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11 Amazing Parks To Visit In Dublin

November 8, 2022 by City Scape Tours

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Parks and Gardens to visit in Dublin

Dublin is not a concrete jungle; it has many green spaces where you can walk, take a break from the hustle and bustle, and enjoy Ireland’s natural beauty.

St Stephen’s Green

St Stephens Green is one of Dublin’s most evocative parks in the heart of town. It was initially built during the 17th-Centuries and is home to many historical memorials, such as statues of famous people, including James Joyce and Sir Arthur Guinness. Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens and admire the colourful flowers and trees. You can also enjoy watching ducks, swans and moorhen swimming around the ornamental lakes. In the northwest section of the Park, take a trip to the Famine Memorial, where thousands of people died from starvation during the Great Hunger.

Walk the pathways through St. Stephens Green.

Location: St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

Opening times: Mon-Sat 7.30am; Sun and Holidays 9.30am; closing times according to daylight hours; open Christmas Day 10am-1pm.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: You will need to pay a fee to access private city parking or street parking.

Facilities: St Stephens gardens are located in the centre of Dublin, so there is a range of shops, cafés and restaurants nearby.

St Patrick’s Park

If you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, head out to Phoenix Park. It’s a beautiful place to relax, take a break, and explore some of Dublin’s best green spaces. You can grab a cup of tea at the Tram Cafe near the park entrance and then take a leisurely stroll through the Park. You can also visit the Literary Parade, built in honour of Irish poets and writers who live here. See the Liberty Bell sculpture, which is a reminder of the neighbourhood in which the Park is situated.

It has a lot of history, but there’s some fun stuff too.

Phoenix Park Gardens

Phoenix Park is just two kilometres from Dublin’s central business district. Getting to the Park is accessible by public transportation, such as buses, trams, or cars. The Park covers an area of 1,750 acres, so visitors can easily spend several hours exploring the grounds. The Park also includes large grassy fields, wooded forests, and paved walkways. A highlight of the Park is the herd of wild Irish Feral Red and Fallow Deers who roam freely through the Park. Visitors should keep in mind that the Park closes at sunset.

The park sights also include:

Aras an Úachtarán – the Irish President‘s residence. Tours are available on Saturdays.

The original building was initially used by the chief bailiff of County Kerry; it later became the official residency of the US ambassador to Ireland.

The Papal Cross is an iconic symbol of the Catholic Church. It’s a large white cross that was built during the papacy of Pope John Paul II.

The Magazine Castle: This castle marks where Phoenix lodge was built by Sir Edward fisher in 1611. In 1734 the building was knocked down when the duke of Dorset ordered a powder magazine to be constructed. An additional wing was built in1801 for soldiers.

The Wellington Testimonium stands nearly 63 metres high and comprises four bronze plaquettes from cannonballs taken at Waterloo. It was built to tribute Arthur Wellesley, 1st Marquess of Wellington, born in Ireland.

Location: Dublin 8

How to get there using Dublin public transport:

By bus: No’s 37, 38, 39, 46A, 66, 67 from the city centre.

By Luas: Red line to Heuston Station, 10-minute walk to the park entrance on Chesterfield Ave.

Opening times: Open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, all year round. The side gates to the Park are open from 7am-11pm.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: Free parking.

Facilities: There is a café by the Zoo and formal gardens and a café at the visitors centre in the heart of the Park.

St Audoen’s Park and City Walls

The Park lies within the medieval walled town of Dublin. Here, you’ll discover St Audoen’s Arch – the final surviving entry point into the old city. The Park features an exciting collection of historical artefacts, including the remains of the ancient church of St Audoen’s. You’ll also be able to enjoy a drink at the nearby Brazen Head Pub, Ireland’s oldest pub.

Located in a suburb west of downtown, British architectural firm Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the Irish National War Memorial Gardens to remember Ireland’s 49,400 dead during WWI. It’s a beautiful park with a classical design. It is arranged from north to south with sunken flower gardens at each end and an internal stone wall. An excellent way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Herbert Park

With its beautiful gardens, lakes, and bandshell, Ballsbridge’s 32-acre Herbert Gardens offers visitors a chance to escape city life’s hustle and bustle for a few hours. On Sundays, the garden transforms into one of Dublin’s best food markets. You can enjoy freshly baked bread, cheese, and produce from local farmers.

The second largest municipal green, St Anne’s Green, stretches over 240 acres in what was once an Irish estate belonging to the Guinness family in Dublin’s north side. This vast open land is home to wildlife like wild boars, hares, squirrels and foxes who live alongside several follies, including a Herculanean temple, a Pompeian water temple and a Roman viewing tower. There are ten, to be exact, around the River Naniken, which runs through the grounds. You’ll find a Hilarican Temple, a Pompeian Aqueduct and a Roman Tower overlooking duckponds. Suppose you’re here during weekends between 10am and 5 pm. In that case, you can enjoy these unusual sites while tasting homemade chocolates, artisan cheese, and handmade jams at the market stalls of the St Anne’s Green Market.

People’s Park

If you’re seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, take a trip out to the countryside. A short drive from Dublin, People’s Park is located just minutes from the shores of Dún Laogháirí (Dún Lough Harris). With its beautiful Victorian architecture, this Park offers visitors a chance to relax and unwind. Locals sell crafts and food at the weekly farmers’ market on Sundays. Take your kids along, too – they can play on the swings, slides and sandpit.

Marlay Park

If you’re looking for a challenging walk, then Marlay is definitely worth visiting. It has a 9-holed golf course, a tennis court, a dog playground, two kids’ playgrounds and a miniature train. And if you enjoy walking, this trail starts at Marlay and goes up into the mountains.

Bushy Park

It’s been there since 1700, but Bushy Park has been transformed into an international market village. You can enjoy local produce, artisanal foods, craft beers and wines, and live music every Saturday.

National Botanic Gardens National Botanic Gardens

In Glasnevin, just 3 km from Dublin’s city centre, grows a head-spinnin’ 15,000 species of flower. The restored 19th-century glasshouse, however, is even more impressive. Using computer controls to replicate environments around the world, the glasshouse contains different species, from wild Irish White Dryads to exotic palm trees. Join a Guiding Tour to learn more about the garden and the 300 rare flowers.

War Memorial Garden

This beautiful Park is located in the Dublin suburbs of Islandbridge and is one of my favourites. It’s surprisingly less busy than most parks in Dublin. It provides an ideal spot for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.

It was built to commemorate the deaths of 49,400 Irish men who fought for their country during World Wars 1 and 2. Their names are inscribed in the beautiful stained glass windows in the buildings surrounding the memorial garden.

Sir Edwin Lutyens, an English landscape artist, created these beautiful Irish garden designs. He was best known for his architecture. He has been called “the greatest British designer since William Morris.” His most famous works include the Houses of Parliament in London and New Delhi.

The Park has beautiful views of Dublin Bay and offers a lovely riverside path. You can also enjoy picnics at one of the many cafes located here.

Location: South Circular Rd, Islandbridge. The entrance is from Con Colbert Rd and South Circular Rd (Phoenix Park end).

How to get there using Dublin public transport:

By bus: 51, 68 and 69 from Aston Quay.

By Luas: Red line to Heuston Station, 25-minute walk to the entrance.

By train: 25-minute walk from Heuston Station.

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8am, Saturday – Sunday 10am. Gardens close according to daylight hours.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: Free car park onsite.

Facilities: None.

Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Formal Gardens

This stunning formal Park, also known as the Master’s Gardens, is located on Dublin’s historic Royal Hospitals Kilmainham site. Built-in 1662, the Royal Hospitals were built to care for sick and wounded soldiers during times of war. Today, the buildings house the Irish Museum of Modern Arts (IMMA) and provide a peaceful setting for visitors and locals alike.

The formal gardens date back to 1732. A pretty cottage at the end of the gardens is named “The Lodge”. It is believed to be designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, who created the House of Commons in London. The gardens feature lovely sculptures and statues.

Location: Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.

How to get there using Dublin public transport:

By Luas: Red line to Heuston Station, 8-minute walk to Museum entrance on Military Road.

By bus: Buses to Heuston Station (8 minutes walk via Military Rd): 145, 79 and 79a from Aston Quay. Buses to James St (8 minutes walk via steps to Bow Lane onto Irwin St and Military Rd): 13, 40, 123 from O’Connell St and Dame St.

By train: 8-minute walk from Heuston Station.

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11.30am – 5.30pm; Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm; Sunday and Bank Holidays: 12pm – 5.30pm; Monday: Closed

Admission Fees: Free entry

Parking: Paid parking onsite.

Facilities: Bookshop and café.

National Botanic Gardens

Ireland’s National Botanic Gardens in Dubail is renowned for its wonderful botanical collection, housing over 15,000 plants from all over the globe. Its exquisite glasshouse was built by the Irishman Richard Turner, who also worked on the glasshouse at Kew Gardens and the Glasshouse at Belfast. These stunning glass houses were awarded the Europa Nostra prize for excellence in conservational architecture.

Visitors can enjoy the herbaceous border, rose garden, Alpine garden, pond area, rock garden and Arboretum. Conservation is an integral part of the Botanical Garden’s life. It is home to over 200 endangered plants around the globe, among six already extinct in nature.

Location: 3.5 km north of Dublin city centre, Botanic Road, Glasnevin.

How to get there using Dublin public transport:

By bus: It’s a bit too far to walk from the city centre, but the National Botanic Gardens can be reached by taking either Dublin city bus 4 or 83 from O’Connell Street.

Opening times: Winter opening times (October 27th to February) are Monday to Friday, 9am-4:30pm; Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, 10am-4:30pm. Summer opening times (March to October) are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, 10am-6pm. The glasshouses close at 4.15pm in winter.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: Onsite parking is available for €2.

Facilities: Restaurant / Tearooms open daily in summer, 9am – 5pm and in winter, 10am – 4pm.

