What to do on a Weekend in Dublin
Things to See and Places to Visit in Ireland’s Capital City
Aug 26, 2009
In recent years the face of the city has changed a great deal and Dublin is now a quirky and exciting blend of traditional Irish pubs, culture and history, and the modern architecture, bustle and vibrancy you’d expect to find in any European capital.
Places of Historical Interest in Dublin
Dublin’s history dates back over one thousand years and it has seen its fair share of battles - both bloody and political as the country strove for independence. Dublin castle, built in 1204 by King John of England was the seat of colonial administration in Ireland until independence in 1921, and it is a monument to this period in the country’s history definitely worth visiting.
Guided tours take you through the State Apartments, the Undercroft and the Chapel Royal on a daily basis from 10.00 to 16.45 Monday to Friday and from 14.00 – 16.45 on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Another place of historical interest certainly worth strolling through is Trinity College Dublin, founded by Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1592 and situated in the very heart of the city centre. Trinity College is home to the Book of Kells – an illustrated book of the four gospels of the New Testament and one of the finest examples of medieval Celtic art to be seen anywhere in the world.
Shopping and Nightlife in Dublin
Dublin’s main shopping street is Grafton Street, on the south side of the River Liffey and just a minute’s stroll from the Front Gate of Trinity College. It offers the avid shopper a choice of international chain stores as well as smaller boutiques and the opportunity to browse through designer labels in one of the city’s biggest department stores - Brown Thomas.
St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre is situated at the top of Grafton Street, just across the road from St. Stephen’s Green park, and offers a more pleasant shopping experience if the weather is unfavorable. Which it often is in Dublin!
As for nightlife, well Dublin City is renowned for its lively atmosphere and when visiting Ireland there are few better places to go to sample that famous Irish craic! Temple Bar, which in recent years has become the focal point for socializing in the hours of darkness, is a cobbled street of restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs and offers all manner of drinking and eating experiences; from traditional Irish to Mexican, Italian and French.
Those who prefer a quieter night’s entertainment should be warned, however, that Temple Bar can become noisy, rowdy and somewhat less than civilized when the pubs and bars shut in the early hours of the morning! This, in stark contrast to the very pleasant experience of taking a stroll along the street during the day, when galleries, the film institute and a number of very fine coffee shops make it a must visit spot before dusk.
A night at the Theatre in Dublin
The two biggest theatres in Dublin are the world famous Abbey Theatre on Abbey Street and the Gate Theatre in Parnell Square. Both venues showcase much loved work from the last two centuries of theatre, as well as newly commissioned plays by Irish and international writers.
Dublin also has a buoyant fringe theatre scene with a vibrant festival of new work showcased in the annual Dublin Fringe Festival which takes place in September. Theatre goers can enjoy an eclectic mix of dance, cabaret, burlesque and plays by exciting new writers over a two week period that sees Dublin really hitting its cultural stride.
All in all Dublin offers the perfect mixture of culture, cuisine and that all important craic for anyone who fancies a weekend break away from the familiar.
You'll find more information on where to go and what to do in Dublin in the following Suite articles:
dancetechnomusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/where_to_go_clubbing_in_dublin
ireland-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/tour_literary_dublin
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