fine example of eighteenth century craftsmanship, with ornate plasterwork, an impressive central staircase and a magnificent gallery on the first floor.

Guinness Brewery and Hopstore

Crane Street, Dublin 8

Bus 21A,78A,123 453-6700

Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30 Sun. 2:30-5:30

Admission charged

The Hopstore is a Guinness Museum within the brewery that chronicles the process of producing Guinness stout, the world-renowned thicker, darker beverage that is unrivaled for its consistency and taste. Admission includes a pint of the famous stout.

James Joyce Center

35 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1

878-8547

DART Connolly Station Bus 3,10,11,113,16,19,22 9:30-4:45 Mon.-Sat. 12:30-5 on Sunday. Admission charged

The setting of the Center in an 18th century house amid other restored red brick Georgian residences just off O'Connell Street is further authenticated by the fact that tours are conducted by members of Joyce's family. There is an extensive library, exhibits and information about James Joyce and his work. There are even cassette tapes available which offer the opportunity to hear Joyce reading from Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake.

The Garden of Remembrance

North end of Parnell Square

The Garden was opened in 1966 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 and was dedicated to those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. The mosaics on the floor of the central pool depict broken and discarded weapons as a sign of peace. At the end of the garden is a large bronze sculpture by Oisín Kelly depicting The Children of Lir, who according to an ancient Irish legend were transformed into swans.

St. Mary's Catholic Pro-Cathedral

Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

874-5441 DART – Connolly Station

Although Dublin's population is predominantly Roman Catholic, its two cathedrals are both of the Protestant faith. St. Mary's, dedicated in 1825, became known as the Pro-Cathedral and is still ‘standing in'. One of Dublin's most noted neo-classical buildings, its Greek Doric design is based on the church of St. Philippe-le-Roule in Paris.

National Print Museum

Old Garrison Church Beggars Bush Haddington Road , DUBLIN 4 Tel: 660-3770 May to –Sept. Mon – Fri. 10. - 12.30, 2.30 - 5.00 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 12 - 5.

Built in the 1860's, the National Print Museum houses a unique collection of artifacts and machines from all sectors of the printing industry in Ireland. The emphasis is on industrial printing. The Beggars Bush building was originally a barracks and the central garrison building houses the Irish Labour History Museum .

Irish Jewish Museum

3-4 Walworth Road Portobello, Dublin 8

453-1797

Bus 16,16A,19,19A,22,22A

May-Sept. 11-3:30 Tues., Thurs.,Sun. Oct.-April 10:30 Sunday. Other times: Call for appointment. Admission: Donation The collection of documents and artifacts relating to the Jewish community in Dublin includes a replica of a turn of the century Jewish kitchen from a Jewish neighborhood. A synagogue preserved with ritual fittings is also present. An exhibit chronicles the pogroms against the Jews in Limerick in the 1920's. Rabbi Herzog, Irelans's first chief rabbi is commemorated by a plaque, as is Ireland's most famous Jew of fiction, James Joyce's Leopold Bloom.

Kilmainham Gaol

Inchicore Road

Dublin 8

453-5984

Bus 51,51B,78A,79 9:30-6 daily (April-Sept.) 9:30-5 Mon-Fri. (Oct. – March) 10-6 Sunday Guided tours only.

Admission charged

Kilmainham is the best known and most notorious of Irish prisons. It was here that the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. Displays chronicle events of Ireland's uprisings from 1800 on. Other displays show conditions in 19th century prisons. Note: Some exhibits such as the one that shows the process of death by hanging in detail are extremely graphic. Parental discretion is advised.

General Post Office

O'Connell Street Dublin 1

705-7077

DART Connolly Station All cross city buses

8-8 Mon.-Sat. Admission: Free

The General Post Office is one of the last great public buildings of the Georgian era. Its great Ionic portico with six fluted columns contains three stone figures representing Mercury (the messenger of the gods), Hibernia and Fidelity.