Iveagh Gardens

The Iveagh gardens are among the best and most well-kept of Dublin’s city parks and gardens. Designed by Ninian Niven in 1865 as an intermediate style between French and English landscapes, they demonstrate his artistic skill and show a unique collection of garden elements, including rustic grottoes, cascades, sunken formal panels, fountain centres pieces, wildernesses, woodlands, maze, rosaries, archery grounds, rockeries and rooteries.

The gardens began their restoration in 1995, and they’ve since been fully restored. Some features include the maze, box hedge, sundial, cascade, exotic trees, Victorian roses, and rosarium.

These parks often become inaccessible during the summer due to events held there.

Location: Access from Hatch Street. Disabled access to Clonmel Street and Hatch Street.

Opening Hours: Open all year Monday – Saturday 8am; Sunday and Bank Holidays: 10am; gardens closing times: December – January: 3.30pm; February and November: 4pm; March – October: 6pm.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: You will need to pay a fee to access private city parking or street parking.

Facilities: Iveagh Gardens are located in the centre of Dublin, so there is a range of shops, cafés and restaurants nearby.

Merrion Square Gardens

The Merrion Square garden has been designed using a “Jardin Anglais” approach. It features formal lawns, informal groups of trees and shrubs, curves and sunken paths, and perimeters planted with ornamental flowers and herbs.

There are a variety of interesting sculptures in these gardens, including one called “Oscar Wilde Reclining On A Rock”, which was designed by Sir Edward Maufe.

Surrounds the parks on three sides are grand Georgian houses. On the other side are Leinster house and two museums. Many of the homes have plaques documenting the rich and famous who used to live in them, such as Daniel O’Connell and William Butler Yeats. On Sunday, you’ll also see an art market showcasing talented artists who hang their artwork on the railings around the gardens.

Location: Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week during daylight hours.

Admission Fees: Free entry.

Parking: You will need to pay a fee to access private city parking or street parking.

Facilities: Merrion Square is located in the centre of Dublin, so there is a range of shops, cafés and restaurants nearby.

Categories Dublin, Things to Do In Dublin, To Do And See

Galleries And Museums Of Dublin

November 7, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Dublin’s museum scene is nothing if not diverse.

More than 100 museums and galleries are spread across the capital, allowing visitors to delve deep into the Irish psyche – real or imagined – and learn about Irish culture and history.

A city of writers and revellers, artists and emigrants, Dublin’s curators have a rich archive to draw from. Alongside many of the country’s most notable collections – the National Museum (for archaeology, decorative arts, military history and natural history), the National Gallery (for art) and the National Library (for rare books), many of Dublin’s best museums draw from esoteric inspiration.

Explore your Irish roots at EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum. Travel back to the Viking era in Dublinia. Relive the complexities of the Easter Rising at the GPO on O’Connell St. Revel in literary brilliance at MoLI, Museum of Literature Ireland or sample a dram of whiskey at The Irish Whiskey Museum. Dublin’s museums are filled with thrilling treasures from Bronze Age gold to priceless international art.

The Science Gallery

The Science Gallery is a public science centre at Trinity College, Dublin. Opened in 2008 and housed in Trinity’s Naughton Institute, the city’s newest Gallery offers a refreshingly lively and informative exploration of the relationship between science, art and the world we live in.

The Museum features regularly changing exhibitions that are entertaining and informative and strike a balance between outlining some really remarkable facts and figures in a casual, highly visual and easily digestible way.

The exhibitions are led by friendly and well-informed guides who take you through the interactive, hands-on tour as you explore a new type of scientific venue where today’s white-hot scientific issues are thrashed out. You can have your say in one of Dublin’s most unique and informative tourist attractions.

Contact Details:

Address: The Science Gallery, Naughton Institute, Pearse Street, Trinity College, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 1 896 4091

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 22 Dawson Street (see Route Map)

Archaeology Museum – The National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is dedicated to showcasing Irish Art, Culture and Natural History. The Archaeology Museum is the most impressive of the three branches of the Museum. It holds the best-known and most exciting exhibits featuring Ireland’s archaeological treasures.

The shows contain a mix of Europe’s finest collection of Bronze- and Iron-Age gold artefacts, the most complete collection of medieval Celtic metalwork in the world and vital and exciting items from Ireland’s fight for Independence.

The Treasury is the most prominent part of the collection. Its centrepieces are Ireland’s two most famous crafted artefacts, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch. The 12th-century Ardagh Chalice is the finest example of Celtic art ever found.

At the same time, Tara Brooch is equally revered, having been crafted as a white bronze clasp around AD 700. Elsewhere in the Treasury is the exhibition Ór-Ireland’s Gold, which features stunning jewellery and decorative objects created by Celtic artisans in the Bronze and Iron Ages alongside a 15m log boat, which was abandoned and then pulled out almost perfectly preserved 4000 years later, from a peat bog.

On the same level is the fascinating Road to Independence exhibition, which features the army coat worn by Michael Collins on the day he was assassinated and the cap purportedly worn by Collins on that fateful day, complete with a bullet hole in its side. However, the authenticity of the hat is contested.

Suppose you can handle even more history upstairs. In that case, you will find Medieval Ireland 1150 – 1550 and Viking Age Ireland exhibits alongside the aptly named Clothes from Bogs in Ireland exhibit.

Fun Fact

The Ardagh Chalice was not discovered by archaeologists but by a farmer digging for spuds in his field. Once again, deepening the inherent love for potatoes in Ireland!

Contact Details:

Address: Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0)1 6777444

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 22 Dawson Street (see Route Map)

Collins Barracks

One of the most exciting and informative things to do in Dublin, the National Museum of Ireland is a must-see. Originally the oldest army barracks in Europe, the buildings were re-opened in 1997 with a new purpose as the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History.

The barracks and central square are named after Michael Collins, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Irish Free State Army, who was killed at Béal na Bláth, Co. Cork, four months before the barracks were surrendered to the Free State Army. General Richard Mulcahy formally accepted the handover and immediately named the site after Collins.

At Collins Barracks, there are so many things to see and do. Irish haute couture garments, furniture, silver, jewellery, ceramics, and detailed exhibitions exploring Irish military history from 1550 to the 21st century, including an exciting and informative exhibition detailing the events leading up to, during and after the 1916 Easter Rising.

In the Museum, you will also find one of the largest collections of silver in the world (unfortunately, you can’t take any) as well as exhibitions showing the development of fashion in Ireland from the 1700s onward and Dublin’s very own Asian Art collection.

Contact Details:

Address: Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7

Tel: +353 1 6777444

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 5 Wolfe Tone Quay (see Route Map)

Admission:

Free

Richmond Barracks

The fallout of the Easter Rising didn’t all happen at Kilmainham Gaol. In the nearby neighbourhood of Inchicore, over 3,000 rebels—men and women—were held at Richmond Barracks, a British military base being used at the time as a training centre for Irish-born soldiers shipping off to fight in World War I.

In the crowded barracks, the Rising leaders—including the 14 later executed at Kilmainham—were separated from rank-and-file rebels, court-martialed, and sentenced on the spot.

Then, from Richmond Barracks, they were marched through the streets to Kilmainham Gaol, where crowds of angry locals jeered and spit at them—the Rising wasn’t initially popular, as more civilians were killed in the fighting than Irish rebels and British soldiers combined.

The barracks sat long unused and crumbling until community interest and funding came through during the 1916 Centenary celebrations.

In May 2016, it opened to the public as a museum remembering its days as a British base of operations, an impromptu processing centre for the men and women of the Rising, its handover from the British to the Irish armies after Independence, and its final chapter as government tenement housing and a Christian Brothers school.

The tour will include the 1916 exhibit in the gymnasium, where those arrested after the Rising were processed and sentenced; a re-creation of one of the classrooms from its time as a school (with a fine collection of original furniture found in storerooms and donated by families); and an example of the living quarters for the soldiers—and later, the families—who called the barracks home.

Those who go for the guided tour (recommended) rather than the self-guided tour will take a guided walk through Goldenbridge Cemetery nearby.

Many vandalised and weatherworn markers have been restored thanks to an extensive renovation alongside Richmond Barracks.

If time and budget allow, a tour of Richmond Barracks would pair well with a visit to Kilmainham Gaol; you could follow in the footsteps of the executed Rising leaders from the Barracks to the old Garrison Church—still a functioning Catholic church—to Kilmainham Gaol and then across the river to their burial site in Arbour Hill Cemetery. Look for more developments in future updates of this book and on their website

Contact Details:

www.richmondbarracks.ie

Admission:

Adult – €8.50

Children (under 12) – €2.50

Student/Senior citizen – €3.50

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 24 Lord Edward’s Street (see Route Map)

Dublin Castle

Originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings, Dublin Castle had functioned as a military fortress, a prison, a Treasury, a court of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years until it was finally handed over to the new Government of the Irish Free State in 1922. Dublin Castle is now a major governmental complex used for critical State receptions and Presidential Inaugurations.

Dublin Castle was built in 1204 as a defensive fortification on the orders of King John of England sometime after the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169. It later evolved into a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the monarch and would serve as the seat of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years up until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Following the War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921, the rebel military commander Michael Collins arrived in the Upper Yard of Dublin Castle on 16th January 1922 and received the handover of the Castle, from the last Lord Lieutenant FitzAlan, on behalf of the new Irish Government.

The State Apartments, Undercroft, Chapel Royal, Craft Shop, Heritage Centre and Restaurant are open to visitors. Admission is by guided tour with a self-guiding option available.

Fun fact

Dublin Castle has appeared in numerous films, including Barry Lyndon, Michael Collins, Becoming Jane and The Medallion, and the television series The Tudors, where it doubles as the Vatican in the pilot.

