48 Hours in Dublin

For Culture Seekers

City of Literature

Dublin was recently named a City of Literature by UNESCO. You can take a self-guided literary tour that begins at Trinity College. Experience the life and times of such greats as Oscar Wilde (playwright, poet, essayist & novelist), George Bernard Shaw (dramatist, critic & Nobel Prize winner), James Joyce (writer and poet and author of Ulysses), and the author of Dracula, Bram Stoker, and many more familiar writers.

Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square

Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square

Visit the Dead Zoo and other Museums

All of the National Museums are free to visit and include: The Museum for Natural History (also known by Dubliners as the “Dead Zoo” for all of the taxidermied creatures on display); The National Museum for Archaeology (which has a display of the mummified people discovered in peat bogs around the country); and The National Museum for the Decorative Arts. The Science Gallery at renowned Trinity College blends science with art and is run by Trinity students.

Visit the Georgian Garden Squares

Grab a picnic lunch and stroll through St. Stephen’s Green (the largest park in Dublin at 22 acres), which is located at the top of Grafton Street, one of the finest shopping districts in the city. The other two main Georgian Garden Squares (or urban parks) include Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. For a less touristy spot, visit Iveagh Garden, a National Historic Property located near the National Concert Hall.

View The Georgian Doors of Dublin

Georgian Doors of Dublin

Georgian Doors of Dublin

These very famous and colorful doors with their fancy door-knockers and boot scrapers, date back to the 1700s and the Georgian era when the impressive red brick façade town homes were built. It was a time when Dublin was a very wealthy city and these were the residences of upper middle class families. Most of these homes can be found south of the River Liffey and along the famous Georgian Squares (or parks), such as Merrion Square.

Go way back in time and visit Dublin Castle

A trip to Ireland wouldn’t be complete without a castle conquest and Dublin Castle is the perfect place to begin your castle assault. Situated in the heart of historic Dublin, there’s a lot of history at this castle with the original Norman buildings, built by King John, dating back to 1204 to 1220/1230.

The Great Courtyard is the site of the Black Pool (Dubh Linn, pronounced dove-lin), which is where the city’s name originated. This was the seat of the British rule of Ireland for more than seven centuries (until 1922), but is now the home to many Irish government offices and it’s a popular tourist attraction.

After a few pints, you might even take this tour

After a few pints, you might even take this tour

 There is so much history and tradition in Ireland, especially when it comes to the music, the food, the whiskey, and beer. Dublin is a wonderful starting point to experience these traditions, but Dublin is also the genesis of change. We hope that you are hungry and thirsty for more; the next article on Dublin will be on the changing culinary scene and where these changes are taking place.

Cocoa Atelier on Drury Street

Cocoa Atelier on Drury Street

French macarons

French macarons

Note – Top photo is of “The Tube in the Cube” along the River Liffey in The Docklands.

For more articles on Ireland, please read:

An Ireland Roadtrip

16 Things We Learned While Traveling in Ireland

If you’re interested in a private tour in Dublin, we can highly recommend Liam Greene at Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours.

 

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