The GPO holds a special place in Irish history as the headquarters of the Irish Volunteers in the Easter Rising of 1916. The Rising began on Easter Monday when armed detachments of the Irish Volunteers and the Citizen Army, commanded by the patriots Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, seized and occupied the building. Other strategic locations in the city were also taken over. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the building by Patrick Pearse is commemorated by a tablet on the wall. In 1922, after eight centuries of occupation, an independent Irish State was established. Reconstruction of the gutted GPO began in 1925 and the interior was splendidly restored.

CEOL Irish Traditional Music Center

Smithfield Village Ireland Dublin 7

817-3820

9.30 am - 6.00 Mon- Sat. 12.- 6 Sundays all year.

Admission charged Buses 25, 25A, 67, 67A from Middle Abbey Street, 68, 69, 79, from Aston Quay, 90 from Connolly, Tara and Heuston Stations. Ceol, the Irish word for music, pays homage to the greatness of past musicians and performers as it celebrates Irish music of today. You can listen to the fiddle, pipes , accordion, concertina, flute, whistle, and the whole range of traditional instruments. The emotional experiences of the Irish People are captured in songs that tell of their victories and their defeats. Dance is central to Irish traditional music. Examples of the three major forms: set dancing, ceili dancing, and the performance tradition are presented.

Christchurch Cathedral

Christchurch Place, Dublin 8

677-8099

10-5 Mon.-Sat. Sunday Service: 11 AM

Parts of the cathedral date back to the original wooden building constructed in 1038 and to the 1172 replacement built for Ireland's first invader, Richard deClare. Edward VI was crowned king of England here in 1487 and 100 years later King Henry VIII burned the church, after which it was turned into law courts. The church is high, gray and dark inside with stone sculptures. A huge crypt spans the length of the building under the church. A bridge leads into what was the Synod Hall and is now Dublinia.

Saint Michan's Church

Church Street Lower Dublin 7

872-4154

10-12:45 and 2-4:45 Mon.-Fri. 10-12:45 Saturday

St. Michan's was for five hundred years the only parish church in Dublin north of the River Liffey. It was founded in about 1095 by residents of the Danish colony in Oxmanstown. The present structure dates from 1685 when it was completely rebuilt. The church contains a magnificent organ, on which Handel is believed to have played while composing ‘The Messiah'. Among other treasured items is a chalice dating from 1516.

St. Michan's is especially famous for its vaults and the mummified bodies which lie there, preserved by the limestone in the ground which keeps the air absolutely dry. Some of the bodies, in a fine state of preservation, are on view to the public.

Dublin Events: Dublin Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Annual Events

January

New Year's Eve / Daycelebrations.

Salmon and Sea Trout Season - January-September

February

Five Nations Rugby Tournament- February to April, Ireland plays against England, Wales, Scotland and France.

March

Mid-March

Celtic Flame

a national festival of contemporary and traditional music, song and dance

March 17

St. Patrick's Day Festival

celebrations and a parade

Mid-March

Temple Bar Fleadh

three-day festival honoring St. Patrick.

Late March

Feis Ceoil

classical musical festival

April

Early April

Colours Boat Race

a rowing race along the River Liffey.

3rd week of April

Dublin Film Festival

May

May 1

May Day Parade

Late May-early June

Laytown Beach Races

horse races on the beach, north of Dublin

June

16 June

Bloomsday

Events, readings, re-enactments and performances, commemorating the day in 1904 in which James Joyce's Ulysses is set. For information, contact the James Joyce Centre, 35 N. Great George's St. Phone 878-8547.

August,

Early August

:

Dublin Horse Show

.

Both a premier sporting and social event, this event features approximately 1,500 horses in 90 showing and jumping competitions. Live music, fashion shows, Irish crafts and a masquerade ball accompany the equestrian competitions. Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds, Ballsbridge. For information: 668-0866

Throughout August

Diversions Temple Bar

Summerlong festival of free outdoor films and music, theater, opera and dance performances. Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, 18 Eustace St. For information: 677-2255.