Contact Details:

Address: Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0)1 645 8813

Admission:

Adult – €4.50

Children (under 12) – €2.00

Student/Senior citizen – €3.50

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 24 Lord Edward’s Street (see Route Map)

National History Museum – The National Museum of Ireland

One of the three branches of the National Museum of Ireland, the Natural History Museum is located between Government Buildings and the House of the Oireachtas on Merrion Street. First opened in 1857, the Museum has been virtually unchanged since its opening, bar some restoration work in 1909 and 2007 after the grand stone staircase was deemed unsafe.

The Victorian-style Museum is home to a fascinating collection of over 2 million species situated in a building full of old Victorian charm and scientific wonderment.

The ground floor is dedicated to Irish wildlife featuring the mammals, sea creatures, birds and some butterflies that could have been found in Ireland at some point, with the centrepiece being the skeleton of the now-extinct giant Irish elk.

The upper floors of the building feature the World Animals Collection, which is dedicated to animals found worldwide. There you will find an exhibition that jumps from continent to continent and includes outstanding examples of animals found throughout the history and far reaches of the world.

The Museum has no admission charge, and visitors are welcome to explore the collections by themselves at their own pace. The Museum of Natural History is one of the top things to do in Dublin for any history buffs or anyone looking to see Dublin on a budget.

Fun Fact

Some of the large exhibits face away from the entrance. This is due to a new entry being constructed at the east end of the building facing Merrion Street in 1909. This reversed the direction from which visitors approached the exhibitions and explained why some of the large exhibits still faced away from the entrance; it was too difficult to turn the whales and elephants around to meet the new entry.

Contact Details:

National History Museum, Merrion St Upper, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0) 1 677 7444

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 20 Merrion Street (see Route Map)

National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland is a must-see for any visiting Dublin art lovers. Situated in Merrion Square near the National Museum at Kildare Street, the Gallery is an underrated attraction that is not to be missed. The Gallery boasts a collection of more than 2 500 paintings and over 10 000 other artworks, including watercolours, drawings, prints and sculptures.

Founded in 1854 by an Act of Parliament and opened to the public in 1864, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of Irish and European fine art, spanning the period circa the 1400s to 1950s. The National Gallery is unique thanks to its collection of exhibitions which documents the story of Irish art from the seventeenth century to the present day with critical works by Nathaniel Hone, John Lavery, William Leech, Roderic O’Conor, Paul Henry, Sean Keating, Jack B. Yeats and Louis le Brocquy.

The Gallery is also home to several of Europe’s most renowned masterpieces, including works by Fra Angelico, Rembrandt, Poussin, Goya, Picasso, Bonnard, Van Gogh and a recently discovered Caravaggio.

Free permanent collection tours take place every Saturday at 12.30 pm and every Sunday at 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm. Guided tours of the collection may be booked for private groups, schools and university groups, special interest groups and individuals. A minimum of 2 weeks’ notice and a small fee are required.

Fun Fact

Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ, a painting recorded in contemporary biographies on the artist but long believed to be lost or destroyed, was discovered in a Jesuit house of studies in Dublin. The picture remains in the Gallery on indefinite loan from the Jesuit fathers.

Contact Details:

Address: Merrion Square West & Clare Street, Dublin 2

Tel: +353(0)16325133

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 19 Merrion Square West(see Route Map)

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied jails in Europe. Now turned into a museum, the gaol has witnessed some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland’s emergence as a modern nation from the 1780s to the 1920s, with many of the leaders of Irish rebellions imprisoned within its walls.

Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol is in the heart of modern Irish history and has held some of the most famous political and military leaders in Irish history, such as Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell, the 1916 Rising leaders and Eamon de Valera. From when it opened in 1796 to when it closed in 1924, the leaders of 5 Irish rebellions between 1798 and 1916 were detained and, in some cases, executed in gaol.

Attractions include a major exhibition detailing the political and penal history of the prison and its restoration. The tour of the prison includes an audio-visual show which gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what it was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishment and correction.

For anyone visiting Dublin, this is one of the must-see attractions if you are either interested in learning about the infamous gaol, which has played a prominent role in Irish history or if you would like to experience what it was like to be put in an almost 300-year-old prison without the generally less pleasant experience of having to actually be incarcerated.

Fun Fact

Kilmainham Gaol has a history of being haunted, with several reported ghost sightings over the last century.

Contact Details:

Address: Inchicore Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.

Tel: +353 1 453 5984

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 28 Military Road (see Route Map)

Admission:

Adult – €6.00

Senior/ Group – €4.00

Child/ Student – €2.00

Family – €14.00

Irish Museum of Modern Art

The Irish Museum of Modern Art, or “IMMA”, is Ireland’s leading national institution for collecting and presenting modern and contemporary art. Attracting over 400,000 visitors a year, the Museum is Ireland’s most important collection of modern and contemporary Irish art. It is housed in the elegant Royal Hospital at Kilmainham, recognised as the finest 17th Century building in Ireland.

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham was designed by the talented William Robinson (who also designed Marsh’s Library) and was built between 1680 and 1687 as a home for retired soldiers. It continued in that use until 1928. The building was then left to languish for over 50 years. The Government eventually restored the building in 1984 and made it into the popular tourist attraction it was today in 1991.

The Museum presents a wonderfully wide-ranging combination of old and new exhibitions, which regularly include works from contemporary Irish artists such as Louis Le Brocquy, Sean Scully, Barry Flanagan, Kathy Pendergrass and Dorothy Cross, as well as paintings from artistic giants Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.

Contact Details:

Address: Royal Hospital, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8

Tel: +353-1-6129900

Tours:

Tue-Sun: 2.30 pm

Admission:

Tue & Thu-Sat: 10 am-5.30 pm

Wed: 10.30 am-5.30 pm

Sun: 12 pm – 5.30 pm

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 28 Military Road (see Route Map)

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is a state-of-the-art interactive experience located in the beautiful vaults of the 1820 Custom House Quarter building in Dublin’s Docklands, the original departure point for many of Ireland’s emigrants. It will inspire and guide you on a journey to discover the stories of Irish emigration around the world, from early times to the modern day.

Over the centuries, some 10 million people have left the island of Ireland. At EPIC, you can step through 20 themed galleries to discover why people left, see how they influenced the world they found, and experience the connection between their descendants and Ireland today.

Immerse yourself in the stories of some of the most remarkable tales of sacrifice, endurance, adventure, and discovery the world has ever known. EPIC brings these amazing stories to life uniquely and spectacularly.

Contact Details:

Address: The CHQ Building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1

Tel: +353(0)1 906 0861

Web: epicirelandchq.com

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 11 Custom House Quay(see Route Map)

Dublinia

Dublinia is a heritage centre in the heart of Dublin City. Located at the crossroads of St Michael’s Hill, Patrick St, and High Street, Dublinia is fast becoming one of the top attractions in Dublin, with almost 125 000 visitors a year. There are three exciting and interactive exhibitions to be seen at Dublinia.

The first is ‘Viking Dublin’, which takes the visitor back to life in the city in Viking times. Here you will see what life was like on board a Viking warship. You will visit a Viking house, stroll down a Viking street and even try on Viking clothes!

The second exhibition is ‘Medieval Dublin’, where you learn about warfare, crime and punishment, death and disease and even medical remedies of 700 years ago. See the city as it would have looked then in a display featuring a busy medieval market, a wealthy merchant’s house and a noisy medieval street.

The third and final exhibition is the ‘History hunters’. In this exhibition, you will see genuine Viking and Medieval artefacts, including those of a medieval skeleton found in Dublin. The collection even includes an excavation site and a lab to discover more and test your newfound archaeology skills.

A visit to Dublinia is a must-see to learn all about Dublin’s long and colourful history and is a fun day out for visitors of all ages.

Contact Details:

Address: St Michael’s Hill, Christ Church, Dublin 8, Ireland

Tel: +353 (0)1 6794611

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at Stop 25 Christ Church Place (see Route Map)

Categories Dublin, Things to Do In Dublin, To Do And See

Why Visit Ireland in April and May?

November 7, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Why Visit Ireland in April and May?

As naturalist John Muir says, “The mountains are calling…, and I must go.”

Enjoy images of some of the Wild Atlantic Way mountains and hills in this photoblog to whet your peak-bagging appetite.

Spring it!

Here’s why you should visit Ireland in spring. Have you thought about visiting Ireland in April or May? Check out why you should plan next year’s trip during the Irish spring season.

1. The Flowers are Blooming

Fresh flowers blooming in Adare, Co. Limerick

In Ireland, Mother Nature creates her bouquets, and flowers are in vivid abundance. Bright, new leaves have sprouted, filling out Ireland’s impressive green forests and parks. If you choose to visit Ireland in spring, you’ll get the chance to experience Irish flowers at their very best during springtime!

Irish wildflowers and manicured gardens are newly-bloomed in April and May, blanketing the ground in vibrant yellows, pinks, blues and purples. The forest floors are covered in a layer of bright bluebells, old stone walls become home to wildflowers and weeds, and the gardens of Ireland’s grand manors explode in blooms.

One of the best places to see Irish wildflowers would be in the Burren National Park. This exposed limestone landscape erupts in a quilt of colour, growing and sprouting out of the cracks in the craggy landscape. The Burren is incredibly diverse for wildflowers, with flowers that typically sprout from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, blanketing the landscape.

Hike the fantastic wildflower haven of the Burren region on our newly revamped Hiking Connemara to the Cliffs of Moher.

For cyclists, explore the Burren on two wheels on our exciting Biking Connemara & the Aran Islands. Beginners welcome!

2. Enjoy the Freshest Air in Europe

The Wellington Statue, Phoenix Park Dublin

The secret’s out – Ireland has some of Europe’s freshest air as it flows off the Atlantic Coast! And our lovely fresh Irish air is best enjoyed in springtime. Take a break from the stuffy city air, replacing the din and commotion of urban life instead of with the clear, fresh air of the Emerald Isle.

