Dublin

Grab your friends and head to Ireland for a fun-packed weekend in Dublin. Hit the shops by day such as George's Street Arcade for funky clothes, before heading to the buzzing bars, restaurants and clubs at night. And make sure you don't miss the Guinness Storehouse for the best views of the city and a free pint. Dublin, Ireland's capital, steeped in history and buzzing with youthful energy. Medieval, Georgian and modern architecture provide a backdrop to a friendly bustling port where the cosmopolitan and charming converge in delightful diversity.

Dublin is a thriving centre for culture and is home to a great literacy tradition, Shaw, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett are native sons and Dublin is the craddle of many musical talents, from the Dubliners and the Chieftains to U2. Dublin's attractions are many, fine museums and galleries chronicle its long and colourful past while the pubs and cafes buzz with traditional entertainment

O'Connell Street, Ireland's widest and premier street is lined in the middle with statues commemorating many Irish heroes, not least of all the monument to Daniel O'Connell, The Liberator, after whom the street is named, Parnell the great patriot and Big Jim Larkin the labour leader. O'Connell Street is the hub of a bustling city centre shopping precinct.

National Wax Museum, Granby Row. Many notables in Irish society along with international stars have been cast in wax at this famous location. With interactive recordings for most figures and an excellent spine chilling Chamber of Horrors, this is great fun for young children and those young at heart.

Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Parnell Square, North. This gallery is usually referred to as the Hugh Lane Gallery. There are various guided tours and lectures as well as musical recitals in the exquisite surroundings of this fine building. 

Dublin Writers Museum, 18 Parnell Square, North. The museum houses letters, books and other memorabilia of Ireland's greatest writers. Shaw, Yeats, Beckett, Swift, Wilde, Joyce and Behan re all featured in this restored 18th century mansion.

General Post Office, O'Connell Street. The General Post Office, always referred to as the GPO, was the headquarters of The Rising in 1916. The interior was destroyed when the British shelled the building. The GPO is easily distinguished by its impressive Graeco-Roman style portico supported by six Ionic columns.

Bank of Ireland, College Green. The Irish Houses of Parliament were located here before they were dissolved by the Act of Union in 1801 which created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The building was designed by Edward Lovett Pearce  with an additional facade by James Gandon. Currently operating as a commercial bank.

Trinity College, College Green. Founded by Elizabeth I in 1592 on the site of an Augustinian monastery, Trinity College is one of Ireland's foremost seats of learning. Swift, Wilde and Beckett all attended Trinity, as did Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The grounds are fully open to the public and a focal point is the Campanile built in 1852. The College is guardian to one of Ireland's most treasured possessions, namely the 9th century Book of Kells. A visit to The Dublin Experience, a sophisticated multi-media presentation is highly recommended.

Grafton Street. The premier up-market shopping area of Dublin has Grafton Street at its centre. Amble along the curved pedestrian shopping, precinct from Brown Thomas' up to Richard Alan's soaking up the colour of Dublin's most entertaining street. Surrounding streets abound with colourful pubs and restaurants.

National library of Ireland, Kildare Street. The library, as its name suggests, receives copies of every book published in Ireland, while also retaining vast tracts of other works.

National museum of Ireland, Kildare Street. The National Museum was opened in 1890 and has on display an extensive range of Irish antiquities. It houses the greatest collection of Celtic artefacts in the world. 

Merrion Square is the largest Georgian square in the city and is surrounded by original Georgian Buildings. These are distinguished by the simplicity and elegance of their exteriors. The beautiful Merrion Square Park is open to the public.

National Gallery, Merrion Square West. The National Gallery on Merrion Square West houses over 7000 paintings and drawings as well as many impressive pieces of sculpture. Hugh Lane gave twenty-one picture to the Gallery during his time as curator.

