SEE: Dublin – Wander Ireland

Trinity College – Dublin

Trinity College in Dublin is officially known as College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth.

Trinity was founded in 1592 and is Ireland`s older university. Trinity College is located on College Green and occupies 47 acres.

Trinity College is a very popular tourist attraction while still a thriving university.

One of the most popular places to visit on the campus is the Library of Trinity College which is known for the famous Book of Kells “Turning into Darkness”. You will also get to see the stunning long room which houses 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books in its oak bookcases.

It is definitely a great place to visit while in Dublin.

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National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History

The Irish Silver collection is one of the largest in the world and this exhibition traces the development of the silversmith’s craft from the early 17th Century to the present day.

The way we wore – exhibition displays stylish clothing and jewellery worn in Ireland principally from the 1760’s to the 1960’s. This is an eye-opening look at Irish fashion through the ages, showing how new clothing technology and European influences affected.

The Eileen Gray exhibition posthumously realised one of Gray’s last ambitions – to have her work brought back to Ireland. Regarded as one of the most influential 20th Century designers and architects, the exhibition includes such important items as the adjustable chrome table and the non-conformist chair.

The exhibition also values Gray on a personal level, including family photographs, her lacquering tools, and personal ephemera. It illustrates an account of her professional development from art student in London and Paris to mature, innovative architect.

The exhibition honours the memory of Eileen Gray, modern self-taught architect and designer.

’A Dubliner’s Collection of Asian Art: The Albert Bender Exhibition’ opened at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks in November 2008.

Since its opening it has helped bring to the public’s attention (both Irish and international) this highly important Asian art collection given to the National Museum during the 1930s by the great Irish-American Albert Bender.

On exhibition in the National Museum, Kildare Street up to the early 1970s, this is, however, the first significant modern display of objects from the collection in over three decades.

You can view a few of the outstanding examples of Asian art on display in the exhibition via the links below, but why stop there? Come and discover this beautiful collection for yourself.

The 1916 rising exhibition examines the decade of disturbance between 1913 and 1923, from the Dublin Lockout, through the Easter Rising to the end of the Civil War.

Broken down into three themes, the Soldiers and Chiefs exhibition looks at Irish soldiers at home, Irish soldiers abroad, and Irish soldiers in the 21st Century.

This exhibition traces Ireland’s military history from 1550 into the 21st Century and on display are over 1,000 objects from all over the world. It is on permanent display over eight galleries, covering 1,700sqm in Collins Barracks.

+ there is so much more to offer in this museum.

Info via http://www.museum.ie/Decorative-Arts-History

Collins Barracks
Benburb Street
Dublin 7

Opening times : Tuesday – Saturday : 10am – 5pm Sunday : 2pm – 5pm Closed Mondays , Christmas Day & Good Friday

Old Jameson Distillery – Dublin

Whiskey lovers unite, this is a definitely one for the bucketlist. The Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield is a great place to visit when in Dublin.

It has a casual atmosphere and is only a short walk from Dublin city centre.

The Old Jameson Distillery serve a great lunch and they also have some great tours.

Jameson Distillery have a Guided tour where you see, taste and smell Jameson as well as receive a great rundown on how the brand started and how it is made.

For the true whiskey lover they have a Jameson Whiskey Masterclass. This is strictly 18+ and runs for 1 hour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For those who prefer to do things at their own pace the Jameson Taste Experience in the JJ`s bar is the one for you. You will try Jameson Distillery Reserve 12 years old, Jameson select reserve, Jameson Gold reserve and Jameson 18yo reserve. You get a taste of the some of the best reserves.

If you are someone who likes to keep a memory of the places you have been or want to give a gift, then the Jameson select reserve – Bottle your own is definitely a bottle of whiskey you will remember. You get to hand fill your own bottle and it also comes with a personalised label.

If you don`t fancy doing any of the above you can always go in and enjoy a drink at JJ`s Bar and soak up the atmosphere.

For more information about pricing and opening hours visit click here

Check out some of the other great activities in Dublin.

Guinness Storehouse Tour

We all know the famous Guinness. Some of us love it, others not so much.

