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Discover the city
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Sights and sounds to see while you are in Dublin
Grafton Street, Dublin City Centre
Just steps away from Brownes is Grafton Street, Dublin’s most fashionable shopping district where you will find several back alley ways with hidden gems of antique shops, jewellery shops and many more. On the main strip of Grafton Street are the boutique shops where one can enjoy the luxury of visiting “Brown Thomas” Ireland’s equivalent to Harvey Nichols in London.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Dublin City Centre
Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland boasting an unequalled historical and academic tradition. Among the many famous students to have attended the college are the play writes Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett as well as the political writer Edmond Burke. Trinity College with its impressive coble stone courtyards and spectacular architecture offers a calm atmosphere and a welcome respite from the busy streets that surround the college. Trinity College offers proof that Ireland was once the land of saints and scholars.
The Book of Kells, which is housed in the college’s Old Library, is Irelands most popular tourist attraction. The Book of Kells was probably produced early in the 9th Century by the monks of Iona, an island off the West Coast of Scotland. When Iona was attacked the Vikings circa 609AD they moved to Kells in Co. Meath. From Meath the Book moved to Dublin in around 1653 for reasons of security during the Cromwellian period. It arrived in Trinity College in 1661 through the agency of Henry James, after he became the Bishop of Meath.
Dublin Castle, Dublin City Centre
Built at the behest of King John in 1204 on a site, which was once a Viking strong hold. This impressive Castle has served as a military fortress, prison, courts of law and the core of the British Administration in Ireland until 1922. The Castle has served fro state functions and the guided tours of the State apartments are well worth a visit.
The Guinness Storehouse, St. James Gate, Dublin City Centre
There is no better place in Dublin to sample a pint of Guinness than at St. James Gate the home of this world famous “pint”. Situated in Dublin’s Liberties and close to Christchurch Cathedral you will find the brewery. Visitors to this listed building can take part in the Guinness Experience and view everything from the ingredients, the brewing process, the time and the craft and passion that is involved in the making of each pint.
The Guinness Exhibition included the meeting of Arthur Guinness and you will be a witness to the dramatic story of the “black stuff” that began over 250 years ago and ends with a complementary pint of Guinness in the newly developed Sky Bar, which has an astonishing view over the Dublin City the home of Guinness.
The National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin City Centre
The National Museum of Ireland is divided between sites on Kildare Street, Merrion Street and Collins Barracks. The Museum at Collins Barracks is situated on the site of the oldest, continuously occupied military barracks in the world.
Since 1997 the barracks has house artifacts from Ireland and around the glove, especially decorative arts. Other displays trace the transformation of the country through out the ages. The various collections chronicle the development of a vast range of arts and crafts including ceramics, silver, glassware, period furniture, folklore and weaponry. Until its restoration an inauguration as part of the National museum, only a fraction of the nation’s collections could be displayed, so it has proved to be a home for the works of public interest that can now be taken out of storage. It also housed many touring exhibitions.
The Phoenix Park, Dublin City
Acknowledged as one of the world’s largest enclosed urban parks in the world it covers an area of 1760 acres and has a circumference of 7 miles. Its location close to the city offers a piece of the countryside on our doorstep. Amongst the many places of interest in the park include, the Zoological Gardens, the Residency of the President of Ireland and the American Ambassadors Residence in Ireland.
Old Jameson Whisky Distillery, Smithfield, Dublin City
Founded inn 1780, is located in the heart of Dublin just a minutes walk north of the river Liffey at Smithfield village. The main elements of this old distillery are the recreation of the Maltings, Millings, Mashing, Fermenting, Distilling, Vatting & bottling areas, with the main features being a working model of waterwheel working Mash Tun and Bottling Line, plus original giant Copper Pot Stills.
Take a tour of this working distillery and you can follow this fascinating craft of whiskey making.
Golfing
There are several golf courses within a 20 – 40 minutes drive from the city centre. These course would be Clontraf Golf Club, Druid Glen, Portmarnock, Royal Dublin, Edmonstown, Malahide just to name a few.
Horse Racing
With 27 racecourses and racing held on 250 days a year, one is never far from a race in Ireland. A sport which the Irish take very seriously and one they do very well in. For visitors to Dublin there are six courses with an hours drive of the city. Naas, Punchestown and the Curragh in Co. Kildare, Fairyhouse and Navan in Co. Meath. On e of Irelands finest tracks is in Leopardstown, which is only six miles from the city centre. There is a great buzz at the races and you never know you might get luck and win!
Powerscourt Gardens and Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
Located in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains and just twelve miles South of Dublin city you will find the magnificent Powerscourt Estate. One of Irelands foremost attractions with 47 acres of formal gardens, sweeping terraces and spectacular lakes not forgetting the “Tree Trail”, pet cemetery Pepper Pot Tower and the Japanese and Italian Gardens.
Discover the history of the prestigious house and its former occupants, including the Slazenger Family who lived there until the house was gutted by fire in 1974. View the house exhibition and ship in the specialty shops. After you have walked the gardens and admired the scenery relax in the Terrace Restaurant before returning to Dublin, either along the cost or over the mountains to enjoy more breath taking views of Dublin. Ireland’s highest waterfall is situated just five miles from Powerscourt Estate and it shares the name of the house and gardens. The grassy area 400 feet below the waterfall summit has been a favourite picnic spot for generations.
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