September

Early-Mid September

All-Ireland Hurling Final

Hurling is a fast-paced sport that is similar to lacrosse. Getting tickets may be difficult as it is popular. For information: contact the Gaelic Athletic Association at 836-3222.

Mid-Late September

All-Ireland Gaelic Football Final

Gaelic football is its own sport and is neither soccer nor U.S. football. For information: contact the Gaelic Athletic Association at 836-3222.

Late September – early October

Annual Dublin Theatre Festival

Featuring more than 150 performances of international and Irish theater, the event is considered one of the best festivals for new writers. For information: 677-8439.

Late September – early October

Dublin Fringe Festival

.

A showcase for offbeat, quality theatrical and multidisciplinary performances. For information:677-8511

October

Late October

:

Samhain (Halloween) Parade

.

Costumed dancers parade through the city center. For information: 855-7154.

End of October

Dublin City Marathon

The Annual Marathon attracts many international competitors and thousands of spectators. The racecourse runs from Nassau Street to Marion Square West. For information: 623-2250.

Early October

Annual Dublin Theatre Festival

Features more than 150 performances of international and Irish theater. this annual event is considered one of the best festivals for new writing. Various venues. For information: 677-8439

December

Mid –December

National Crafts Fair of Ireland

. A variety of Irish crafts are offered for sale. Main Hall, Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds, Ballsbridge. For Information: 670-2186 or 285-9294.

Late December

The Annual Christmas National Hunt Festival

competitions at the Leopardstown Racecourse, Leopardstown Road, Foxrock. For Information: 289-3607

Dublin Facts: Dublin Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Population : Metropolitan Area: 1,000,000+

Greater Dublin Area: 1.4 million.

Area: 44 square miles

Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time: 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York.(6 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.)

International Dialing Code: to place telephone calls outside Dublin but within Ireland, add ‘
01' to the front of the number. From outside Ireland, use Ireland's international code as a prefix:
353. Dublin's city code is
01. Calling cards can be purchased at news stands and post offices in Ireland to use in placing calls from public or private phones. To call the operator: dial
1190.

Emergency ( police; fire; ambulance):
999.

Currency: euro (EUR).Credit cards are accepted at larger restaurants, but cash is still the preference in Dublin. The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM machines found at the major banks.

Customs Regulations: Telephone:
1 855 4045 in Dublin for information.

Average Annual Temperatures

Weather forecast:
1 550 123 854

National Holidays:

Jan. 1 New Year's Day

Mar. 17 St. Patrick's Day

Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year - Mar. or April)

1st Mon. of May May Day holiday

Whit Monday (late May or early June)

1st Mon. of August August holiday

Last Mon. of Oct. October holiday

Dec. 25 Christmas day

Dec. 26 St. Stephen's day

Electricity: 220 volt A/C. Most hotels have 110V shaver outlets. Plugs have 3 square pins.

Visitors with disabilities: Disability Federation of Ireland will assist with suggestions and publications: 295 9344.

How to get around: Buses are the main form of public transportation. Dublin Bus operates Mon-Sat 6 AM - 11 PM and Sun. 10 AM - 11:30 PM. (exact fare needed)
873-4222. Schedules and prepaid tickets are available at Dublin Bus office and some news stands.

Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a light rail service running from Howth in the north to Bray in the south. Trains run every 15 minutes - every 5 minutes during rush hour.

Taxi stands can be found outside hotels, train and bus stations.

Air Travel: Dublin Airport is 7 miles north of the city. There are taxis and an Airlink express bus service to the city center that operates 6 AM -11:30 PM with departures every 20-30 minutes. The cost is minimal.

Rail Service: There are two mainline rail stations in Dublin. For rail information call Irish Rail at
836 6222.

Ferries from the United Kingdom sail into the ports of Dublin and Dan Langhaire (9 miles south of the city)

Note: Traffic drives on the left side of the road in Ireland.

