Travel with Terri
Dublin: Historic, Spirited and Friendly!
By Terri Marshall, Photos by Gregory Holder
Established in 841 by the Norse, Dublin, Ireland has been around a long long time! Yet, this ancient city is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and provides an intriguing mix of history and contemporary cultures. Having seen its share of troubles through famines, plagues, the Easter Rising in 1916, the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, the city has persevered through hard times and is now listed among the top 30 cities in the world!
The historical and contemporary aspects of Dublin are notable even in its landmarks. Founded on the orders of King John of England in 1204 for the purpose of a defending the city, Dublin Castle is the oldest of the landmarks. In contrast is one of Dublin’s newest monuments the Spire of Dublin – officially titled the “Monument of Light”. This 398-foot conical spire made of stainless steel is intended to mark Dublin’s place in the 21st Century. At night, the illuminated top of the monument provides a beacon in the sky across the city.
Dublin has plenty of options for sightseeing and entertainment. Dublin’s city centre is home to several shopping districts including Grafton Street, Henry Street and Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. A stroll along Grafton Street brings visitors face to face with entertaining street-performers and artists. At the end of the street stands a statute of Molly Malone, the subject of the song by the same name that tells the fictional tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plied her trade on the streets of Dublin, but who died young of a fever. Leave it to the Irish to adopt a song about a fictional character as the unofficial anthem of Dublin City! Adjacent to Grafton Street is St. Stephen’s Green, one of Dublin’s most popular parks and the perfect place for a city picnic. This lovely 27-acre park was formerly a private park with access restricted to the area residents. In 1880, thanks to a member of the Guinness family, it became a public park to be enjoyed by all who enter.
And speaking of Guinness, Dublin is where it began! Founded in 1759, the Guinness brewery had a huge economic impact on the city. For much of the time it has served as the largest employer in the city. Although the corporate headquarters were moved to London in the 1930’s to avoid Irish taxation, the brewery remains and the Guinness flows freely in the local pubs. Located in the heart of St. James Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is Dublin’s #1 tourist attraction. Tours take guests through a historical timeline of the company and through the steps to brewing the “black stuff”. On the fifth floor of the Guinness Storehouse you can learn how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness and receive a certificate proving you have mastered the craft the bartenders make look so easy! The Gravity Bar on the seventh floor provides panoramic views of Dublin and a place to relax and enjoy a pint (or two) of Guinness. http://www.guinness-storehouse.com
In the 1770’s a Scotland born John Jameson came to town and began concocting his own spirits with the founding of Jameson Whiskey. His unique triple distilling process perfected the whiskey and guaranteed him acceptance by the Irish – in fact many say he is more Irish than the Irish born! The Old Jameson Distillery is located in the Smithfield Village area of Dublin and visitors flock to this location to learn about the history of Jameson as well as the process of producing one of the world’s finest whiskeys. A few lucky volunteers get to participate in a whiskey comparison tasting! www.jamesonwhiskey.com
James Joyce, George Bernard Show, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker are just a few of the famous writers and playwrights originating from Dublin. James Joyce’s most celebrated work, Ulysses, is set in Dublin. His collection of short stories, Dubliners, tells of incidents typical of the characters who resided in the city in the early 20th century. One thing many of these historic writers had in common – other than writing – was their love of the local pubs. Dublin’s Literary Pub Crawl is a unique way to be entertained by the works of some of these great writers while touring the streets of Dublin. It is not necessary to be a literary genius or even a drinker to enjoy the pub crawl. Actors lead the tour providing entertaining stories and excerpts from the works of some of Dublin’s greatest literary figures. There is also a stop at Trinity College – whose notable alumni include Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and Bram Stoker. Pubs visited are the very same pubs these literary greats frequented for a little spirited inspiration! www.dublinpubcrawl.com
For visitors who really enjoy the nightlife, Dublin’s Temple Bar area just south of the River Liffey is internationally known as the city’s most popular nightspot. Here revelers will find a variety of options ranging from clubs to intimate pubs with live music. This is also a popular destination for “stag and hen” parties from Britain.
Voted the friendliest city in Europe in 2009, Dublin does not disappoint. Perhaps Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones said it best: “I go off into Dublin and two days later I’m spotted walking by the Liffey with a whole bunch of new friends.” www.discoverireland.com
Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at www.examiner.com where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at www.barzz.net. You can contact Terri at [email protected].