Shaw birthplace, 33 Synge Street. Author of many plays is the simple accolade to George Bernard Shaw on the plaque outside his birthplace. His Victorian home and early life mirror this simplicity. The first home of the Shaw family and the renowned playwright at 33 Synge Street has been restored to its Victorian elegance and charm, and has the appearance that the family has just gone out for the afternoon. The neat terraced house is as much a celebration of Victorian Dublin domestic life as of the early years of one of Dublin's Nobel prize winners for literature: full of the nostalgia and the atmosphere of another time. It was in this house, opened to the public in 1993, that Shaw began to gather the store of characters who would later populate his books. The little rooms of the house, from the drawing room where Mrs Shaw held many musical evenings to the front parlour and children's bedrooms, are dotted with photographs, original documents and letters that throw light on G.B. Shaw's long and impressive career. One cannot help but soak up the atmosphere that coloured house early years. This charming residence is a wonderful insight into the everyday life of Victorian Dublin and a pleasure to all who visit.

Dublin Castle, Cork Hill. Built in 1204 by King John, the castle has a bloody and ignoble past in the city's history, from the impaling of Irish Chieftains on its walls to the more recent housing of the British Administration up to 1922. The State Apartments, Undercraft and Chapel Royal are open to visitors and there are regular guided tours.

The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle. It displays a world famous collection of Early Christian, Islamic and East Asian manuscripts, paintings, prints and printed books. It is an extraordinary collection assembled by a single collector, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty who bequeathed his library to a trust for the benefit of the public on his death in 1968.

Dublin's city hall. The story of the capital multi-media exhibition tracing the history of Dublin. A story of change, highlighting major events that have influenced the growth of the city and civic governance over the past 1000 years, creating the Dublin we know today.

Marsh's Library, St Patrick's Close. This is the oldest public library in Ireland. Erected in 1702, it contains over 25000 volumes and 200 valuable ancient manuscripts. The interior fittings have remained unaltered since the days when great Dean Jonathan Swift worked here.

St Patrick's Cathedral, Patrick Street. The National Cathedral for the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Community in Ireland, St Patrick's Cathedral was built by the first Anglo-Norman Bishop, John Comyn in 1192, on the site of a little wooden church dedicated to St Patrick. The famous Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travel, is buried in the  cathedral.

Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Place. It was the original Cathedral of Norse Dublin, founded in 1038 by King Sitric. Denied recognition by the Gaelic Irish Church, it is Bishops were consecrated by Canterbury to which they were subject for the next 124 years. The Nave, in the pointed style, dates from about 1230 and is very striking. Strongbow, the Norman adventurer who conquered Dublin and married Aoife, daughter of the King of Leinster is buried here.

Guiness Storehouse. It is the home of Guiness. The exciting new Guiness Experience opened in December 2000 and is based in the heart of the Guiness brewery. In this restored 1904 building discover all there is to know about the world famous beer. It all began in 1759 when Arthur Guiness started brewing his famous porter which is now produced around the world t the rate of over 10 million glasses each day. No visit to Dublin is complete without enjoying a complimentary pint with the best view of the city.

Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. It is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. the museum presents a wide-ranging programme of exhibitions which regularly include works from the museum's own collection, its award-winning education  and community department and the studio and national programmes. The museum is housed in the magnificent 17th century Royal Hospital building and grounds.

Kilmainham Gaol. The biggest unoccupied gaol in these islands, Kilmainham Gaol gives visitors a realistic insight into what it was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishments betweenn1796 when it opened and 1924 when it closed. Leaders of 5 Irish rebellions between 1798 and 1916 were detained here. A visit to the gaol includes a guided tour and audio-visual presentation. t can be visited by taking a short walk (10/15 minutes0 through the beautiful grounds of Irish Museum of Modern Art.

The Phoenix Park. Originally a major deer park, is now the largest urban park in Europe. Covering 1750 acres, it still contains a herd of wild deer and is the site of Dublin Zoo, the Peoples Gardens and Aras An Uachtarain, the residence of the President of Ireland.

National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks. The spectacular museum at Collins Barracks is Ireland's new National Museum of the decorative arts, economic, social and military history. Major collections on display include silver period furniture and Irish country furniture.

