| Sightseing and visiting on the southside of Dublin |
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Accommodation_Dublin
Trinity
College and the Book of Kells (call 608 1724 for information)
Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I. Although it is
nowadays in the middle of the city, it was originally located outside
the city walls. Up until 1970, Trinity College remained mainly
protestant as even though the Protestants eventually allowed Catholics
in, the Catholic Church opposed it. The Book of Kells is a manuscript
dating from around 800 AD, which is magnificently |
illuminated. The
content of the book includes the four gospels of the New Testament (in
latin) as well as a collection of prefaces, summaries and various
texts. The 680 pages book is amazingly illustrated with very complex
decorations, not only at the opening initials but also between the
lines. Walking tours are organized every 40 mn from the main gate on
College Green and are a very good way to discover the grounds of
Trinity College as well as the Book of Kells. The Bank of Ireland (call
671 1488 for information)
The massive building which dates back to 1729 was erected in the first
place as the house of the Irish Parliament. Since the Parliament ceased
to exist in the early 19th Century, the banking area is now located
where the House of Commons once occupied. The Irish House of Lords
survived however and free tours are organized on a daily basis (phone
671 1488).
Temple Bar
The Temple Bar area is one of the oldest of Dublin, as well as being
one of the most popular. Who would believe that it was once a ruined
and nearly abandoned area? When it was decided to convert it into a
central depot for city buses, people (among which celebrities such as
U2) fought for the abandon of the project and initiated the revival of
Temple Bar. You will find along the narrow cobbled streets and lanes a
number of galleries, trendy and second hand shops, and mostly pubs and
restaurants. Leaving Temple Bar towards the Liffey and the Northside,
walking through Merchant’s Arch, you will arrive at Ha’penny Bridge (a
ha’penny used to be the toll requested to cross the river).
You will find more information about the area at Temple Bar Properties
(18 Eustace Street, 677 2255, open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, or
visit www.templebar.ie)
Grafton Street
Grafton Street is a very popular pedestrian area, famous for fancy
shopping and busy street life. You will find that there is also a lot
going on at night on Grafton Street as a number of interesting pubs are
located around and buskers often keep on entertaining people at late
hours.
To be found on and around Grafton Street are the department store Brown
Thomas, the lovely Powerscourt Shopping Centrem, the well established
Bewley’s Oriental Cafe and the statue of Dublin icon Molly Malone.
Leinster House and Government Buildings
You could visit Leinster House on Kildare Street (call 618 3271 for
information) where the Lower House (Dail) and Upper House (Seanad) of
the Irish Parliament meet. Visitors are admitted when Parliament is
sitting, although they have to stay in an observation gallery.
Government Buildings can also be visited (call 662 4888 for
information), where you will be able to see the Taoiseach’s (Prime
Minister) office amongst other things.
Dublin Castle (call 677 7129 for information)
Built in the early 13th Century, the castle is today still used for
government business. The building which has been the centre of British
authority in Ireland is nowadays not much resembling the Norman castle
it was in the first place as it has partly been destroyed by a fire in
the late 17th Century, and by the events of 1916.
The castle hosts, however, the Chester Beatty Library, where you will
be able to admire the extraordinary collection left by Sir Alfred
Chester Beatty at his death, bequeathing to the Irish State a unique
ensemble of books, manuscripts, paintings and a lot more magnificent
pieces.
Cathedrals and Churches Christ Church Cathedral (call 677 8099 for
information or visit www.cccdub.ie) was erected close to where the
original Viking settlement stood. Together with Dublin Castle, the Four
Courts and the now demolished Tholsel (Town Hall), it formed the centre
of medieval Dublin. It is noteworthy that the cathedral was first built
of wood (11th Century). The Earl of Pembroke initiated its
reconstruction in stone from 1172. A bridge will lead you into
Dublinia, which attempts to bring medieval Dublin to life. St Patrick's
Cathedral (call 475 4817 for information or viist
www.stpatrickscathedral.ie) was erected on one of the first Christian
sites in Dublin. It is not very clear when the present building dates
back to, probably 1190 or 1225, but what is known is that a church
stood on that same site from the 5th Century.
St Werburgh's Church (call 478 3710 for information) and St Audoen's
Churches (call 677 0088 for information) are also notable churches to
visit.
Museums Medieval Dublin is well depicted in Dublinia (call 679 4611 for
information) which was created by the Medieval Trust. A collection of
findings from excavations, a large model of the city and quayside, a
replica of a 12th century fair are amongst the items on show, and you
will also be able to view over the city from St Michael's Tower and to
visit Christ Church Cathedral at no extra cost.
The National Museum (call 677 7444 for information) was completed in
the late 19th Century and hosts a number of interesting pieces, from a
extraordinary collection of Bronze and Iron Age gold artefacts and
medieval Celtic metalworks to permanent exhibitions from Viking Age
Dublin and the Easter Rising.
The National Gallery (call 661 5133) presents a quality collection of
Irish art and a good few items from major schools of European painting.
The four wings of the gallery are filled with pieces from Jack B Yeats,
Caravaggio or Turner.
Dr David Livingstone gave the opening lecture to the Natural History
Museum (call 677 7444 for information) in 1857. I has not changed much
since but has nevertheless preserved its Victorian charm. The
collection consists of about 2 million pieces (insects, skeletons of
the Irish fauna and fauna from around the world).
Parks Why not take a breath of fresh air in St Stephen's Green? Once a
place for public whippings, burnings and hangings, the nine hectares of
the green are now widely enjoyed by office workers at lunchtime or
passers-by looking for a moment of tranquillity.
Often mistaken for private gardens, the Iveagh Gardens are well hidden
off Harcourt St. They are actually one of the city's most beautiful
landscaped parks.
Merrion Square dates back to 1762. The fine Georgian entrances which
surround the square are some of the best in Dublin. A number of Irish
celebrities such as Oscar Wilde, WB Yeats, Daniel O'Connell lived on
Merrion Square. At weekends painters hang their work to the fences
around the park, making it a popular destination on a Sunday afternoon. |
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