Dublin Things to Do Tips by Buckz

What do you need to see to see Dublin- I doubt if any two people will agree on this, but here are a few things to include on your list.
2 Cathedrals
A building by James Gandon,
The Spike
The GPO (General Post Office)
Dublin Castle
Moore St
City Hall
Molly Malone
The Bag ladies
The Garden of Remembrance
Trinity College
Grafton Street
A City Centre Park
An Art Gallery
Dail Eireann (Parliament)
Mansion House

How are you going to manage all this? Go to the spike and Follow me!

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Address: City Centre

You are standing at the Spike (On O'Connell St) So tick that off your list to start. Go north to the end of the street (away from the river). At the top of the street go straight, Keeping the Ambassador on your left. About 100m up you will see large Blue gates on your left. This is the Garden Of Remembrance (tick!). The statue at the end is of the Children of Lir, as they turned into Swans. As you leave the garden, turn left and continue around the Square to go to the Hugh Lane Gallery, or if you want to leave the Art until later, turn right and return to the spike, and continue the tour.

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Address: City Centre
Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/standard/index.htm

At the Spike, facing south (same direction as the statues in the middle of the street), Cross (carefully) to your right to see the GPO. This was the stronghold of the 1916 rising, and so one of the most important buildings in Irish History. In the centre of the colonnade is a statue of Cuchulainn. One of the great heros of Irish Mythology, he tied himself to a post while dying, and reputation as a warrior without equal was so great that it was only when the raven landed on his shoulder that his enemies dared approach.

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Phone: +353 1 705 7000
Address: O'Connell Street
Directions: Look south west from the spike. (Facing the river it is on your right)

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On the right of the GPO is Henry St a pedestrian street, proceed down here, (no shopping!)
A short distance down on your right is Moore St (Henry Moore, Earl of Drogheda wanted to be remembered, so he left his name on the Dublin Map, You are looking at Moore St from Henry St. Earl St is the far side of the spike, and Drogheda St no longer exists.He even named a street Of Lane!) Step briefly onto Moore street, to get some fruit, fish or flowers and continue along Henry St. Take the next street on your left (not the sheltered Arcade!) go straight through the (sort of) cross roads. At the end of this street you see the bag ladies, and depending on the day and time maybe a some more street trading.

Now the dilemma- will you cross the Ha'Penny bridge- one of the city's most famous landmarks- or walk along the board walk (one of the city's best recent additions)? The choice is yours, but in either case, continue go up stream (right) past the Millennium Bridge (flat, metal) and onto Grattan Bridge (Capel st to the locals.)

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Address: The Quays

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If you haven't crossed the river, do so now. The building you are looking at is the Sunlight Chambers, once owned by Unilever, and the murals depict the making of soap. City hall is nearby, but you will be there soon enough so move on, nothing to see here, continue along the river to the next bridge.

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Address: The Quays
Directions: At the east/upstream end of the board walk look left across grattan bridge.

Walking from the Sunlight Chambers to the next bridge you walk past a viking boat sculpture (reminiscent of Reykjavik) and the civic offices at Wood Quay. This is the oldest part of Dublin, and there was alot of opposition to the building of these modern offices. The site unearthed many viking artefacts, but still contains many many more.
When you reach the bridge you will be spoilt for views. the Four Courts accross the river is your required James Gandon Building (The Customs house is another, and he designed a number of other famous buildings throughout the country).

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Phone: 01 872 5555
Address: Inns Quay Dublin 8

Looking up the hill behind the Civic Offices you see Christchurch. (picture on Dublin mainpage) Up you go!
Christchurch is well worth a visit when open, and well worth a walk around the outside anytime. Don't miss the Gargoyles! There are very few buildings in Dublin with Gargoyles, so make sure see them here (East end of the building, facing down Dame St.)

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Phone: +353 1 677 8099
Address: Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2
Directions: Christ Church Place, Lord Edward St.
Website: http://www.cccdub.ie/

Next stop is St Patricks Cathedral. Continue down Nicholas Street (standing outside Christchurch looking at Jurys Inn, the 4 lane road going down the right hand side of Jury's look for the 3 children sculpture) St Patricks is just as impressive as christchurch, but is often overlooked. Again look for gargoyles and faces in the stonework. The entrance is around the corner, on the small street on the left. After looking around, go into the park on in front of the church , and leave by the gate over by the small redbrick house.

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Phone: +353-1-453 9472
Address: St Patrick's Close, Dublin
Website: http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/Default.h

On leaving the park turn left (north). go straight through the junction and .The second right is Ship st little. down here you will see the back gate to Dublin castle. Don't worry if the barrier is closed- it is for cars, not for you.
Dublin Castle can be divided into 4 areas,
1) the coach house and back lawn, site of the original Black Pool, (or Dubh linn in Irish.) The pool was on the river Poddle (which is below you), its dark peaty waters earned it and the city its name. There is a memorial to Veronica Guerin in here. (Veronica Guerin was a journalist who relentlessly investigated the Dublin crimeworld. She was assassinated in 1996. Her murder had precisely the opposite effect it had intended. Public outcry forced rapid government action, which led to the Criminal Assets Bureau being set up-It has been so effective it is used as a model for dealing with organised crime throughout Europe. The person tried but acquitted of her murder is serving a 24 year sentence for Drug traffiking.)
2) The medieval castle, with it's ornate stone carving,
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Phone: +353 1 677 7129
Address: Dame Street, Dublin 2
Directions: downtown dublin, south of the liffey
Website: http://www.dublincastle.ie/

3) the georgian courtyard, look at the statue on the right- with the scales of justice. Justice faces into the castle (most dublin Statues face south) so she has turned her back on the city- Does Justice serve the rulers only? Stand under it and look up- there are holes drilled in the pans of the scales- this is because they used to fill with water, one more than the other, and sit off balance! Unbalanced justice turning its back on the the people- Very prophetic of a colony!
4) the interior. Never been (shame on me!) Be sure to look at the first 3, the fourth I cannot say .

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Phone: +353 1 677 7129
Address: Dame Street, Dublin 2
Directions: downtown dublin, south of the liffey
Website: http://www.dublincastle.ie/