 | Dublin Off the Beaten Path Reviews | 1 - 10 of 186 |  |
Off O'Connell street, from The Spire (Spike), is North Earl Street, walk down here, and on the Right hand side you'll find Bonavox Hearing Aid Shop. OK- Why would you give this place a minutes glance?
Well this place inspired a worldwide known nickname-
Paul David Hewson grew up in Dublin's Northside suburb of Glasnevin. He knocked around with a group of friends, who named their gang 'Lypton Village'. Part of their ritual was to give each other surreal nicknames. Paul had been known through a succession of such nicknames.
As the gang of friends wandered around Dublin, they often passed through North Earl Street.
One day, Gavin Friday, one of the gang members, was inspired by this Hearing Aid shop to provide Paul with a new nickname. Paul was prone to singing Very Loudly! - it had been commented that he was singing for the deaf- and he was hence to be known as Bono Vox of O'Connell Street.
Apparently Paul wasn't too amused by this, until it was pointed out that Bona Vox was the Latin translation of 'Good Voice'.
His nickname was subsequently shortened to Bono, a name that he has used since the late 1970's.
Apparently, his family and friends call him Bono too!
As lead singer of U2 - one of Dublin's (and the Worlds) most successful bands, Bono's name is recognised not just for his music, but for his Humanitarian work. I guess it's a more memorable name than Paul Hewson.
I'm still not sure why he is called Bono and not Bona though! Leave a Comment
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Put this one in the "it looked close enough to walk" category, when I looked at my map of Dublin after visiting Kilmainham Gaol, I thought Phoenix Park was close enough to walk to, I might have wandered a bit in the wrong direction though as I ended up in the War Memorial Gardens, a lovely green space dedicated to the memory of the 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in WWI. There a beautiful sunken rose garden surrounded by four granite Bookrooms which hold manuscripts with the names of all the soldiers who died.
I don't know that I would go out of my way to visit the gardens here unless honoring a relative that died in the war, it's quite a way outside the city center and doesn't show up on any of the tourist maps plus there's not really a lot to see except large expanses of grass.
You can see where the gardens are in relation to Kilmainham Goal and Phoenix Park here, it still doesn't look all that far, I must have made a bunch of wrong turns!!! Leave a Comment
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 Our excellent tour guide -
knowledgeable and cool! by ilyathemuromets, 2 more photos
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I didn't see this listed in any of our guide books, but if you go to St. Michan's Church and vaults, you can see underground crypts with bones sticking out!!!!! Kinda creepy, but interesting still. The "curator"/crypt keeper was very entertaining in explaining what you were seeing. This is near the Four Courts area, on Church Street. Leave a Comment
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 Gillespie's Figures Against A
Dublin Backdrop by johngayton, 1 more photos
The monument commemorates the Great Irish Famine of 1845-89, during which about 12% of the population (about 1 million people) died. There's a lot of politics regarding the cause and subsequent effect of the famine, and a lot of tales of exploitation of the people. But suffice to say that much of the emigration to North America took place around this period.
Here on Custom's Quay is Canada's dedication to those who chose to go there and has some interesting politics of its own - the Canadian Prime Minister at the time being the enigmatic three-time server of the post, Jean Chretien, whose political career also makes interesting reading.
The haunting set of scultures by the Irish artist Rowan Gillespie was commissioned in 1997 at the height of Ireland's rennaisance, 150 years after the country's nadir, and is complemented by the 2007 opening of Toronto's "Ireland Park" with works on the same theme by the same artist.
For a (slightly academic) view of the causes and effects of the famine, despite Ireland being an exporter of food at the time, visit the first link. The second is Toronto's Ireland Park. Leave a Comment
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 looks like a cheap holiday inn
- usa embassy by sourbugger
The 60's building is said to combine 'elements of ancient celtic rituals combined with contemporary Amrican design'. If ever I have heard such a load of architectural cobblers and B******t - this is it.
It seems as if the Amerians have decided that the building no longer suits their needs and a new premises mighe be built. If the rumours are true and they build a new place next to IKEA in Ballymun then i can only presume it is motivated by money - sell the upmarket Ballsbridge site and make a profit on the deal.
Somehow I suspect the diplomats will pput every obstacle in the plan's way. Why would they want to swap the sophistication of Ballsbridge for something that resembles downtown Detroit ? (feel free to have a look at my Ballymun page by the way) Leave a Comment
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 by lbhspatriot
This is a little quiet town straight from the 60's, visit a local Pub to experience time travel, its biggest assett is the proximity to Avondale, the birthplace of Parnell and a beautifull forestry park. You can spend a whole day there with your family, exploring different trails, learning about all kinds of trees and enjoying a picnic on the grass.
It is an idyllic place, very nice to visit - espiecially that the people there are warm and welcoming.
Rathdrum is accessible both by Bus (133) and the rail. I recommend taking the train since it is much faster, more frequent and definately more comfortable. You can also visit Avondale as a part of Wicklow tour.
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If you have a car, drive to the area of Wicklow hills. If you don't have one, a good idea is to take one of the package bus trips from Dublin. At least those that take you to the Glendalough monastery area should pass the Wicklow hills too - ask and check it.
The Wicklow area is very beautiful and cannot be described enough well in words nor in pictures. You have to see it yourself. The area is green, there is plenty of space to breath. Nothing too much; just clean pure nature, green valleys an high hills. The silence and beauty are almost touching. Our tour guide stopped speaking on the way home and put some quiet nice relaxation music with nature's sounds on. It was alltogether a breathtaking experience even for me who come from a pure country with lots of space.
For movie fans: note that part of the movie Braveheart was shot here in Wicklow meadows and hills!
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This is a different sightseeing tour: walk around the streets of Dublin and visit the bars where different famous singers and bands have played! There are certainly many more of them, most probably some locals can help with it; but we found at least the following two:
- The Bad Ass Café in the Temple Bar Area: Sinead O´Connor has worked here as a waitress before she became famous
- O'Donoghue's at 15 Merrion Row: The Dubliners and Christy Moore have played and singed here in the beginning of their careers. Nowadays the place has even accommodation! (See the web page for more information).
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Dalkey is a lovely village on the South side of Dublin with an olde worlde feel, beside the sea.
Another suggestion is Enniskerry Co Wicklow which is surrounded by really beautiful countryside.
Lovely restaurants in both places.
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