The combined odour of fresh flowers, soft rain, new grass and the last of this season’s chimney smoke is one of the best perfumes Mother Nature has created – and is a reason to hop over to the Emerald Island.

While all of our trips are perfect for getting fresh air, you might like Island Hopping in Cork & Kerry, as you’ll get the fresh island breeze while sailing to and hiking around each island.

Hiking by Killarney’s lakes during spring

3. Avoid the Summer Crowds

Bushmills Distillery Tours

For those who prefer to travel off the beaten path, you’d probably choose to visit in the off-peak season to avoid the crowds – which is why you should visit Ireland in spring. The silence of spring lets you best enjoy nature the way it was intended and makes it more enjoyable to hike and bike your way through Ireland. You’ll also be able to get the best prices – and you’ll have a better chance of meeting with the locals!

Visit famous tourist attractions in the pre-season for a new perspective.

4. New Life (and Lambs)

Baby seals are just one of the wildlife you might find in Ireland!

Ireland is known as a rural and agricultural country. Indeed, most of Ireland’s most unique and sought-after destinations are in the countryside. It’s also a place known for its sheep and cows. Not quite as fluffy or white as cartoons and children’s books would have you believe, sheep are still quite cute. Spring is the best time to visit because it’s lambing season, and the fields will be full of bouncing fluffy bundles of joy! In other areas, you’ll find adorable calves.

Of course, lambs and calves aren’t the one baby animal in spring. The island is buzzing with life as all of the little critters come out of hiding. From baby seals to returning migrating birds, there’s no better time to explore Ireland’s natural beauty to meet the island’s wildlife than in April and May!

The best time to see puffins is also spring and early summer – April, May, and June are the best months to see puffins. Frequently, islands serve as bird havens. Find these fantastic birds in a place like the Skellig Islands in Kerry, Wexford’s Saltee Islands or Northern Ireland’s Rathlin Island.

Find some other Irish wildlife spots here.

In spring, you might like to visit popular sites like:

The Ring of Kerry – Visit them here

Skellig Michael – Visit it here

The Giant’s Causeway – Visit it here

Cliffs of Moher – Visit it here

Glendalough Monastic Site – Visit it here

The Dingle Peninsula – Visit it here

5. Better Availability

Ashford Castle in spring is simply magical!

As fewer fellow tourists travel in April and May, you’ll have more flexibility and choice. Have a specific accommodation in mind? You’ll have a better chance of getting that particular accommodation and type of room if you travel earlier in the year.

This goes for popular activities, such as boat trips in Killarney or especially out to the Skellig Islands, or more local activities like sheep demonstrations, foraging experiences or exclusive visits. Prices are often better as well!

Categories Things to Do In Dublin, To Do And See

Dublin Castle

October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Dublin Castle

Originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings, Dublin Castle had functioned as a military fortress, a prison, treasury, courts of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years until it was finally handed over to the new government of the Irish Free State in 1922. Dublin Castle is now a major governmental complex used for critical State receptions and Presidential Inaugurations.

Dublin Castle was built in 1204 as a defensive fortification on the orders of King John of England sometime after the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1169. It later evolved into a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the monarch and would serve as the seat of British rule in Ireland for over 700 years up until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Following the War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921, the rebel military commander Michael Collins arrived in the Upper Yard of Dublin Castle on 16th January 1922 and received the handover of the Castle, from the last Lord Lieutenant FitzAlan, on behalf of the new Irish Government.

The State Apartments, Undercroft, Chapel Royal, Craft Shop, Heritage Centre and Restaurant are open to visitors. Admission is by guided tour with a self-guiding option available.

Fun fact

Dublin Castle has appeared in numerous films, including Barry Lyndon, Michael Collins, Becoming Jane and The Medallion, and the television series The Tudors, where it doubles as the Vatican in the pilot.

Contact Details:

Address: Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0)1 645 8813

Admission:

Adult – €4.50

Children (under 12) – €2.00

Student/Senior citizen – €3.50

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 24 Lord Edward’s Street (see Route Map)

Categories Things to Do In Dublin

15 of the best road trips in Ireland and The UK

October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

15 of the best road trips in Ireland and The UK

Want to whizz past postcard horizons, world-beating mountains and dinosaur-era coasts? Get behind the wheel for the drive of a lifetime with our pick of the 15 best road trips in Ireland and the UK.

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Scouring the glassy-calm sea, you see a dolphin pod amid a plankton feeding frenzy. Soon after, the silence on your wildlife-watching boat turns to screams with the emergence of a far more giant creature: besides you is a 25ft-long Minke whale. This visceral overture off the West Cork coast sums up the thrills of the Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest uninterrupted coastal drive. From the sandy beaches and sea cliffs of Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale on the Celtic Sea Coast, 1,550 miles of asphalt weaves through time-warp seaside towns and diverse areas of outstanding natural beauty. Don’t rush it.

Duration: seven to ten days.

Car hire: pick up your wheels at Belfast’s two airports. Holiday autos offer starting prices of £123 for a week’s car hire with free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: finish off the road trip with a stay at this coastal townhouse in Kinsale.

Look out for friendly pods of dolphins on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

This imagination-tingling 130-mile road trip is defined by fairytale lanes, clifftop pathways and mysterious basalt columns. It doesn’t get much more magical than the Giant’s Causeway, where the sea kisses the coast. From Belfast to Londonderry, you’ll discover stories, both ancient and modern, as well as landscapes primed with discordant wildness. Stop at the Gobbins Cliff Path, a walkway hewn from volcanic rock, before entering the fantasy world of Game of Thrones at Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour and the Dark Hedges, the ghostly boulevard of beech trees used as the road to King’s Landing. Just as evocative and other-worldly: an aged Bushmills whiskey at trip’s end.

Duration: three to five days.

Where to stay along the way: you’ll find the five-star cottages at Bayview Farm on the North Antrim coast, 2.5 miles from Bushmills, between Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. There’s lots of space, a hot tub and free parking.

North Coast 500, Highlands, Scotland

Talk about epic: this is Scotland going full-throttle. To begin with, the 516-mile road trip heads north out of Inverness, passing beautifully set whisky distilleries that cluster between the Black Isle and Wick before turning at John O’Groats. Next comes glorious Durness, Assynt and Ullapool, and dazzling Loch Maree. You’ll pass storied castles and Scottish Highlands scenery par excellence — this is a slow road, so remember to take your time. Finish with your eyes glued to the windscreen as you tackle the big dipper over the Bealach Na Bà to seafront Applecross. Afterwards, stop at The Torridon Hotel for belly-hugging haute cuisine and a whisky bar for the ages.

Duration: five to seven days

Car hire: pick up your set of wheels from Inverness airport and get a great deal with Europcar.

Where to stay along the way: Fisherman’s Cottage in Ullapool is the perfect resting point. There’s a deer park behind it, so expect a few visitors.

South West Coastal 300, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

What happens when tourism bigwigs realise Scottish road trips are world-beaters? First, the North Coast 500, then this enviable 300-mile circuit around the country’s southwest. Start in market town Dumfries, following a clockwise route past seaside cities to the Mull of Galloway, before heading inland to the dark sky woods of Galloway Forest Park. With its atmospheric bookshops and famous festival, the whaleback pyramid of Ailsa Craig, golf courses, green hills and gradual bends, you’ll pass Wigtown. One of the joys is time-travelling at Culzean Castle and at Robert Burns’ Birthplace in Alloway — both inspiring enough to have you waxing lyrical about the southwest’s poetic beauty.

Duration: three to four days.

Where to stay along the way: The Orangerie has lots of quirky touches (having been renovated from a bar and restaurant). It’s very private and their lots of walks on your doorstep.

The K66, Argyll, Scotland

Enough to lure even the most committed big-city lover to the wilds of west Scotland, this 66-miler loops around the contoured Kintyre Peninsula, soaking up the Atlantic coastline and ancient woodland. The landscape sometimes feels completely untouched, yet the route passes toothy castles, surf spots, golden sands and fantastic seafood restaurants, where Isle of Gigha halibut is the star turn. Whisky lovers swear by Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown. For music fans, Kintyre is where Sir Paul McCartney and Linda lived — and the ex-Beatle still owns his ‘Mull of Kintyre’ farm overlooking the long and winding road down to Machrihanish Bay.

Duration: three to four days.

Where to stay along the way: Craigard House Hotel is a mansion on the outskirts of Campbeltown and offers terrific views over Campbeltown loch. There’s plenty of free parking.

Meet the locals in the wilds of west Scotland

Road to the Isles, Highlands, Scotland

Pack your sense of adventure for this 46-mile road trip from Fort William to Mallaig for the ferry across to the Isle of Skye. Thomas Telford conceived the A830, offering the greatest hits of Scottish Highlands eye candy. Gawp at the Glenfinnan Monument, where Bonnie Prince Charlie kicked off the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745. Imagine the Hogwarts Express steaming across the West Highland Line railway viaduct. Loch Morar has Morag, a Nessie-like monster to hunt for. Arisaig offers delicious arcs of silver sand, forgotten-by-time islands and snorkelling. In the distance lies the Cuillins and fairy glens of Skye, where your next adventure awaits.

Duration: two to three days.

Car hire: holiday autos offer very competitive prices for car hire in Scotland and come with free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: Sligachan Hotel comes with its microbrewery and award-winning whisky if you fancy a few drams on an evening. There’s free private parking.