Dublin Kids Activities: Dublin Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Dublin Travel & Tourism, Free Dublin Travel Guide Online

Dublin Writers Museum

18 Parnell Square

DUBLIN 1

Tel: 475-0854

Fax: 872-2231

Five minutes walk from O'Connell Street. Ten minutes walk from DART Connolly Station. Bus Numbers 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 13, 13A, 16, 16A, 19, 19A

January to December: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm

Sunday and Public Holidays: 11.00am - 5.00pm.

Late opening June, July and August: Monday - Friday 10.00am - 6.00pm.

Admission charged

The museum holds exhibitions and readings and has a special room devoted to children's literature. Tara's Palace is one of Ireland's largest doll houses and is located here, built entirely by Irish craftsmen, with furniture assembled from all over the world.

Dublin Zoo,

Phoenix Park

DUBLIN 8

Tel: 6771425

Buses: 10 from O'Connell Street, 25 & 26 from Middle Abbey Street

Mon – Sat. 9.30- 6. Sundays 10.30 - 6.00

Admission charged

Café / Restaurant / Gift shop

Located in Phoenix Park, the zoo is set in 30 acres of landscaped grounds around ornamental lakes where over 700 animals and tropical birds from around the world can be seen. A daily "Meet the Keeper" and feeding program provide the opportunity to learn about the many rare and endangered species that live in Dublin Zoo. In addition, there are always new babies and also animals on breeding loan from other Zoos and Wildlife Parks to be seen.

Dublinia

Christchurch

DUBLIN 8

Tel: 6794611

Bus Number 50 from Eden Quay; Bus Number 78A from Aston Quay

April - September 10.00am - 5.00pm daily

October - March 11.00am - 4.00pm

Monday to Saturday, 10.00am - 4.30pm Sunday and Bank Holidays

Admission charged

A scale model of the city, shows the location of public buildings and the layout of the streets. Life-size reconstructions illustrate the city environment of the Middle Ages. As an exciting finale to the exploration of Dublin's past, climb the 17th century St Michael's Tower for a unique panoramic view of modern Dublin.

Dublin's Viking Adventure

Essex Street West

Temple Bar

DUBLIN 8

679-6040

Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 4.30 (last tour at 4.30pm)

Closed Sunday and Monday

Closed 1 - 2. November - February. Admission charged

An exciting, live and interactive experience of life in Viking Dublin A Norse guide leads journey through a Dublin of long ago. Walk the narrow streets of the Viking town of 'Dyflin' and chat with the locals, observe their daily work and even experience the sounds and smells of the city.

Viking city, the Viking adventure, also houses an extensive collection of artifacts discovered during the excavation of this site, considered to be the most important of its kind outside Scandinavia.

Hey doodle doodle

Dublin 2

14 Crown Alley

Temple Bar

Dublin 2

672-7382

Open seven days a week

Hey Doodle Doodle is Ireland's only paint it yourself Ceramic Studio. Pick your own ready to paint piece (tile, mug. dish etc) and then stamp stencil or paint it your own way. Pieces are then fired and glazed in kilns . Collect your masterpiece a few days later or have it mailed it to you.

National Wax Museum

Granby Row

Parnell Square

DUBLIN 1

Tel: 8726340

Monday to Saturday 10am - 5.30pm, Sunday noon - 5.30pm

Admission charged

Buses: 11, 13, 16, 22, 22A from Westmoreland Street

The Children's World of Fairytale and Fantasy is a display that especially appeals to children as they wander through the Kingdom of Fairytales to find the magical lamp and the genie.

A particularly attractive feature is the life-size replica of Leonardo de Vinci's 'Last Supper'. Displays have an informative and educational narrative which can be heard at the touch of a button.

The Chamber of Horrors is optional. For those who don't enjoy the sound of clanging chains and blood curdling screams, there is a separate entrance that bypasses the Chamber and goes directly to the Hall of the Megastars. Here visitors will meet the stars of the glittery world of rock and roll in the form of: Michael Jackson, Madonna and all time great Elvis Presley.

Natural History Museum

Merrion Street

DUBLIN 2

Tel: 6777444

Directions:

Buses: 7, 7A, 8 (Burgh Quay). Nearest DART Station: Pearse Station (Westland Row) or Museumlink.

Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 2pm - 5pm

Closed Good Friday

Admission: Free

The Natural History Museum which is part of the National Museum of Ireland, is a zoological museum containing collections illustrative of the wild life, both vertabrate and invertebrate, of Ireland. There is also an extensive African and Asian exhibition.

Skeletons of two whales stranded on the Irish coast are suspended from the roof.

Newbridge House

Co. Dublin

843-6534

April - Sept : (Closed Mon.) Tues.- Sat 10am - 5pm

Sun & Public Holidays 2 - 6. Closed for lunch from 1 - 2. Coffee Shop remains open.

Oct- March: Sat, Sun and Bank Holiday: 2 - 5.

Admission charged.

Twelve miles north of Dublin City on the Belfast road. Bus 33B from Eden Quay. Suburban rail from Connolly station.

An 18th century manor set on 350 acres of park land, twelve miles north of the city center, Newbridge House has one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland. Each room open to the public has its own style of antique and original furniture The house appears much as it did 150 years ago.

It is surrounded by a dairy, estate worker's house, carpenter's shop and a blacksmith's forge, all displaying nineteenth -century tools and implements.

The grounds also contain a twenty-nine acre traditional farm, complete with farmyard animals, a delight to young visitors.

The Chimney

Smithfield Village

Dublin 7

Tel: 676-9575

Fax: 676-9518

Buses 25, 25A,67, 67A From Middle St.

68,69,79 from Aston Quay, 90 from Connolly,

Tara & Heuston Stations. All buses stop at merchant's Quay except for the bus from Heuston Station which stops at Arran Quay

Mon- Sat 9.30-6 Sunday 10.30-6.

Admission charged

Discover Dublin from above by taking a trip skyward to the top of Dublin's only observation platform offering 360-degree panoramic views of the city. The existing distillery chimney, built in 1895, has been redeveloped to provide Dublin with a major viewing point, 220ft high. The Chimney has a two tiered glass enclosed observation platform at the top, which is serviced by a glass panoramic elevator running up its side.

Children's Season (Theater Festival)

Ark Children's Cultural Center

11A Eustace Street Temple Bar

Dublin 2

670-7788

All cross-city buses

Admission charged

Runs with the Dublin Theater Festival and provides performances for children by international and domestic theater companies. Mime, animation, music and puppets are all featured.

Lambert Puppet Theater

5 Clifton Lane

Monkstown Co. Dublin

280-0974

DART Monkstown or Salthill Bus 7,7A,8

Box Office: 9:30-5 daily

Show: Sat. 3:30pm and in summer on Sun. also at 3:30pm

Admission charged

A year round children's theater that offers imaginative and enjoyable retelling of all the old fairy tales.

The Fry Model Railway

Malahide Castle Demesne

Tel: 8463779

Bus number 42 from Beresford Place (near Busaras). Suburban rail from Connolly station to Malahide.

April - Oct: Mon- Sat 10. -5.; Sun and public holidays:2-6.

Nov- March: Sat, Sun and public holidays: 2. - 5.

Closed for tours from 1.-2 all year.

Admission charged

The Fry Model Railway is a unique collection of handmade models of Irish trains, from the beginning of rail travel to modern times. Not only Ireland's largest miniature railway, the exhibition is unique in that it is a working railway covering an area of 2,500 square feet.

Situated in the beautiful grounds surrounding Malahide Castle.

The GAA Museum

Croke Park, Dublin 3

Tel: 836-3222

Fax: 836-6420

May to Sept: Mon – Sun. 9.30 - 5. (last admission 4.30pm)

Oct to April: Tues. – Sat. 10. - 5. (last admission 4.30pm)

Sunday 12 - 5.00

Closed Mondays.

Admission charged

Croke Park is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ireland's largest sports organization and the home of Ireland's national sports of Hurling and Gaelic Football. The GAA Museum, which is the biggest sports museum in Ireland, is located on the ground floor of the New Stand in Phase 1 of the Stadium Development.

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