Old Jameson distillery, Bow Street, Smithfield Village. The fascinating story of Irish Whiskey (from the Gaelic words Uisce Beatha, water of life) can be discovered in the Old Jameson distillery. Situated in the original distillery, founded in 1780, visitors are treated to a recreated scene, visiting the mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturing areas with the guided tour culminating in the Jameson Bar where all visitors are offered a glass of the world famous Jameson Whiskey.

The Chimney, Smithfield Village. Smithfield Village is home to The Chimney, Dublin's viewing tower. The existing Distillery Chimney was built in 1896 and is now topped with a viewing platform on two levels. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular city views from the mountains to the bays from this fantastic vantage point.

Custom House & Visitor Centre. Completed by renowned architect James Gandon in 1791, is regarded as a masterpiece of European neo-classicism. The Visitor Centre contains exhibitions on the history of the Custom House, the 1921 fire and subsequent restoration. The Centre also houses a Gandon museum.

Natural History Museum, Merrion Square, housed between Government buildings and the Oireachtas (House of Parliament), this museum has an extensive collection of animals from all ages.

St Stephen's Green is the Europe's biggest square. The Green is open to the public and the ducks in the lake love to be fed. Summer days can be idled away listening to bands play from the bandstand. There are numerous commemorative monuments to many of Ireland's historical figures.

Mansion House, Dawson Street. The house has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715. The Round Room to the left of the main building was where the first Irish Parliament met in 1919.

Dublin tourism centre, Suffolk Street, is located in the beautiful restored premises of the former St Andre's Church, making it a most unique setting for a tourist office. An all Ireland accommodation reservations and information facility is available. There is also a well stocked tourist literature and book shop.

Temple Bar is Dublin's Cultural quarter. First developed in the 19th century with narrow cobbled streets running close to the banks of the River Liffey, the area is full of character and charm. The streets are pedestrianised and to really appreciate all that Temple Bar has to offer, take time to stroll around. Ideally situated in the heart of the city centre you will find the greatest selection of Cultural Activities in Dublin. There are also a variety of restaurants, live music venues, nightclubs and bars to choose from.

See: Gaa Museum. Housed in Ireland's most famous sports stadium, this fascinating interactive exhibition and video archive tells you everything you need o know about the one thin that really sets Irish pulses racing. No, not Guinness, Gaelic Games. 

To see nearby

James Joyce Museum. 8 miles south of Dublin city and one mile from Dun Laoghaire along the coast road. Bus number 59 from Dun Laoghaire railway station to corner of Sandycove Avenue. DART from any station to Sandycove, 10 minutes walk along the coast road to museum.

Ardgillan Victorian Garden. Fragrant rose garden with large 19th century conservatory. Unusual 2.5 acre walled gardens featuring herbs, vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants and also an unique fruit wall. Period house furnished in Victorian style. Tea rooms, playground and woodland walks.

Talbot Botanic Gardens. A botanical garden of 22 acres including a 4 acre walled garden with 7 glasshouses. A fine collection of non-ericaceous plants with a particular emphasis on southern hemisphere plants. Magnificent medieval castle, beautiful furniture and paintings. Restaurant. Fry model railway, playground and extensive woodland walks.

Newbridge Demesne. Restored 4.5 acre Victorian style kitchen garden including rose walk, herbaceous border and two glasshouses. Traditional farm with many old Irish breeds of animals. Delightful Georgian manor. Tea rooms, picnic area, extensive woodland walks and playground.

Malahide Castle. Set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, the Castle was both a fortress and a private home for nearly eight hundred years, and is an interesting mix of architectural styles. The Talbot family lived here from 1185 to 1973 when the last Lord Talbot died. The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings mainly from the National Gallery of Ireland. The history of the Talbot family is recorded in the Great Hal with portraits of generations of the family telling their own story of Ireland's stormy history. One of the more poignant legends concerns the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when fourteen members of the family breakfasted together in this room, never to return as all were dead by the end of the battle. A major feature of Malahide Castle Demesne is the beautiful Talbot Botanic Gardens. The gardens, as they exist today, were largely created by Lord Milo Talbot between 1948 and 1973. They cover an area of between 7ha and 8ha of shrubbery and 1.5ha of walled gardens.

Fry Model Railway