Snowdonia, Wales

The approach to Snowdonia is unforgettable; such is its beauty, light and shadow. From royal Caernarfon, an anti-clockwise loop of the massif penetrates the unfathomable splendour of its flanks and mind-blowing horseshoe cliffs. Take the road to bewitching Beddgelert, Italian-like Portmeirion and Porthmadog for one of the world’s great mountain train journeys. Stop at Pen-y-Pass for a yomp up Snowdon peak, then continue to national park gateway Betws-y-Coed, where mirror-like mountain lakes and dare-yourself canyons await. You’ll pass the National Slate Museum at Llanberis on the road back to Caernarfon castle, where the Menai Strait gives way to the serenity of Anglesey.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offer very competitive prices for car hire in Wales and come with free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: plump for one of the nine individually designed rooms at Escape in Llandudno. The hotel is within striking distance of Snowdonia National Park. There’s room for five to six cars in the car park and free street parking directly outside.

Brecon Beacons, Wales

There’s no better window on life in South Wales than one on a road trip through this gently undulating national park. Beginning in Llandovery, you’ll boomerang around hairpin bends and over the dragon-humped Black Mountain Pass before tumbling down to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen. As distances are short, there are plenty of distractions beyond the rising Carmarthen Fans further east, including Dan yr Ogof, a 17km show cave system. A hike to the top of Pen y Fan is a must, as is a detour to Abergavenny, a foodie wonderland with markets and vineyard tastings. Market town Hay-on-Wye is a suitable climax; after all the drama of biking, hiking and horse riding, curling up in the second-hand book capital of the world only seems fitting.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offer very competitive prices and free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: bag a room, or a cottage, at Grove of Narbeth – winner of The Sunday Times Hotel of the Year for Wales 2020. The regal retreat has plenty of country charm, with Folly Farm within walking distance. Free parking is available at the hotel.

Riviera, Devon, England

Everyone likes to be beside the seaside, particularly when tootling southwest from Babbacombe Bay to Brixham past shimmering Torbay. The beautiful coast of South Devon is ripe for leisurely drives, and this road trip skirts history-steeped steam railways, shingly coves and sailing clubs. From the former haunts of Agatha Christie — our favourite spot is the Queen of crime’s former holiday home Greenway House — the coast offers traditional resorts that are now booming with creativity. The evening also delivers on the promise of the seaside’s other name, England’s Seafood Coast: come hungry for Brixham crab, Elberry Cove Mussels and just-landed lemon sole.

Duration: two to three days.

Car hire: holiday autos offer starting prices of £198 for a week’s car hire in Devon with free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa is a waterside stay on yacht-dotted South Devon. The car park is free.

Yorkshire Dales, England

To drive these rural roads is to discover a wistful sense of nostalgia. Hazy light shines on weathered stone walls, and farmsteads roll from moor to dale, illuminating one of the UK’s most beautiful regions. There is history to unearth, from Cisterian haunts like Jervaulx Abbey to the War of the Roses, the struggle between the houses of Lancaster and York. Take the road from Wensleydale to Swaledale, stopping at the Hawes cheesemakers, beloved by Wallace and Gromit. Savour the Yorkshire Dales National Park from Buttertubs Pass. Map a route to market town Grassington. Or stress out your dentist at The Oldest Sweet Shop In The World in Pateley Bridge. God’s Own Country? Yes, indeed.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offers starting prices of £150 for a week’s car hire with free cancellation. Pick-up is from Leeds Bradford Airport or Doncaster/Sheffield Airport.

Where to stay along the way: Yorebridge House in Wensleydale has rooms with roll-top baths and private hot tubs. There’s a free car park with 25 spaces on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Peak District, England

For several reasons, the UK’s first national park is worth your time at the wheel. Think about limestone plateaux, deep caverns, fully coloured-in heather moorlands and cosy pubs connected by screw-shaped roads that offer every sort of car rally thrill. Buxton, with its spa history and graceful heritage buildings, is the ideal starter before you head east to Bakewell for puddings and tarts. Once full to the brim, pushing north to ogle the underground jewels at Peak Cavern and Blue John Cavern. Bring a daypack for a hike – try Mam Tor for lung-emptying views – then tighten your seatbelt for the heartstring-plucking ride over the thrilling Snake Pass to Glossop.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offers starting prices of £140 for a week’s car hire with free cancellation. Pick up is from Manchester Airport.

Where to stay along the way: the cosy Peacock at Rowsley is where the cast of Pride and Prejudice stayed while filming. There’s a free car park which includes accessible parking spaces if needed.

Cotswolds, England

The honey-hued heart of England is swamped with time-stopped villages, castles, palaces, Roman remains, and enough swathes of outstanding natural beauty to make your head spin. There are 800 square miles to explore, but Chipping Campden is an excellent curtain-raiser on the 70-mile journey to Georgian-era Bath. The boutiques of Broadway are browse-worthy, while Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham and Gloucester make definitive English history better than most. Further south, the Cotswolds of Laurie Lee is in the Slad valley near Stroud — literary lovers should visit his childhood home and his favourite pub, The Woolpack Inn.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offers starting prices of £187 for a week’s car hire with free cancellation. Pick up is from Bath.

Where to stay along the way: Dormy House in Broadway has a candle-lit infinity pool for long soaks after a long day of exploring. There’s a free car park with 25 spaces on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Norfolk, England

A slow pace is the ultimate way to see Norfolk’s beautiful beaches and tidal salt marshes. All roads south of Norwich lead to near-deserted touring roads that meander through historically rich market towns such as Wymondham, Diss and Harleston. Heading east, you’ll shift into the Norfolk Broads, where transferring onto a boat to explore its wonderland of sinewy backwaters is a prerequisite. The road curves north from Great Yarmouth towards Cromer and the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where the feeling is of eternal spring. West from here, piers, candy-striped beach huts, cliffs and lighthouses fill the windscreen, almost right to the gates of Sandringham — the Queen’s beloved country retreat with its best-in-show black beauties.

Duration: Four to five days.

Where to stay along the way: The Chequers Inn dates back to 1499. Expect crackling fires, lovely views and hearty meals rustled up by a brilliant chef. Free parking is available.

Jurassic Coast, Dorset, England

First comes an unexpected roadside encounter — the sight of a 185-million-year-old dinosaur fossil. Then the scenic coast ahead brightens, silhouetting zoomorphic pinnacles and limestone stacks. England’s only natural World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, lives up to its name and unravels for 96 miles from Swanage to Exmouth. Outstanding natural beauty is guaranteed at Chesil Beach and Durdle Door’s stone arch. At the same time, you’ll need your sunglasses for Beer’s chalky cliffs and all the sugar-white sands in between. Finally, you’ll discover palaeontological history in Lyme Regis and a fossil hunter’s ground zero in idyllic Charmouth.

Duration: three days.

Where to stay along the way: The Pig on the Beach is the fanciest hotel in the hamlet and overlooks Studland Bay. There’s a free on-site car park for hotel guests.

The Atlantic Highway, Devon and Cornwall, England

Only 70 miles long, this road trip has everything you’re looking for from England’s southwest. Seafront cottages and bobbing boats. Turquoise sea backed by squeaky sands. Seaside towns with less than lifetime-best fish and chips are a call to arms. Begin in Barnstaple before continuing southwest to delve into the Arthurian legends of Tintagel. While Padstow and Newquay, just 17 miles apart, are synonymous with surfing, salt-tanged seafood and Rick Stein, there is just as much to discover inland — particularly at Bodmin Moor, with its wealth of granite tors. This road trip experiments with space and time; the object is to keep going to finish up at Land’s End, where the road can take you no further.

Duration: three to four days.

Car hire: holiday autos offers starting prices of £198 for a week’s car hire with free cancellation.

Where to stay along the way: strike lucky with the weather, and you’ll love swimming in Padstow Harbour Hotel’s outdoor heated pool. Free parking is available.

Categories Tours

Camping near Dublin

October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Camping near Dublin

The 7 Best Places in Dublin or Nearby to Go Camping

Although there are not many places with official campsites in or around Dublin, several excellent campsites in Dublin, such as Larch Hill, will give you wild camping experience, albeit in an organized fashion.

There are also many caravan parks that offer excellent campsite facilities, but with added luxuries such as proper showers and toilets.

In this guide below, we’ll look at the best places you go camping in and around Dublin.

Our favourite Dublin places for camping

In this section of our guide, we’ll look at campsites in Dublin. One of these is one of the most popular spots for camping in Ireland.

Amongst others, we’ll provide details on the extremely popular Lynders Mobile Home Park, Larch Hill close to Tibradden Woods, and Camac Valley.

Lynders Mobile Home Park

This is one of the most scenic campsites in Dublin due to its location on Portrane’s beautiful coastline and a short distance away from Portrane Beach.

Lynders is a mere 25 minutes’ drive from Dublin Airport and is an excellent place for seaside camping. You can camp here, although many mobile homes are also on site.

Lovely grass sites are provided for campers with waste facilities, water and electric points for those needing them. A shower and toilet block are also heated to keep the chill away on those cold coastal mornings.

The main highlight of the camp is that it provides direct access to 800m of beach frontage, enabling visitors to enjoy beautiful Dublin Bay all day.

Larch Hill

Of the few places in Dublin available for camping, Larch Hill is the most popular one. Although the 88-acre property is only 11km from the city centre, you’ll feel like you’re a world away from civilization.

The International Scout and Guide Centre, Larch Hill, is situated in a glorious valley with lots of trees and open spaces where you can enjoy the fresh air.

The campground pumps clean water from its deep water wells, has an all-weather shelter for campers, and a toilet and shower block.

If you don’t have your camping gear, the centre can provide this for you, which is an excellent option for novice campers.

North Beach Tourist Caravan and Motor Home Park

Another tremendous coastal spot for Dublin camping is this family-owned caravan park. It is located only 30 km north of the city centre on North Beach in Rush.

The park has 200 m of beach frontage, where you’ll be able to fish and swim all day before returning to the campsite in the evening. It is a very good option for those with campervans or caravans, and there are many facilities to ensure your stay is comfortable. These include a kitchen, electricity points, toilet blocks, ironing facilities, and showers.

Tents are unfortunately not allowed, but those travelling in motorhomes will find it a delightful beach camping spot close to Dublin.

