Weekend in Republic of Ireland! Tips please :D

[GMTMaster]

Hi all

Venturing close to home for the first time, not jet setting miles away.

Have a weekend in Dublin later this month with some friends. Looking to take in the nature and culture.

Anyone from in or around that area with tips please?

Accommodation seems expensive!

Some friends recommending visiting Cork, Wicklow National Park also looks good.

[ugog]

Tip 1. Avoid the temple bar tourist trap.

Hotel prices are crazy in the city Centre. Look in the suburbs. Something like http://www.claytonhotelleopardstown....FSFf2wodY4cBlA

It is located on the Luas (tram) line 20 min ride to city centre.

Plus side is you are only 20 minutes from Wicklow and close to glendalough and powerscourt for some 'nature'

Guinness storehouse tour is well worth the visit for some 'culture' ! heh

[stelmo01]

My top three things to do that I'd recommend if you've a 48 hours in Dublin:

1. Viking Splash tour - http://vikingsplash.com
2. Wander round Trinity College and visit the Book of Kells - https://www.tcd.ie/visitors/book-of-kells/
3. Visit the Guinness Brewery - https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en

All three are based in the city centre, within walking distance of each other, and are stimulating enough for people of all ages and interests to enjoy.

[Tinker]

Take a lot of money.

[Mainspring]

Be sure to visit "Dawsons Lounge" - Ireland's smallest pub!
Very good Guinness there, and a Tia Maria with milk (bit like Baileys) to get some further nutrition.

Also visit the Old Gaol - fascinating place, and upstairs a very good section on Irish history.

[SimonK]

Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle is magnificent.

[johnnyguitar]

As has been suggested, Kilmainham Gaol is interesting, as is Collins Barracks (and the military museum there).
Do take lots of money, do avoid Temple Bar unless you NEED the craic and some paddywhackery.

My mam lives in the north county, I usually go into town once (it's enough) when I go over there. There are some half decent jewellers on and just off Grafton St, around Brown Thomas, if you want to browse a few watches. Well and truly avoiding Temple Bar, I'd rather have a drink around Camden Street or Baggot Street - I also quite like the Foggy Dew, which is near the Central Bank and as close to Temple Bar as I get, or some of the pubs around Connolly Station and Parnell Square for a bit of character. Get a breakfast roll out of a branch of Centra (convenience shop) if they still sell them.
The bar at the Storehouse is good, but I wouldn't bother paying to get in again, I'd walk in, turn right and go up the back steps if I could and just have a couple of pints at the top for the view. I'm trying to think of other things to do that don't involve drinking, but I can't.
Go to the seaside - on the DART to somewhere like Bray, which is a bit like Ireland's version of Skeg-Vegas but better. You could even stay somewhere like Bray and get the DART into town, it might be a bit cheaper.

[Mitch Buchannon]

I'm in North Co Dublin.

If you guys have a car it might be worth a spin up the M1 to visit Newgrange. It's a prehistoric burial site that's older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids. (http://www.newgrange.com)

Glendalough, Co Wicklow (http://www.glendalough.ie)

Johnnyguitar above mentions the Dart to Bray. I would say go the other direction and head to Howth & Malahide. I feel both are a lot nicer than Bray.

Guinness tour is good and after there go for a pint in The Brazen Head. Irelands oldest pub (1198).

Kilmainham Gail is interesting. (http://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie)

You could do a walking tour. There are a few different types. However this year marks 100 years since the 1916 Easter Rising. It's a very important part of our country's history.
http://www.visitdublin.com/1916-rebellion-tours.

[Asupercoolusername]

If you have enough time, then I would suggest getting out of Dublin & going to Galway - it is a fun town, and is more 'of Ireland' than Dublin. There are coaches direct from Dunlin airport. Had some Scottish friends over recently in both Dublin & Galway, and they both were nearly planning on getting holiday homes in Galway.

If staying in Dublin, then agree with staying out of Temple Bar - Good suggestions previously of Camden St and the Dawson Lounge (was there tonight).......Dawson St is good for late night drinking. Agree also that Kilmaingham Gaol is great to learn about the struggle for freedom, and the Chester Beatty is good as a general art gallery & museum (Brogans is a good pub near there).

[Ray66]

I would also recommend Howth or Malahide. Check our Skerries Seatours.

Botanic Gardens are also worth a visit http://www.botanicgardens.ie

[Tinker]

I enjoyed visiting Dublin and found the people welcoming and pleasant.

The downside was the occasional anti-British 'history'. So, for example, much of the commentary by the drivers of the double-decker city tours (I did this a second time with an American friend) was a mish-mash of victim-mentality half-truths and nonsense.

And once a city-centre taxi driver knows or thinks you're British, or worse, English, you can be in for an ear-wigging, especially if your route takes you near monuments to modern Irish history.

[Brucy]

Guinness... more Guinness.... maybe another Guinness, and if you have time finish with a Guinness too! Maybe a wee dram of whisky too just to shake things up a bit!

[Mitch Buchannon]

I enjoyed visiting Dublin and found the people welcoming and pleasant.

The downside was the occasional anti-British 'history'. So, for example, much of the commentary by the drivers of the double-decker city tours (I did this a second time with an American friend) was a mish-mash of victim-mentality half-truths and nonsense.

And once a city-centre taxi driver knows or thinks you're British, or worse, English, you can be in for an ear-wigging, especially if your route takes you near monuments to modern Irish history.

You could do a walking tour. There are a few different types. However this year marks 100 years since the 1916 Easter Rising. It's a very important part of our country's history.
http://www.visitdublin.com/1916-rebellion-tours.

I hope Tinker doesn't think that I was trying to get a dig in about the British / Irish history. If it came across that was I'm very sorry. I was just mentioning that this year was the centenary of the rising.
What he does say is correct though. There a number of narrow minded people in Dublin/ Ireland that like to make a big deal about these things.

On another note, I'm just back from spending a lovely day hiking in Glendalough. It's a beautiful place. Lots of German and American tourists around there today.

[Hood]

I hope Tinker doesn't think that I was trying to get a dig in about the British / Irish history. If it came across that was I'm very sorry. I was just mentioning that this year was the centenary of the rising.
What he does say is correct though. There a number of narrow minded people in Dublin/ Ireland that like to make a big deal about these things.

On another note, I'm just back from spending a lovely day hiking in Glendalough. It's a beautiful place. Lots of German and American tourists around there today.

I don't think you need to be apologising.
British rule in many countries colonised in the past will inevitably result in some resentment of British people today by some.
Whats probably more surprising is that most Southern Irish people couldn't give a monkeys and greet you with open arms.
Never had anything but a great time in Ireland-North and South
Top hotel to stay in Dublin-The Merrion

[Tinker]

I hope Tinker doesn't think that I was trying to get a dig in about the British / Irish history. If it came across that was I'm very sorry. I was just mentioning that this year was the centenary of the rising.
What he does say is correct though. There a number of narrow minded people in Dublin/ Ireland that like to make a big deal about these things.

On another note, I'm just back from spending a lovely day hiking in Glendalough. It's a beautiful place. Lots of German and American tourists around there today.

No, I felt no dig.

What I wrote in my post above was only my experience.