Last weekend I had the great fortune of being invited along on a weekend trip to Dublin to celebrate Kirsty's hen do. (Kirsty is Ben's younger sister, feisty, witty and every bit lovely)
I leapt at the chance, as it's always great being involved with Ben's side of the family, every BBQ, celebration and event is always great fun and memorable, besides I've heard great things about Dublin it was definitely on my bucket list.
As soon as the date crept closer I began getting more and more excited, jabbering on to co-workers about the trip. Every time I mentioned Dublin I was greeted with a "awwwhhh I love Dublin" type response, which just increased the excitement.
I have comprised this short guide to Dublin, places we visited and activities I consider unmissable when visiting this enchanting city.
Special thanks to the bride, Kirsty, for organising the whole trip, truly awesome!
Flying.
We flew with Ryanair, from East Midlands (naturally) flights costs roughly £15-£25 each way, I know right? The Taxi to the airport cost more than the actual flight, brilliant! I even had a friend who managed to get tickets at £5 each way, a stonking good deal. The flight is very short, estimated at 35-45 minutes, which was ideal for our first time flyer, Emma, who enjoyed the whole experience.
Carry on luggage with Ryanair is quite good, with one bag at 10KG and even a second carry on bag such as a backpack or handbag all included in your ticket price. Simply perfect for weekends away. Just remember to check out restrictions and dimensions before traveling.
*personal tip. Leave plenty of time to get through security, on weekends, unless you want to end up doing a quick cardio-workout to the plane like we did.
Accommodation
Murray's Traditional Bar and Grill
The hotel rates are pretty damn good value for money in the city too, especially for bigger groups.
We stayed at a lovely traditional hotel right in the city centre, it overlooked two bars and a massive beer garden, one of which Murray's Traditional Irish Bar and Grill was where we had our delicious cooked breakfast (included) each morning. Bloody fantastic it was too.
I would definitely recommend The Gate Hotel just off O'Connell street, for a weekend or group visit. Rooms are clean and spacious and provide en-suite bathrooms and comfortable beds. I would however be cautious if traveling with a young family, as the noise from the bars underneath is prominent in the evening and most rooms are situated up a steep and uneven staircase (which we thought was hilarious) but perfect for our Hen party requirements, close to shops, bars, restaurants, activities and bus routes.
http://www.gatehoteldublin.com/
The Guinness Brewery
As on any trip to a well known city, comes with it a host of well known attractions that you occasionally find yourself wanting to avoid because of the touristy tat that attaches with it...this is most certainly NOT one of those...
This was definitely a highlight of the weekend, we only went to this attraction because we had a gap in the itinerary, but oh man am I glad we got to visit. I would advise getting fast-track tickets if visiting on a Saturday, as the queues resemble that of a new ride opening at Alton Towers. However armed with our fast track tickets we walked straight through, (we bought ours at the information centre situated in the centre on O'Connell street)
As soon as you walk into this attraction you get a sudden rush of wonderment, standing right a midst the grand industrial machinery exposed in all its glory.
Without too many spoilers, every visitor must take part in pulling the perfect pint of Guinness, for which you get a certificate AND you get to drink your pint, awesome. I would advise going straight to the top of the building to the infinity bar, 7 floors up with panoramic views of the bustling city below.
I loved this. Heck even the people who weren't too keen on the thick, creamy Stout still thoroughly enjoyed this activity.
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/ground-floor
Food:
-The Church
My absolute favorite part of every adventure is when we get to sit down and peruse a menu, this trip was of course no exception.
The first night we dined at a glorious location, right in the centre. It is a refurbished Church, wonderfully restored and reprised as a delightful modern restaurant whilst exposing all the original feature. Set menus are available which are better if you're trying to keep costs down, which is what we did. The food was simple, yet robust and elegantly presented, satisfying and tasty. The cocktail list is quit impressive, each made fresh to order and all arrived in glorious style.
-The speakeasy
The Blind Pig speakeasy and prohibition bar was an unforgettable experience for me. I reveled in the dark and secret atmosphere and in the fun and excitement of it all.
This bar come restaurant is in a secret location underground, only bookings are taken and the location is kept secret right up until you call a specified number just before your reservation time. A staff member kitted out in 1920's fashion greets you at a specified location and only then does the venue become known. The theme continues throughout the evening in it's entirety.
I genuinely adored this. A specialised cocktail mixologist, helps guide you through the exquisite cocktail menu, all based on real cocktails made during the prohibition prepared only with the best premium spirits. The food we per-ordered certainly did not disappoint, every mouthful was a celebration of delicious. A fantastic experience that I will definitely look out for again.
Bar hopping.
Temple Bar
Oi boy is there some amazing bars in this city. The most famous of them being The Temple Bar, which trust me on this, will not disappoint. Situated in the creative hub of town, this traditional pub boasts an impressive amount of liquor. This was our first stop, and my first taste of real Dublin Guinness, folks it is utterly true what they say, the Guinness in Dublin is by far the best tasting in the world. Exquisite atmosphere and friendly staff, a must see for every alcohol enthusiast.
On our second night, we visited many bars. Each more fantastic than the last. The atmosphere in the city centre was far more relaxed than I'd ever known in England. live music, karaoke, beautiful design and friendly locals really stuck out the most.
Simply strolling along the river Lifey and taking in the phenomenal architecture of this grand old city is a lovely experience, housing an array of fine shops, eateries, and traditional bars to rival any major city, I enjoyed every moment.
Finally...
...I come to a fun selection of activities that we thoroughly enjoyed taking part in, great times with the girls!
The Leprechaun museum http://www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/
This was great fun, we traveled through the venue experiencing what it would be like to be a Leprechaun and heard mythical stories about these legendary creatures. Great family fun.
The comedy club www.laughterlounge.com
A great way to round off an evening, a lively atmosphere with decently priced drinks and offers to accompany a live host of local comedians. The school dinner hall style chairs were a tad uncomfortable after 2 hours though, just sayin'.
Irish Dance class http://www.irishdanceparty.com/
This was hilariously fantastic fun, especially if you're on a Hen party, the hosts and music were excellent at creating a nice relaxed and fun environment.
Dublin is a diverse, friendly and creative city, with plenty to explore and much fun to be had, I too will from now on be one of those people who lets out a sigh of love every time this fantastic city is mentioned. I can't wait to go back again...
Love me a pint of Guinness