Camac Valley Camping

Located in the 300-acre Corkagh Park in Clondalkin, Camac Valley has 163 pitches, with 48 of those reserved for tents.

The facilities include 7 shower and toilet blocks, electric points, drinking water, a laundry, and a camper’s kitchen.

Open throughout the year. The camping park has so activities available you can easily spend days or even weeks there. With a playground, many walking trails, fishing lakes, a coffee shop, a rose garden, and an animal farm, it’s a firm family favourite.

Camping Places close to Dublin

Now that we’ve looked at the campsites in Dublin, it’s time to look at places nearby.

You’ll find some of the best camping places below, including Wicklow and a little spot in Louth.

Wicklow Way Camping

Wicklow Way Camping is a relatively new addition to the caravanning and camping scene, but it is a real gem. Situated on the Wicklow Way walking trail at Oldbridge, it offers fantastic views of the Wicklow mountains national park surrounding it.

Although the intimate and small camping ground only has a few spots, each is private so you’ll feel you’re a mile away from anyone.

There are coin-operated hot showers, fire pits, Wi-Fi, and toilet blocks, so your stay is sure to be connected and comfortable. The family-friendly park has several fun activities, including horse riding, mountain biking, swimming, and fishing.

Hidden Valley Holiday Park

This adventure holiday park makes for a glorious family camping destination close to Dublin and is situated in a lovely valley that overlooks the Avonmore River.

A range of different types of accommodation is available, including glamping. If you would rather have a camping adventure, there are power motorhomes, caravan pitches, and a camping area with grass sites for tents.

The park is ideally suited for the whole family as it has many facilities and activities available, including an outdoor adventure playground, kayaking, laser tag, bumper boats and fishing.

Gyles Quay Camping and Caravan Park

Close to Dundalk in Gyles Quay, this caravan park overlooks the ocean and is located at the foot of the Slieve Foy Mountains.

This is one of the last unspoiled coastal areas in Ireland’s northeast, and there is access to a safe and clean beach from the camping site.

There are only a limited number of pitches for campervans and caravans, with some facilities for guests.

There is also a tennis court, children’s playground, bar, football pitch, camp kitchen, washing machine, and takeaway food.

Wolohan’s Silver Strand Caravan Park

This excellent camping spot overlooks the spectacular Silver Strand Beach. The property is 22 acres big and located on a rural farm with amazing coastal views, making for a very peaceful venue.

All types of camping are welcome on lush grass sites, including caravans, motorhomes, and tents. Sea views are available from many motorhome pitches, making it possible to enjoy the sound and sight of the waves throughout the day.

There are also good amenities, with a launderette, shower facilities and toilets.

Dublin campsites FAQs

Where are the best places in Dublin to go camping?

Three of the best campsites in Dublin are Camac Valley Camping, Lynders Mobile Home Park and Larch Hill.

Where are the best places near Dublin to go camping?

Great options for camping near Dublin include Wolohan’s Silver Strand, Wicklow Way Camping, and Hidden Valley Holiday Park.

Categories Dublin

Best Time to Visit Ireland

November 15, 2022October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Best Time to Visit Ireland

Emerald Isle is the name of the beautiful heavenly land of Ireland, indicating the all-year-round green, abundant rainfall and mild climate here; despite being a small nation, just the size of Maine, Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful nations in Europe. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are separated for political reasons.

Ireland is a beautiful place to travel as a lush country with usually decent temperatures. However, as an island nation, there are several ways to choose the best times to go.

We’ve got everything you need to know about planning a visit to this beautiful country with us right here!

When is the best time to go to Ireland?

If you want to visit Ireland at any time of the year, you can go there at any point during the year. It’s warm most of the year and has beautiful beaches, charming towns, and fascinating historical sites.

Suppose your main travel goal is to visit all these different destinations while travelling by car. In that case, going to Ireland in the summer is best. However, if you want to avoid the crowds and heat, go during the winter.

To get the most out of your trip to Ireland during winter, visit between November and February. You’ll be able to enjoy the lively nightlife and rich cultural heritage of Ireland.

And the Galway Music Festival is yet another grand event that makes June the best time to visit Ireland. If there aren’t any official events or music fests during your trip, simply visiting nearby pubs and other historic sites can fill your trip full of joy and adventure.

Visiting Ireland in January

If you want to go to Ireland during the low season (when fewer people travel), then January is the best month to go.

Ireland’s many rural and small attractions stay open after the peak season for tourism and the Christmas Eve festivities.

However, many famous and busy attractions, such as Dublin (the capital), Kilkenny, Galway, and the historical places include Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Rock of Casual, remain open throughout the year.

With less daylight in January than any other calendar, consider shortening your opening hours for the winter months.

But even during the long winters in Ireland, there are plenty of lively pub scenes.

If you’re lucky, you might get some nice winter weather where there aren’t too many people. You can then visit places without so many tourists.

Visiting Ireland in February

It’s late winter in Ireland, so days are short. You should bring some warm clothes for your trip. This is the month of St. Patrick’s Day, which celebrates the new season’s coming.

During this time of year, you’ll probably encounter some tourists, but there won’t be too many things to enjoy. You’ll likely save money by booking your hotel reservations early.

If you’re visiting Kildare during February, take advantage of the St Bridget’s Day celebrations! Visit the city centre and participate in the festivities, including eating St. Bridget’s Bread, putting ribbons around doors and gates, and leaving treats outside windows.

Even though it may be cold outside, you can still enjoy the winter landscape in Belfast, Northern Ireland, when you go for hikes. Various hiking tours in the region suit all levels of expertise.

If you’re looking for an exciting February hike, head to Carlinglough Lough’s coast. It’s a beautiful place to see fantastic sights, including the Big Stone and the forest park in Rostrevor.

Visiting Ireland in March

After a long winter’s rest, Ireland is coming out of hibernation. It’s time for travellers to get outdoors and take advantage of the sunshine. The sun will be shining brightly by the middle of the following week.

Starting from March, the temperatures tend to rise in Ireland, replacing the cold and rainy days with milder ones. You will notice these changes across the whole island.

The long winter season has ended, and the tourism industry in Ireland is starting to open up again. If you’re planning to travel to Ireland during this time, this is the ideal month to go there.

Visiting Ireland in April

Spring has arrived, which means that Ireland is in full bloom. It’s also long days and warm weather, so there are plenty of things to see and do.

Here in April, the average temperatures vary between 5°C and 11°C. Travellers will be able to enjoy five hours of sun each day. There are plenty of luxury hotels, including the Royal and Modern Luxurious Cabra Castle Hotel and the Gothic castle-Kinnity Castle Hotel.

It sounds amusing to drive along the Wild Atlantic Way during spring. You’ll be able to enjoy the scenery and get some good photos.

If you’re looking for an authentic experience of Irish culture, don’t forget to visit the Clifden Music Fest in Connemara, which features traditional Irish music and dance performed by artists from all over the globe.

You shouldn’t forget there’s so much to see in Ireland during Springtime. It’s the time when you’ll really understand why it’s called the Emerald State.

Visiting Ireland in May

April is another good month to visit as it’s early summer here with fewer rain chances. Travellers can enjoy various outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and road trips during this period and see the most popular attractions in the best ways.

As the weather gets warmer, there’s no shortage of sunshine. It rains during the day, but the sun comes back at night.

If you’re planning a trip to Dublin, Ireland, May is the best month for an extended stay. It’s when most people visit Dublin, so many hotels are available at reasonable prices. There’s also an excellent public transportation system, which makes it easy to travel from place to place.

You can visit castles throughout this year. These castles have served different purposes for hundreds of years, from administrative offices to noble residences, cultural centres, schools, and even hotel accommodations. They remain majestic and beautiful on the lush landscape.

One of the best things you could do while visiting Ireland has a Guinness at the pub. It will give you an insight into the history and the process behind the creation of this famous drink.

Visiting Ireland in June

If you dislike long lines and hordes of tourists, June is the ideal time to travel to Ireland. Though being mid-summer, it is hardly ever overcrowded in June. Tourists often overrun other popular European destinations such as Paris and Rome during peak season.

As transatlantic airline companies have a particular policy to increase their ticket prices adequately, visitors should buy tickets early in June.

Ireland has a maritime, temperate summer like most rest of the world. It gets warm but not too hot.

Rainfall in Ireland usually arrives in short bursts rather than in long periods. Rain is most likely to fall during June in the early morning and late afternoon.

As a result of its location near Nova Scotia, June has bright and long summers and shorter winters than July. It’s an excellent time for outdoor activities, especially hiking. The oldest Irish festival takes place on 21 June each year.

People who travel want to be included in the Bloomsday festival held on 16 June throughout Dublin. Suppose you’re planning to enjoy Irish culture with different festivals, including CatLaughs Comedy Festival, WestportFolk &Bluegrass Festivals, and WestCorkChamberMusicFestivals. In that case, June is the best month to go to Ireland.

Visiting Ireland in July

It’s summertime! High summer means long days of sun and warm weather. You might even get some rain if you’re lucky enough to be here at the right time.

Even though the average high temperature in August is 20⁰C, the hot weather makes exploring Ireland’s beautiful scenery easy. Fortunately, there aren’t any extreme temperatures like in other parts of Europe.

Because Ireland has an unpredictable climate, you may sometimes see sudden and short rainstorms in July. Therefore, it’s best to prepare yourself by wearing a breathable and lightweight shell coat, hiking boots, trail runners, or comfortable sneakers for hiking and other adventures.

People visiting Ireland during the summer months enjoy four significant events from the ancient past – Lughnasadh (the festival of light), the Celtic Harvest Festival, St. Patrick’s Day, and Beltaine.

Visiting Ireland in August

During August in Ireland, the weather is perfect for outdoor sports. Whether you’re hiking the East Wicklow Way, kayaking through the stunning seaside of Northern Ireland, or scuba-diving off the Connemara Coast, good weather makes these things easy.

