Things to do in Dublin

Dublin's varied history and rich culture make it a great place to visit. To get a feel for the place, just walk around the Georgian streets admiring the splendour of the many monuments and mansions. The city offers a wealth of treasures waiting to be discovered, from the Book of Kells to Christ Church Cathedral. In addition, no visit would be complete without sampling the legendary Irish hospitality.

Trinity College

The beautiful Trinity College is Ireland's oldest and most prestigious college. Founded in 1592, it is the home of Dublin's biggest attraction, the Book of Kells. The college is situated in the heart of the city, with cobbled squares and high stone walls seperating it from the hustle and bustle of Grafron street. It was established by Elizabeth I in 1592, and was staunchly Protestant.

The Catholic Church banned its followers from entering the university until 1970, and women were not admitted until 1903. Top scholars who have attended the college include Samuel Beckett, Douglas Hyde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde.

The Book of Kells is an ornately illustrated manuscript of the four Christian Gospels, produced by Celtic monks around 800 AD. It is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important works in the history of medieval art and features colourful drawings of animals, people and abstract designs. Walking tours led by Trinity College students can be arranged and they offer different topics depending on the day.

Dublin Castle

The castle was the stronghold of British power for hundreds of years and stands on the ridge at the junction of the River Liffey and its tributary, the Poddle. The original fortification may have been an early Gaelic Ring Fort and then later, a Viking Fortress was built on the site. Part of this is still on view to visitors at the Undercroft.

The castle is now used by the Irish Government and access is by tour only. Some of the most fascinating sights include part of the old city walls, the moat and the drawing rooms, with their beautiful plasterwork.

The Record Tower is the only part that survives from the original Norman Castle and beside this, the 19th century Chapel Royal has recently been restored and features particularly fine plaster decoration and a carved oak gallery. The Great Courtyard contains the buildings of the post-medieval period including the magnificent State Apartments, which were built as the residential quarters of the viceregal court.

Christ Church Cathedral

This stunning cathedral dates from 1038, when the Danish king of Dublin built the first wooden church here. The stone cathedral was commissioned in 1172 by the Anglo-Norman conqueror of Dublin, Richard de Clare (Strongbow).

The existing building can be traced back to 1878, when the cathedral was rescued from ruin and extensively refurbished. Much of the old detail was destroyed in the process, but there is still magnificent stonework and graceful pointed arches to be seen.

The arched crypt dates from the original Viking church and is the oldest structure in Dublin. The Treasury exhibit in the crypt includes rare coins, the Stuart coat of arms and gold given to the church by William of Orange after the Battle of the Boyne.

National Gallery

This impressive gallery received a major renovation in 1996, along with the addition of the award-winning Millennium Wing in 2002. The collection of 12,000 artworks includes watercolours, oils, drawings, paints and sculptures. There is a whole room dedicated to displaying Ireland's most famous artist’s works, Jack B Yeats, and the Shaw Room is lined with full-length portraits and beautiful Waterford crystal chandeliers. One of the highlights is Caravaggio's ‘The Taking of Christ’, which lay undiscovered for over 60 years in a Jesuit house in Leeson street until it was found accidentally by the museum's curator in 1992.

Guinness Storehouse and St James' Gate Brewery

The Guinness Brewery, founded in 1759, is one of the largest and most famous breweries in the world. It produces 450 million litres of the distinctive dark stout per year. It is housed in an old 19th century four-storey grain storehouse, which visitors are free to explore. The best part is probably the rooftop Gravity Bar, where you can enjoy a pint of the black stuff while taking in the superb panoramic views of the city. The building also contains the World of Guinness Exhibition, an audiovisual presentation showing how the stout is made.

General Post Office

This impressive building is the symbol of Irish freedom, as it was the main stronghold of the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Uprising, in 1916. It was here that Patrick Pearse stood on its steps and read a proclamation declaring a free Irish Republic. He then barricaded himself inside the post office, along with his army of supporters. The building was nearly destroyed during the subsequent siege, and despite being repaired, it was once again damaged during the Civil War that started in 1922.

The huge interior now has a collection of paintings that tell the story of the Easter Uprising. There is also a statue of Cuchulainn, the legendary knight who is used as a symbol by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups.

Museums

The National Museum was opened in 1890 and portrays Ireland's history from 2000 BC to the present. Most of the country's greatest historical finds are on display here including Ardagh Chalice, Cross of Cong and a collection of Irish Bronze Age gold. There are also artefacts from the Wood Quay excavations of the Old Dublin Settlements.

The building encompasses the Natural History Museum, which was opened by the Scottish explorer, Dr David Livingstone. Little seems to have changed in the building, which contains some two million species of stuffed animals and mounted heads. Around half of the displayed creatures are insects and many others, such as the giant Irish elk and the dodo, are long extinct.

The Kilmainham Gaol Historical Museum is an important sight for anyone interested in Ireland's struggle for independence from British rule. Political prisoners, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Uprising, were incarcerated, tortured and killed here from 1796 until 1924.