Photo by Dave C

If you’re looking to enjoy a little traditional Irish music, well, to say you’re in the right place would be waaaay too obvious. The good ones have a welcoming ambiance and serve a classic pint of Guinness. Be wary of the ones that create the atmosphere for the tourists as these may not be as authentic. Cassidy’s doesn’t just have the name. It’s pure tradition with an old world charm. It’s a popular spot on Camden Street and has seen visits from the likes of former President Bill Clinton. Temple Bar hosts several spots. They’re always busy and good fun although the drinks are expensive. Other great alternatives for a night out are O’Donoghues on Merrion Row and The Brazen Head near Christ Church.

If you’re looking for classic and standard pop and R&B hits slanted with an Irish good time, there are more than enough nightclubs and discos that play a mixture of chart hits, pop music and rhythm and blues. Most will have resident DJs who know the crowd and what they want. The Village has a live DJ every night of the week. Located on Wexford and Camden Streets, the bar and restaurant pulls in a trendy crowd, but it’s still a spontaneous party. Copper Face Jacks on Harcourt St. attracts a young crowd filling up the floors. Many finish off their nights here with lively music. Spy is a transformed 18th Century townhouse. It’s said the new design was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian classic A Clockwork Orange. There are two drawing rooms with fireplaces and chandeliers filled with a crowd that’s dressed to impress.

Many Irish appreciate good rock and indie music. There are a number of exceptional bars that support the music throughout Dublin. The most popular is probably The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay. A number of nightly events are sponsored by legendary local radio station Phantom FM. For the slightly older crowd, there’s Whelan’s located on Wexford Street. They offer live shows featuring the country’s biggest artists. Bruxelles, located off Grafton, features two bars. One plays rock while the other offers indie. If you’re looking for a metal/goth club, head over to Parnell Street. That’s where the famous Fibber Magee’s is located.

Temple Bar is a hub for a lot of activity. It’s a good place to start for straight up dance music. The Kitchen is fast becoming a hot spot. They promise a range of music that includes house and techno. The Playhouse is on the south side of Dublin, in Tallaght on Belgard Road. There are three bars and a huge dance floor with speakers booming everything from dance hits to rap. The D2 is hopping Wednesday through Saturday. It’s always packed with the best DJs pumping hits and classics. It’s situated on Harcourt Street. The Spirit Nightclub, on Abbey Street, is a well-liked and different spot. There’s a holistic treatment centre, but there’s also a club with two levels. You can listen to R&B on the lower and club music on the upper.

Dublin actually has a large population of young people, made up students and natives. It’s also a hot zone for young tourists that want to experience what they’ve heard is the Irish way. Dublin lives up to the reputation!

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Trinity College is one of the most important buildings of Dublin, which was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The culture and traditions are the important aspects in ancient buildings of Dublin.

St Patrick’s Cathedral is another pleasing sight for the visitors. It is considered the largest church not only in the city of Dublin but throughout entire Ireland. It was founded in 1191.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – Dublin, Ireland by William Murphy

O’Connell street is very impressive for the tourists and the general post office is situated in this street. The building has a majestic look and it is a wonderful sight to see. The street is completely covered with statues and monuments and that is the reason for the popularity of this street.

There are three National Museums of Ireland in Dublin and the tourists should never miss a visit to these museums, since they have both traditional and historical value. One is situated on Kildare Street – Archaeology Museum, another one can be found on Benburb Street – Decorative Arts & History Museum and the last one is located at Merrion Street related to Natural History.

Temple bar is another area, which can be interesting for the tourists. It is full of entertainment, art and culinary attractions. It is a home to many cultural institutions of Ireland and one of the best Dublin’s nightlife scenes.

Merrion Square is very popular for the National Gallery which has more than five hundred art works from great artists such as Monet, El Greco, Hogarth, Poussin and others.

Dublin Castle is originally a Viking fortress which you shouldn’t miss once you are in Dublin. There are many special aspects in this Castle. Rebuilding and renovation works are being performed regularly and at present, it looks beautifully. A massive tower and the Royal Chapel are built in medieval style while all administrative buildings are built in more modern styles.

Dublin Castle, Ireland by William Murphy

Phoenix Park is situated 3 km northwest of the city center and with the area of 712 hectares it is one of the largest walled parks in Europe. This place has a long history. There are huge alleys, grassy areas and wetlands which are home to more than 350 plant species.

Apart from these, there are many more sights and attractions to see in Dublin. You can also visit a Zoo, there are numerous parks and gardens, and since the city is situated at the cost, you can even relax on its beaches. However the main advantage of your staying in this city it its events. You can find more info about Dublin at the official site visitdublin.com.

Getting There

You have two options to get to Dublin and that’s either flying or taking the ferry. Aer Lingus and RyanAir are amongst a number of airlines that offer great value flights to Dublin but if you want to explore more of Ireland you will then need to hire a car. Alternatively you could take your own car and catch a ferry. Ferryonline compare ferries to Dublin providing all options with Stena and P&O Ferries. All you need to do is choose which port to cross from, Holyhead, Liverpool or Fishguard.

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