You will experience relatively little rainfall and plenty of sunshine. The water temperatures in Ireland in August reach their peak during the summer months. Therefore, you can swim in the 15–17°C waters, but others might not be brave enough for it.

Though the summertime climate doesn’t typically happen at its best during this time, along with the previous two summers, August is the high season here. As most schools are out and family vacations begin, August is when you’ll see more extensive crowds and higher prices for flights and accommodations in Ireland.

Visiting Ireland in September

Going to Ireland at any time of the year is enjoyable. However, going there between October and March is even better.

Summertime is usually marked by settled warm temperatures. When school starts up again, the crowds begin to thin out.

Even though the weather has been cold so far, you can still visit all the historic sites in Ireland. It is now quite pleasant in the country.

Rainbows are often visible from the western and northern coasts of the islands. There are various exciting festivals in September, including the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival, Dublin fringe, Clifden arts festival, and national ploughing championship.

Visiting Ireland in October

During the mild winter months, October in Ireland is filled with colourful foliage, which draws in visitors from across the globe.

During the off-season, most famous sights are often crowded with people visiting them for the first time. As the holidays approach, visitors will be flocking to these spots.

It’s still possible to visit Ireland during the autumn months. You can save some money by visiting Ireland during these low-season periods.

Visiting Ireland in November

As a result of the Atlantic Ocean’s effect, Ireland has mild winters compared to other countries at similar latitudes. It experiences temperatures between 9.5°C and 12°C during the colder months.

Depending on a particular region, there are between 16 and 23 rainy days per year with 2.4 and 6.7″ rainfall. Preparing yourself with an umbrella and a jacket would be best before going out in the wet weather.

As the temperature drops from the middle of autumn through mid-November, Ireland still has plenty of activities to keep you busy.

If you want to see one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites, go to Drogheda in County Meath, Ireland. It has three significant megaliths: Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth.

More than 1 million visitors come to the Cliffs of Moher every year. Located in County Clare, the cliffs stand at 702 feet (213 meters) above sea level. Visitors enjoy stunning panoramic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands in the bay below.

If you visit Galway, one of the most iconic places is Kylemore Abbey. You’d be remiss if you didn’t spend at least half a day here.

Seeing the Queens College, visiting Glasnevin Cemetery, enjoying a pint at the Galway Bay Brewery, Kinsale Golf Club, the charming village of Kinsale, Galway city, and travelling through the beautiful countryside of County Clare, Kerry, and Donegal will make your visit to Ireland in November meaningful for you.

Visiting Ireland in December

It’s all over there from November until January in Ireland. Bigger towns and cities are exploding, particularly festive events, elaborately decorated streets, and markets. And at the New Year celebration, visitors can enjoy the biggest party in Dublin!

Despite having low temperatures, Ireland in December is not as cold or bitter as it is in January and February.

December is a combination of two seasons in Ireland; the countryside is quiet, and most of the country appears to have been in hibernation until the next springtime. Yet you will see loads of revelries in the towns and villages concentrating on Christmas Eve.

Even though it may be too cold and wet to explore the countryside, the events and the city lights compensate for the weather.

There are many things for tourists in big cities to see and do, but few things open during the winter months. It’s too cold to go out, and the city looks pretty desolate.

If you’re visiting Ireland this month, you can enjoy the Christmas morning swim, which takes place along the coast. You will be amazed at how hundreds of tourists jump into the freezing water. Also, take advantage of the Boxing holiday held on St Stephen’s Eve in Northern Ireland and the rest of the country just one week after Christmas.

Best weather in Ireland

You cannot predict the weather in Ireland. But if you’re planning a trip there during one of these seasons, consider visiting instead of in winter.

Winter travel to Ireland means fewer tourists and cooler weather. You can visit some more miniature cities and villages rather than big cities like Dublin.

During the winter months, the weather gets cold and snowy in Ireland. People there prefer to go to cosy pubs when they’re feeling chilly.

During summer, Ireland has lots of suns, so people go out and enjoy their time off. They often participate in fun activities like swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, and golfing.

Best time to fly to Ireland

If you want to visit Ireland during the summer months, between June and August, you would be better off going in the winter.

It doesn’t rain much, but there’s no extreme cold weather either. You can visit Ireland any time of the year.

Whether in January, June, November, or December, a trip to Ireland won’t disappoint you. February offers the best deals for airfares.

Best time of year to visit Ireland with discounts

Because there isn’t a bustling tourism business year-round in Ireland, travelling here during shoulder season will help you save on airfares and hotel rooms. And you will be able to enjoy a cheaper rate during the off-season.

Spring and autumn are good times for visiting Ireland because they offer pleasant weather, reasonable prices, and manageable crowds.

Hotel & Flight Booking

There’s an old saying, “wherever you go, the earlier you book, the better deal you will get”. However, sometimes it needs to be clarified because some reasonable last-minute offers are available everywhere.

Travellers who want to save money by booking tours early should book well ahead of when they plan to travel. If someone wants to visit Ireland in May, they should be prepared to pay the total price for tickets in February.

If you want to fly cheaply, look into booking flights early. You can get seats at a lower cost than you would otherwise.

Suppose they wait to pay by the deadline. In that case, they can reserve another reservation after the deadline has passed.

Ireland travel instruction during the Novel Coronavirus

While travelling to Ireland, you should be prepared for the travel-related restrictions that can be implemented with or without notice. There would be HSE (Health Service Executive) staff to assist the COVID-19-concerned arriving passengers in the Dublin and Shanon airports.

If you believe you may have COVID-19 symptoms while visiting Ireland, you should call a doctor or dial 999 or 112 locally.

Suppose any traveller gets a positive Coronavirus test result. In that case, the individual will be isolated and treated by the DOH (Department of Health). For COVID-19-related travel queries, the Irish government has set a phone number: +353 1 613 1733.

Though there is no nationality-based mandatory quarantine rule in Ireland, any arriving visitor from the U.S. to this country is asked to follow a self-isolation period for 14 days.

On arrival, the passenger must fill out a form for the COVID-19 Passenger Locator, where they must indicate the place of self-isolate. If you complete the form with misleading information or fail to do, this will be counted as an offence under Irish law. They would be fined nearly $3,000 and imprisoned for up to 6 months.

FAQs

What are the hottest months in Ireland?

How safe is it to travel to Ireland?

Is Ireland a rich or developing country?

Final Verdict

With four variable seasons, the weather here is constantly changeable. You can select any time of the yr for your journey. Nevertheless, the summertime is the best time to travel to Ireland. With outstanding natural beauty, an old historical past, exciting Irish celebrations, plenty of cosy pubs, and fresh farm meals – Ireland is always ready to host you to find out something brand new, nonetheless the period of the 12 months you decide to go there.

Categories Dublin

Temperatures in Ireland: Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius

October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Along with most countries outside of the United States, Ireland uses the metric system to measure the weather in degrees Celsius (C) instead of Fahrenheit (F). As a result, you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the typical temperatures you might encounter before travelling to Ireland.

Whether you’re trying to convert 15 Celsius to 60 Fahrenheit to see if you’ll need a light jacket for a chilly afternoon or 30 Celsius to 85 Fahrenheit to know it’s going to be a hot day, learning how to convert temperatures between these systems will help you understand what to expect.

In addition to temperatures, the Irish metric system also differs from the Imperial system of the United States when measuring weight in grams, kilograms, ounces, and pounds; distances in meters and kilometres; speed in kilometres per hour; and volume in litres and millilitres.

Conversion Formula

To convert temperatures in degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, you can either double the temperature in Celsius and add 30 to get a close estimate or use the following formula to get an exact measurement:

(C x 1.8) + 32 = F
Example: 20 C = (20 x 1.8) + 32 = 68 F

Visitors to Ireland should note that “wind chill” is a significant factor that affects the temperature in cold climates like Ireland. In winter, temperatures are often presented with the wind chill factor. Thus, a weather report on a chilly January morning may report the temperature as -2 C (28 F); the wind chill factor will make the “real feel” temperature will be closer to -10 C (14 F).

If you’re not mathematically inclined, a great way to understand Ireland’s normal range of temperatures is to remember this short poem: “Zero is freezing; 10 is not. 20 is warm, and 30 is hot.”

Common Temperatures:

Just as Americans generally understand that 32 F is the temperature at which water freezes, 50 F is the fair-weather for a fleece jacket, and everything over 85 F is considered hot weather, we Irish also share similar reference points for temperatures in Celsius.

Measurement Celsius Fahrenheit
Boiling point 100 C 212 F
Sweaty, hot weather aka God I tell you, I’m sweating like a bullock Over 30 C Over 85 F
T-shirt and shorts weather aka Jazus you’re after getting scalded 24 C 75 F
Average room temperature aka We could do with a bit of a breeze 21 C 70 F
Long-sleeve shirt and pants weather aka She’s parful warm 15 C 60 F
Fleece jacket weather aka You’ll be grand, put on a hat! 10 C 50 F
Freezing aka I’m foundered 0 C 32 F
Frigidly cold and potentially dangerous outdoors aka its baltic – 29 C – 20 F

Categories Dublin

Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations and Preparations – 5 Key Must-Have Items

October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations and Preparations – 5 Key Must-Have Items

When getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, workers must obtain the 40 pounds of coloured vegetable dye they use to turn the Chicago River green for the day.

Bars worldwide stock up with more than ten million pints of Guinness stout. And every Mcdonald’s outlet must receive a special shipment of Shamrock Shake syrup so it can serve the icky-green mint-flavoured drink that – why mint, we don’t know – had become such a beloved tradition that there were nationwide protests when the company temporarily stopped selling the shakes.

