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| Large Google map of Dublin High St. |
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Dublin High Street
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Dublin is a fantastic place to visit. It is truly a cosmopolitan city with workers and visitors from every part of the globe. There is no smoking in any of the pubs or clubs although a few have found clever ways of keeping their smoking customers happy. Whilst a few pubs may have lost out, the majority are benefiting from increased custom, it is not unusual to find pubs packed with young and old alike. The live music and Irish dancing in many bars creates a festive and lively atmosphere. There is no doubt that the Irish know how to have a good time.
Hotel and tourist information is available from the Dublin Tourist web site |
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The new Luas tram system came into operation in June 2004 and is a quick, clean way to get around the city. This one is shown in front of the National Museum of Ireland, three floors of Irish history from furniture to clothes and jewellery. Another great way to get a sense of the major attractions is to use one of the 2 hop-on, hop-off bus services. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and a round trip takes about an hour and a half. A running commentary is provided and if you're lucky you'll even get to hear a few traditional Irish songs sung by the driver. |
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The Guinness Storehouse is the number one attraction in Dublin. The 1904 building was renovated and had a circular glass platform added for some spectacular views over the city in 2000. I don't think it has been dusted since but this didn't detract from the great story of how Arthur Guinness began brewing on a 4 acre site in 1759, negotiating a 9,000 year lease at £45 / year, and growing this to 65 acres and one of the most powerful brands in the drinks industry. The visit is capped with a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar with those wonderful views of Dublin. |
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Kilmainham Gaol is another 'must see' attraction. We reached it by hopping off the bus and walking through the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Naturally we had a quick look around the museum but couldn't find amongst the pile of newspapers or crayons laid out on the floor anything we would call art. By contrast, the National Gallery has over 7,000 historic artworks and contemporary paintings are displayed on the railings around Merrion Square on Sundays. Why some of these aren't in the Modern Art gallery we don't know. Nonetheless, in the spirit of open-mindedness, we do suggest you take a look on your way to Kilmainham Gaol. |
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A guided tour is provided around the Gaol, after all, you wouldn't want to get lost and find yourself locked in here for the night! The guide brings alive the atmosphere and provides a real sense of the history of this country and Dublin in particular. The scene is set with an excellent audio-visual presentation at the start of the tour and there is a museum to browse as well. The gaol was built on the Victorian 'all-seeing' principle, which minimised the number of guards needed to monitor prisoners. Most of today's prisons in Britain are modelled in the same Victorian style so a visit to Kilmainham gives you a good sense of what it will be like if you stray from the straight and narrow. Surprisingly, there are also some luxury cells for those with position and money. I wonder if this is also true of today's prisons?
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