Get all the information and souvenirs you need!
by Jefie
The Dublin Tourism Centre is located on Suffolk Street, at the heart of downtown Dublin, in what used to be St. Andrew's Church (Dublin Tourism bought the church in 1995 when the number of parishioners had dwindled down to only two!). It is therefore very easy to spot, and it's a good place to go to get more information about what to see and do in Dublin. There are plenty of brochures available, and there's an information counter where you can get help booking tickets, among other things. It's also a good place to go when you're looking for souvenirs. I found that most souvenir shops in Dublin were extremely tacky, but I was able to find a few decent items at the Tourism Centre (and I got some more at the airport because believe it or not, there was a better selection and it was cheaper!). We also stopped by a few times during the week to use the public restrooms :o)
The Dublin Tourism Centre is open daily, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (10:30 am to 3:00 pm on Sundays). Website: http://www.visitdublin.com
...have a few pints in a pub....
by Bigs
...have a few pints in a pub. It´s always nice to relax by a pint of Guiness or so.....there are some other delicious beers too! Bohemians Dublin : UCD !!! Great stadium and an even better half time shop! Get yourself a Bohemians Scarf!!! Come on you Bo´s!!!
Stadium : Dalymount Park in Phibsboro
Half the world is Irish
by sourbugger
It would seem to me that about half the world claim to be of Irish descent. It's a 'cool' race to be a member of. Never had an empire, never invaded anywhere. Built most of America (and Britain come to that), but is widely thought of as a pastoral idyll.
It's not surprising that vast numbers of tourist are keen on trying to pick up their Irish roots. Some have been known to turn up to tourist information at Dublin Airport demanding to be sent in the right direction for the 'Ryans of Kerry'.
Of slightly more practical use is the resident geneologist who gives a free hours consulatation if you stay at the Shelbourne hotel in Dublin. E-mail her with what you have beforehand and she will get going before you arrive.
If you don't have the money for that five-star service there are plenty of others who will offer their services for a price. Be warned - many will tell you a right load of old rubbish in return for the hefty whack of the tourist dollar on their desk.
Ok, so just go to Howth...
by Russophile
Ok, so just go to Howth already. Halfway around the peninsula is a cool little lighthouse that makes for a great photo op, even better had the photographer figured out how to use flash fill. Walking throught the Dublin U campus is also real nice.
Anna Livia
by Lochlainn
The river Liffey divides Dublin between north and south, and to many it also acts as a divide between two quite separate societies. This has a basis in historical fact as well as current economic realities - the great expansion of Dublin in the 18th century sprawled in both directions but it was the southern expansion that managed to best survive the trauma of the town's political emasculation when the Act of Union in 1800 dissolved the Irish parliament (due in no small part to the fact that the lifeline between England and Ireland was the ferry terminal at Dun Laoghaire).
Through all these upheavals the Liffey continued serving the city as it had always done. Although the port had long since been moved downstream, the presence of a large industrial sector right in the city's heartland meant that the river served as a goods highway, its most obvious customer being the giant Guinness Brewery on its banks. A visionary Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Ormonde, had ensured that the river be lined by wide quays when it was walled, so even as Dublin collapsed into enforced dilapidation throughout the 19th century, visiting Londoners cast envious eyes at the gracefulness and majesty of its main artery compared to their own pre-embankment Thames.
To an extent exceeding any other main city of the then British Empire, Dubliners retained an affectionate regard for, and pride in, this beautified open sewer - and even personified her as Anna Livia Plurabelle, unofficial water goddess of the city, with a slight hygiene problem but beloved nonetheless.
. Exploring the river can make for a pretty interesting day's ambling through the city. Along its banks stand some of Dublin's most important buildings and each bridge has its own story too. A pleasant boardwalk will facilitate you for some of the way these days but remember to wrap up warm - its West-East alignment means it is prone to act as a chilly wind tunnel, even on relatively fine days!
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Inside courtyard of the jail
Kilmainham Gaol
Establishment sign - AD 1780
Collins Day Tours
