Weather in Ireland , Sept./Oct.
robert fors
have? This is a first time to Ireland for us. We have a free day in
Dublin. What do we do and see?
What should we expect the weather to be?
Bob
Andrea
Hi Robert,
Here are some highlights in the Fair City you must visit:
SOUTHEAST DUBLIN
----------------------------
1) Trinity College: The Long Room (the Old Library), Book of Kells -
UNMISSABLE! Check out the following links:
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/heritage/index.php
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/heritage/longroom.php
2) Grafton St.: shopping pedestrian street; I love it! It runs from
Trinity College to the St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. At the junction
with Nassau Street is the statue of Molly Malone, the celebrated street
trader from the traditional song "Molly Malone". Everyone stands beside it
to have a picture taken :o)
3) Walking all along Grafton St. you will reach St. Stephen's Green on
your left (you have to cross the street) and the St. Stephen's Green
Shopping Centre on your right, which both deserve visiting.
4) Government Buildings (Leinster House)
5) National Museum http://www.museum.ie/
6) National Gallery http://www.nationalgallery.ie/
7) Merrion Square
SOUTHWEST DUBLIN
-----------------------------
1) Dublin Castle: open to visits with a guided tour
http://www.dublincastle.ie/
2) City Hall
3) Powerscourt Townhouse Shopping Centre
4) Dublinia: great exhibition of medieval Dublin http://www.dublinia.ie/
5) Christ Church Cathedral: opposite Dublinia, it's amazing!
http://www.cccdub.ie/
6) St. Patrick's Cathedral http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/
NORTH OF THE LIFFEY
-------------------------------
1) O'Connell St. (and bridge over the Liffey)
2) Custom House http://www.dublintourist.com/details/custom_house.shtml
3) General Post Office (GPO): Headquarters to the Irish rebels in 1916
during the Easter Rising. Inside it's just a Post Office, but anyway, it's
interesting to see.
http://www.dublintourist.com/details/general_post_office__gpo_.shtml
4) Garden of Remembrance: it's dedicated to the men and women who have
died in the pursuit of Irish freedom. It marks the spot where several
leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held overnight before being taken to
Kilmainham Gaol.
5) Four Courts: Courts of Justice, overlooking the River Liffey
6) Ha'penny Bridge: wrought iron bridge, very picturesque
7) Temple Bar area: lots of pubs, art galleries, music venues, theatres,
restaurants, etc.. There's also a Temple Bar Street, and a Temple Bar bar!
:oD
8) Henry St.: crosses O'Connell St., it's another and very nice shopping
pedestrian street. If you're coming FROM O'Connell Bridge walk all along
O'C St., then look for the spire. Once you get there, turn left, and there
you have Henry St.
9) St. Michan's Church
FURTHER AFIELD
-----------------------
15) Phoenix Park/Dublin Zoo: the zoo is located within the PP grounds, so
you can visit both places in one day.
12) St. James's Gate - Guinness Brewery
16) Kilmainham Gaol: historical jail (I recommend you read a bit of Irish
history before going) now turned into a museum. There's also a guided tour
that takes you to the different places inside (and outside) the building.
http://www.visitdublin.com/historic/detail.asp?ID=684
20) Royal Kilmainham Hospital http://www.rhk.ie/index-2.html
21) Malahide Castle http://www.malahidecastle.com/malahidecastle/
* * *
OK... Hope this post hasn't been too long... The thing is that when you
asked "what do we do and see?" you really didn't know there were so many
places to visit or just to go and take a pic.
IMPORTANT: Bear in mind the opening hours for the season for the different
museums/galleries, etc., AND the weather... You can go to some of the places
I've mentioned ONLY if the weather is fine and sunny or cloudy but dry;
otherwise, you will have to find somewhere else to spend your time indoors
(like a shopping centre or museum).
I recommend you buy the Eyewitness Travel Guide of Ireland. It's an
excellent book with great explanations, illustrations, photos, opening times
of the different places you can visit and it also has an accomodation,
entertainment and general tips guide. Every time we plan to travel somewhere
we look for the "Eyewitness" guide (if there is one about the country/city
we want to visit).
Hope I've helped you have a clear picture of what to do/where to go and
answered to your questions! ;o))
Take care,
--
Andrea