Preparing for St. Patrick’s Day isn’t quite that demanding a task for most of us. But if you plan on celebrating the day in true Irish style, there are five must-have items you should have on hand – and none of them is as difficult to find as vats of green dye or barrels of green milkshake syrup.

Who Was St. Patrick, and Why Was He Such a Big Deal?

March 17, the date on which the patron saint of Ireland passed away (in the year 461 AD), has been celebrated for nearly 400 years as a Christian feast day to mark the proliferation of Christianity in Ireland. Only that nation and the small island country of Montserrat (founded by Irish refugees) celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day as a public holiday.

You probably wouldn’t realise that fact when considering the number of parades and parties staged throughout the English-speaking world by Irish immigrants, their descendants, and those who feel “Irish at heart.” St. Patrick’s Day is marked by celebrations, of one sort or another, in more nations than any other “national” holiday.

Saint Patrick himself is somewhat of an enigma because most of his backstory comes from his writing and has been greatly exaggerated over the centuries – for example, Patrick never drove the snakes from Ireland because there are no snakes in Ireland.

However, we know that he was born into an affluent British family but was taken prisoner by Irish raiders and held in Ireland for six years before escaping. During his imprisonment, he turned to Christianity, and after returning to Britain, he studied to become a priest. He then returned to Ireland to serve the small number of Christians living there and convert non-believers, most of whom were considered pagans by the church.

Patrick was successful in his mission and became beloved in Ireland mainly because he blended traditional Irish Celtic symbols and rituals with more rigorous Christian teachings; the best-known product of this approach is the shamrock, a sacred Celtic symbol Patrick used to symbolise the Holy Trinity. He is said to have converted well over 100,000 people and established hundreds of churches over his 40 years of missionary work.

While never actually canonised as a saint, Patrick is recognised as Ireland’s “Patron Saint”. His work makes it easy to understand why he is held in such high regard in that country and has been recognised as a national feast day for over 1,000 years. What’s not generally known is that the day was much more of a religious than secular holiday in Ireland until recent years, when the Irish government began sponsoring a huge multi-day St. Patrick’s Festival to build interest in the nation’s culture and boost tourism. (Believe it or not, pubs in Ireland were legally required to be closed on St. Patrick’s Day until the 1970s!)

Why Is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated Elsewhere?

In pre-revolutionary America, some Irish soldiers served in the British army. In 1762, they decided to march through New York City to celebrate their heritage; that was the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade. Over the years, the size of the parade grew as more immigrants of Irish descent came to America.

It wasn’t until 1848 that the New York parade became official, with the city’s various Irish Aid organisations joining forces to stage a massive celebration. This coincided with the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, which led nearly a million Irish Catholics to emigrate to the United States. Most faced discrimination and poverty, and St. Patrick’s Day became a unifying symbol of their heritage.

As Irish-American political power grew, the parade and related celebrations became important events for municipal and political figures to attend, crowds snowballed, and Irish communities in other U.S. cities – and eventually, around the English-speaking world – developed their own St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, parades, Irish music concerts and special events. They range from the annual dying of the Chicago River to Boston’s famed St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, an Irish-themed get-together and good-natured political roast now carried on national television.

There’s another primary ingredient we haven’t mentioned: food and drink. St. Patrick’s Day falls during the Catholic period of Lent, when many people abstain from eating certain foods or drinking alcohol. Since the Catholic Church observes Saint Patrick’s Day, however, all restrictions are lifted for the day. That has encouraged many to indulge (or over-indulge) in their favourite beverages and meals while marking the day. Traditional Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, and lots of beer (particularly Guinness) and whiskey are de rigueur at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

March 17 is an important day for those of Irish descent to honour and celebrate their heritage. But with huge parades and parties, great food, lots of drinking, and loud and festive music, the question isn’t why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide.

The real question is why someone wouldn’t want to celebrate. Here’s what you’ll need to do in style – the Top 5 Must-Have Items for Saint Patrick’s Day.

1. Guinness Green Collection Pint Glasses, Set Of Two

Guinness Green Collection Pint Glasses. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

The producers of legendary Irish Guinness Stout say that St. Patrick’s Day celebrants spend an average of $35 on March 17th partying, with most of that amount spent on beer – with a massive percentage of them enjoying the company’s famed dry stout. The brewery says that 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed every Saint Patrick’s Day.

All authentic Irish pubs, and most other great watering holes, have Guinness stout on tap; if you’re going to be partying at home, it’s easy to find it in cans or bottles. However, the experience of downing a few pints isn’t complete unless Guinness is served with a “two-part” pour in a suitable glass, and these authentic Guinness green pint glasses are designed to fill that role.

Each high-quality, machine-washable 20-ounce glass proudly features the traditional green, gold and black Guinness logo. More importantly, these glasses are shaped to allow the perfect pour every time.

2. A Mr Leprechaun Costume

Many who go all-out on Saint Patrick’s Day are primarily concerned with tradition and authenticity. Many others are just interested in having fun – and those who are naturally outgoing (or whose inhibitions are lessened after a few pints) consider the “wearing of the green” a vital element of the celebration. There are thousands of “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” t-shirts available everywhere you look on St. Patrick’s Day, but those just make you one of the crowd.

If you want to stand out at a parade or the pub, you need an eye-popping costume. And the one that’s caught the review team’s fancy is the green Mr Leprechaun costume from Forum. It’s made of polyester and can be a tight fit for more significant adults, but it perfectly captures the whimsical yet festive nature of the holiday.

This one-piece costume is built around a green jacket with black cuffs and collar, an attached green vest with a shamrock design, a white shirt and a green bow tie. There are also stretchy green shorts and a floppy leprechaun hat; simply add a few accessories like a fake beard, pipe and pot of gold, and you’ll be the dapper celebrant. Forum offers a similar costume in child’s size.

3. Women’s Leprechaun Lass Costume

Ladies, you didn’t think the team would forget you, did you? Here’s the perfect outfit for your Saint Patrick’s Day party or outing, whether you are going with Mr Leprechaun or hoping to find a like-minded Irish mate. The Leprechaun Lass costume is a four-piece outfit in green, black, gold and white, with a shamrock-print green dress, peasant top, attached underskirt and black hat with a green band and gold buckle.

This outfit is cute and sexy, and while it’s a one-size costume, it will fit most women well. Add white or green tights, your choice of matching footwear, and you’ll be the star of your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

4. Guinness Rugby Ball

Guinness Rugby Ball. Click on the photo to see the Price on Amazon.

Saint Patrick’s Day has unquestionably taken on a life of its own, with many celebrants paying lip service to the day’s meaning and focusing much more on an excuse to drink and party.

If you’d like to put the “Irish” back into your St. Patrick’s Day gathering, why not follow up a corned beef dinner by inviting your guests outdoors for a traditional game of rugby? (Gaelic football and hurling – the game, not what often follows heavy drinking – are the national sports of Ireland, but rugby is a lot easier to understand and play).

This black, gold and white Guinness rugby ball is an official replica ball from the Pro12 Rugby Competition (formerly known as the Celtic League); it’s durable and the proper size for a proper game of rugby on your front lawn or a nearby field. Not sure how to play? Pick up a copy of Rugby For Dummies ahead of time to familiarise yourself with the rules.

5. Grobbel’s Corned Beef Brisket, Flat Cut

Whether you plan on partying at home, going out to see a parade or pub-hopping, you’ll need sustenance. And there’s nothing more traditional than corned beef and cabbage on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Finding high-quality, lean corned beef can be challenging unless you live in a major city with a high-end deli, so a great solution is ordering it from America’s oldest specialist in producing high-quality corned beef. E.W. Grobbel’s has been bringing, corning and selling this delicious meat since the company’s founder came to Detroit in the late 1800s, using a proprietary recipe to create corned beef with incredible texture and flavour.

They’ll deliver three pounds of fresh, lean sliced corned beef to you in quick order; all you have to do is pick up a head of cabbage (or, if you’re not going completely traditional, some sauerkraut and Russian dressing to make Reubens), boil some potatoes if you’d like. You’ll have a meal fit for a Saint– or at least someone celebrating his life. (Surprisingly, the Irish aren’t as partial to corned beef as those of Irish descent living in America and elsewhere – but that doesn’t make it any less delicious).

Categories Dublin

Aviva Stadium

October 28, 2022 by City Scape Tours

Aviva Stadium

The Aviva Stadium is a stunning and modern 51,700-capacity sports stadium located on Lansdowne Road in Dublin 4. The sports arena is Ireland’s first and only UEFA Elite stadium. The amphitheatre of today was built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road stadium’s oldest sports stadium in Europe. It has replaced it as the home to its former chief tenants, the Irish Rugby Union team and the Republic of Ireland football team.

The stadium currently hosts all Irish international Rugby Union and Football matches. It has also previously been the host stadium for the inaugural Nations Cup and the 2011 UEFA Europe League Final venue. On top of that, on 19 September 2014, UEFA announced that the Aviva Stadium would host four Euro 2020 finals fixtures.

In its short history, the Aviva Stadium has followed in the steps of its predecessor, Lansdowne Road, by being the venue for some of the biggest music acts in the world, including Rihanna, Michael Buble, The Script, Neil Diamond, Madonna and Lady Gaga.

There is something special about Irish sports fans, and we would strongly recommend catching a match in this unique sports arena if you can.

Don’t despair if you can’t get to a match! A stadium tour is on the checklist as one of the things to do for anyone visiting Dublin. You will have the chance to be given full access to a world-class sports stadium as you go on to see the press conference room, home dressing rooms, players’ tunnel, dugouts and more.

Contact Details:

Address: Aviva Stadium, 62 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4

Tel: (01) 238 2300

Getting There:

Hop off the CityScape Tour at: Stop 14 Pembroke Road (see Route Map)

Tour Times:

One tour every hour from 10 am-4 pm (Shorter hours during the winter months)

The standard tour does not run on match or event days.

Categories Things to Do In Dublin

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