Dublin - Post Report Question and Answers

All the little coastal towns down the Coast...just start driving and take a look. County Cork turned out to be a real find and a great escape, check out Cobh, Youghal, Kinsale, Clonakilty, and Schull. Full of history, color and fun things to do. - Jul 2016

There is something for everyone in Dublin. There are some great museums - Croke Park, Kilmainham Gaol, Natural History Museum, National Archives, etc) and art galleries. There is so much to do outdoors - you have Europe's biggest downtown park, Phoenix Park, as well as some other lovely parks scattered throughout the city, all of which have great playgrounds for children. There are also some excellent hikes not to be missed - the Wicklow mountains are a half hour drive away and the views are fantastic. Also, in Dublin don't miss the Book of Kells and the library at Trinity College Dublin - spectacular! There are also lots of walking tours: literary, pub, music - all lots of fun. And the hop on/ hop off tour buses are great as you can hit all the major sites in half a day. There is a rich and vibrant music scene in Dublin (well, Ireland in general), so if you're hankering for some traditional music in a pub setting you're spoiled for choice, or if your taste is more classical, the National Concert Hall will have plenty of choices for you. The theatre scene in Dublin is very much a live with the Gate and the Abbey Theatres putting on top notch productions multiple times a year (many celebrated actors and actresses got their start on these stages and often return for a season). The Grand Canal Theatre hosts major touring shows from London/Europe so you don't feel like you're missing out. If you're into sports, Gaelic Football, Rugby, and Hurling are your three huge sports here. Everyone gets really into it and a match at Lansdowne Road (Aviva) or Croke Park are a must! Most of the best Irish soccer players go tot he English premier league, so there is a big social scene around watching English and Scottish soccer in the pubs, even if the Irish soccer league is not well followed. Restaurants, clubs, and bars abound. Go for afternoon tea at the Shelbourne or for a cocktail in their bar at night (it's the place to see and be seen). Kehoe's on Anne St is a great pub for a pint (plenty of well-known regulars frequent it). If you want to see the Leinster Rugby players pop into Searsons on Upper Baggot Street. If craft beers are your thing, don't miss Against The Grain and (THE SEVERAL) Porterhouse BREWING CO. The Winding Stair has excellent Irish cuisine, and The Pigs Ear (on Kildare Street) had excellent Irish "Comfort" food. I could go on and on... EVEN A PASSING INTEREST IN IRISH HISTORY IS RICHLY REWARDED AND THERE ARE TONS OF GUIDED TOURS. - Jun 2014