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Dublin may not be one of Europe's most visually stunning cities, but what it lacks inaesthetics it more than makes up for with its myriad attractions. Most of the sights are located south of the River Liffey in a district of gracious Georgian mansions and leafy avenues centred on Grafton Street and swanky StStephen's Green. The main landmarks are Trinity College, Leinster House (the home of the Irish Parliament) and the National Gallery of Ireland. The Liffey is crossed by a number of bridges, including the famous Ha'Penny Bridge and the new Millennium Bridge. The Temple Bar district, once the site of Viking Dublin has recently reinvented itself. After its promising 1980's resurrection, Temple Bar did suffer under the weight of countless British stag and hen nights, scaring off locals and tourists alike. The tourist board and local publicans have since worked hard to deter the worst ravages of the pre-nuptial hordes.
Architecturally impressive are the historic cathedrals,Christ Church and St Patrick's, both vestiges of Anglo-Norman Dublin. The Norman city walls are on view from neighbouring Cook Street. Dublin Castle, the symbol of the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, stands proud on Dame Street. The district of the Liberties lies to the west of St Patrick's Cathedral and is home to the Guinness Brewery, Irish Museum of Modern Art and Kilmainham Gaol - now a museum recounting the struggle for independence.
North of the Liffey the tourist hordes dissolve in arougher, grittier area which Roddy Doyle generously summed up as having more 'soul'than sights. It contains the General Post Office (GPO), which has a fasade pitted with gun fire from the Easter Rising of April 1916; the Dublin Writers Museum, The James Joyce Centre and the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. The Custom House and Four Courts rival the Georgian mansions of the south in grandeur. Well worth the detour are Phoenix Park to the west and the sights (the Shaw Birthplace, Irish Jewish Museumand National Print Museum) located along the Grand Canal which loops around the south of the centre.
Tourist Information
Dublin Tourism Centre
Suffolk Street, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 605 7700. Fax: (01) 605 7757.
E-mail: information@dublintourism.ie
Website: www.visitdublin.com
Opening hours: Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 0830-1830, Sun1030-1500; Sep-Jun Mon-Sat 0900-1730 and Sun 1030-1500.
There are other tourist information offices at Dublin Airport; Baggot Street Bridge; Dun Laoghaire Harbour; Exclusively Irish (O'Connell Street); and The Square, Tallaght.
Passes
The Supersaver Card is available for Ir£16 (concessions available) from March to October at all Dublin tourist information offices and the seven participating attractions (Dublin's Viking Adventure, Malahide Castle, Shaw Birthplace, Fry Model Railway, Dublin Writers Museum, Newbridge House, TheJames Joyce Museum). The card grants free admission without queuing. Three-way combined tickets (Dublin Writers Museum, The James Joyce Museum and the Shaw Birthplace) cost Ir£6.50 (concessions available).
National Gallery of Ireland
This impressive collection incorporates some 2500 paintings, as well as watercolours, drawings, prints and sculpture. Although Irish painting holds pride of place,all major European schools of painting are well represented. A major renovation of the museum was completed in 1996 and a new extension opened in 2000.
Merrion Square West
Tel: (01) 661 5133. Fax: (01) 661 5372.
E-mail: artgall@eircom.net
Website: www.nationalgallery.ie
Transport: Bus 5, 7, 7A, 7B, 10, 44, 47, 48A or 62; orDART to Pearse Station.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1730 (Thurs until 2030)and Sun 1400-1700.
Admission: Free.
Christ Church Cathedral
Richard de Clare 'Strongbow' (the Earl of Pembroke)founded Christ Church Cathedral in 1172 on the site of a Viking church. Highlights include the 'leaning wall of Dublin', the north nave wall which has leaned 46cm (18 inches) since 1562 (when the roof collapsed), and the large crypt which includes a mummified cat and mouse among its unusual relics.
Christ Church Place
Tel: (01) 677 8099. Fax: (01) 679 8991.
E-mail: cccdub@indigo.ie
Website: www.cccdub.ie
Transport: Bus 50 or 78A.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700. Services are Mon-Friat 1245, peace prayers at noon. Evensong Wed-Thurs 1800 and Sat 1700.
Admission: Free, however a contribution of Ir£2 or more is appreciated.
Dublin Writers Museum
First editions, letters, portraits and memorabilia of Swift, Sheridan, Shaw, Wilde, Yeats, Joyce, Beckett and Behan fill this fascinating museum, set in a spectacular Georgian mansion. There is also a room devoted to children's literature.
18-19 Parnell Square North
Tel: (01) 872 2077. Fax: (01) 872 2231.
Transport: Bus 10, 11, 11A, 11B, 13, 16, 16A, 19, 19A,22, 22A or 36; or DART to Connolly Station.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700 (Jun-Aug until 1800),Sun 1100-1700.
Admission: Ir£3.10 (concessions available).
Trinity College
Drift amongst the numerous artistic ghosts in one of the world's most famous centres of learning. Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, among many seminal others, studied at Ireland's oldest university, which was founded in 1592. With its cobbled squares, gardens and grand buildings, Trinity retains an aura of peace, despite its central location.Its main attraction is the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscriptdating from around AD800, which is displayed in the Library Colonnades.
College Street
Tel: (01) 608 2320. Fax: (01) 608 2690.
Website: www.tcd.ie
Transport: All cross-city buses.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat Old Library 0930-1700 and Sun1200-1630.
Admission: Ir£4.50 (Old Library/Book of Kells;concessions and reduced combined tickets available).
National Museum of Ireland
Among this rich collection of Irish antiquities,dating from 2000BC to the modern day, are the eighth-century Ardagh Chalice and Tara Brooch and the twelfth-century Cross of Cong. Or (Ireland's Gold) features the finest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts in Europe. There are also major exhibitions on prehistoric Ireland, Viking Ireland and Irish history from 1916-1921 (the 'Road to Independence').
Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 677 7444. Fax: (01) 677 7828.
Transport: Bus 7, 7A, 8, 10, 11 or 13; or DART toPearse Station.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1700 and Sun 1400-1700.
Admission: Free.
Dublin Castle
Dating from Norman times, the palatial Dublin Castlewas originally built on the orders of King John in 1204. Only the Record Tower survives from this original construction; it stands beside the nineteenth-century Gothic Chapel Royal. Recently uncovered excavations of Viking fortifications can be viewed at the Undercroft. Most of the castlewas largely rebuilt in the eighteenth century, including the gilded State Apartments, once the residence of English viceroys. Admission is by guided tour only. Tours run every 10-15 minutes. Large groups need to book in advance.
Dame Street
Tel: (01) 677 7129. Fax: (01) 679 7831.
Transport: Bus 50, 50A, 54, 56A, 77, 77A or 77B.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700 and Sat and Sun1400-1700.
Admission: Ir£3 (concessions available).
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