Either way, when in Ireland, it is a great way to see just how much goes into one of the worlds most famous pints.

Guinness Storehouse is the most visited tourist attraction in Ireland, continually dominating the tourist charts.

The Guinness Storehouse tour, is a hands on, high-tech tour which shows you the process of Guinness from start to finish.

During your tour you will see how they select the finest ingredients, use only the purest water and package the beer to perfection. One of my favourite parts of the Guinness Storehouse Tour was the advertising section which shows you the years of marketing for Guinness. They have great vintage posters, life-size figurines and a great TV room which shows some of the most Iconic TV ads for Guinness.

During your day at Guinness you can choose from 3 bars and 2 restaurant’s to give you a break.

You could not visit the Guinness Storehouse and not learn how to pour a perfect Guinness so make sure you book into the Guinness Academy to learn how to pour the perfect pint.

After a day of information, lots of walking and just taking in the sheer size of the Storehouse, you get a well deserved pint of Guinness at the end of your tour.

Tickets are available at door but your can get cheaper prices online.

http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Below is a small look inside the Guinness Storehouse.

10 Places to visit in Dublin

Below are some of the great places to visit in Dublin. There is a mix of outdoor and indoor locations. Some are free entry and others have paid guided tours.

The-Temple-Bar-Dublin-Ireland — Temple Bar

Temple bar is on the South Bank of the River Liffey in Dublin. It has great pubs, restaurants and street performers. If you enjoy the buzz of a busy, fun filled area then you have to stop by Temple Bar.

The Guinness storehouse is one of Europe’s biggest tourist attractions. The Guinness themed tour tells you everything you need to know about the famous black stuff. If you love a drink or 2 then definitely take the tour. For more on this check out my tour

Click here for pricing and opening hours

11 dublin st stephens green copy — St Stephens Green

St Stephens Green is located in the centre of Dublin just up from the Grafton St shopping strip. St Stephens Green offers you a quick escape from the city hustle. Take a beautiful walk and wander through the manicured gardens.

Visitor information here

the-long-library-in-trinity-college-dublin2 — Trinity College Library

Trinity College is in the heart of Dublin and you can take some great tours of the famous college. If you enjoy books and history you can go and visit the Book of Kells in the Trinity College library. If you are passing by I would recommend going in and taking a quick walk around the beautiful grounds.

For information on tours and opening hours click here

The National museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History is a MUST SEE. If you love art, design, fashion and history then this free museum will have you content for the day. You can roam through so much history and they have ever changing exhibitions. I have been here many times and find something new every time. For a sneak peak inside checkout my trip

For information on opening hours and how to get there click here.

kilmainham-gaol dublin — Kilmainham Goal

Kilmainham Goal was built in 1796 and has become a popular place to visit for both locals and tourists. If you enjoy Irish history and want to know all about the rebellion then make sure you add this to your to-do list when in Dublin.

Click here for opening hours and tickets

The National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, is about 5km from Dublin city. Buses frequently stop in the vicinity of the gardens. The gardens is set on 19.5 hectares of luscious lawn, manicured gardens and the quintessential glasshouse. Garden lovers and those who love taking photos need to stop in for a visit.

For opening hours click here

The old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield Square, Dublin, is a whiskey lovers dream. You can take paid tours and see how the perfect Irish whiskey is made. If you are not interested in taking a tour you can go into the bar and try one of the many whiskeys on offer. Check out a sneak peak here.

For opening hours and tour times click here

Phoenix Park is one of Europe’s largest walled city park. The park was founded in 1662 and has an 11km perimeter. Phoenix Park is covered with 30% of trees which allows for animals to live in their natural habitats. You will also notice deer’s roaming around freely in the park. It has some great walking and bike tracks.

For full details on the park click here

Dublin Zoo is located in Phoenix Park, Dublin and it is the largest zoo in Ireland. The 28 hectare park has been transformed into an oasis of gardens, lakes and has over 400 animals in their natural habitats. It is a great day out with friends and family. Make sure you check you looks out for the shows which run throughout the day.

For full details click here.

Enjoy – Vince.