Travel Destination: Dublin
About Dublin
Dublin, capital and largest city in Ireland, needs no fancy introduction. Just name drop George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and William Butler Yeats, who are all Nobel laureates, or writers and playwrights Bram Stoker, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and James Joyce and images of the picturesque city would all come into play. Cultured and cosmopolitan, Dublin doesn’t falter to impress and nurture life’s gifts.
Thanks to its economic boom for the last 15 years which placed it among the top five richest cities and the second highest wages for a city in the world. For good or bad, it is now one of the most expensive cities in the world too.
Dublin takes the concept of balance and harmony by heart. It has a temperate climate, characterized by mild winters and cool summers and just enough rain. It has a celebrated past and vibrant modern lifestyle. It is a youthful city and one of the friendliest in Europe. It has a thriving nightlife, exciting shopping strips and noted educational centres amidst the historical buildings, castles and cathedrals. This mix of the old and the new is the reason why Dublin is one of the most interesting places to visit in Europe.
It’s almost a sin to pass up on its literary treasures like the historic James Joyce Museum, Dublin Writers Museum and The George Bernard Shaw Birthplace. Visiting museums is irresistible too. The Bridge Art Gallery and Irish Museum of Modern Art showcase contemporary art and crafts while the three branches of National Museum of Ireland (Decorative Arts & History in Collins Barracks, Archaeology & History in Kildare and Natural History in Merrion Street) offer valuable lessons in cultural development.
Its royal heritage is best seen through its castles and churches. The Ardgillan Castle is a striking structure with spectacular views, gardens and woodland. It overlooks the bay of Drogheda and is on an elevated coastline between Balbriggan and Skerries. The Malahide Castle, on the other hand, is Dublin’s most visited, it was the residence of the Talbot family from 1185 to 1973. This pretty 250-acre park land is located in a lovely seaside town, Malahide. It houses period furniture pieces and a large collection of Irish portrait paintings. Another attraction in the park is Tara’s Palace and Childhood Museum, where you can marvel at the interesting dolls, doll houses and antique toys collections.
Not everything in Dublin is old. It is actually a vivacious city that gives off young vibe. The pubs and nightclubs are full of urban energy. Visit the ones across Dublin’s city centre particularly those along Leeson Street, Wexford Street, Camden Street and Harcourt Street. One of the most popular haunts is Temple Bar to the south of River Liffey. For the free spirits, you can find live music being played on streets or venues around Dublin.
Did I hear retail therapy? Fortunately, in this city you can shop till you drop anytime you feel like it. Popular shopping spots are Brown Thomas and BT2 (comparable to Bloomingdales in New York City), where mini-stores of very popular high end brands are found, like Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Chanel, on the Wicklow Street side. Jervis Shopping Centre, Grafton Street, Ilac Shopping Centre, Henry Street and Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre are also prominent shopping districts.
Having a good time in Dublin is easily the only thing you need to do. Enjoy the sights, sounds and its exuberance anytime. You wouldn’t be able to resist it anyway.