Britnee Johnston7 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN DUBLIN Britnee Johnston May 1 Europe, Ireland, Travel In April 2022, my sisters and I took a trip together for a week in Ireland. This was the first time we had traveled together for a sister’s trip so we made sure it was a memorable one! Our first stop was in Dublin for a day, followed by a few days in Galway before we returned to Dublin for two more days. Below are the top 7 things I enjoyed in Dublin and would recommend checking out if you’re planning a trip to Dublin. 1. Eat a Full Irish Breakfast at Keogh’s Cafe Located at 1-2 Trinity Street Dublin 2, this quaint cafe is a great way to start your day in Dublin. There are various breakfast entrees such as the full or mini Irish breakfast, porridge, omelet, eggs on toast, and an assortment of pastries. When I was there I ordered the full Irish breakfast, which comes with free range eggs, portobello mushrooms, bacon, West Cork black and white pudding, Galway sausage, plum tomatoes, and sourdough toast. I loved it! I also couldn’t help but order a latte and scone on the way out. This is a great cafe and it’s fairly close to Trinity College. Cost: €11.50 for a Full Irish Breakfast (as of April 2022) Visit the Official Keogh’s Cafe Website 2. Visit the Book of Kells & Old Library at the Trinity College The Old Library in Trinity College Dublin is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Dublin. The beautiful architecture with the rounded ceilings and tall levels of bookcases makes this place one of the most jaw-dropping libraries I have ever been in. A highlighted item in the Old Library is the Book of Kells, which is a manuscript of the four gospels from the New Testament from 800 C.E.–making it over 1,200 years old. It is known for the beauty of its letterings, intricate illustrations, and Celtic motifs. Photos were not allowed to be taken of the Book of Kells. At the time of our visit, online tickets were required and provided timed entry. We bought our tickets online just a few minutes before the time we wanted to go in, so it was easy to get tickets fairly quickly. It is probably best to buy in advance if you are on a tight schedule and don’t have flexibility if tickets happen to be not available. Cost: €18.50/person (as of April 2022) Visit the Official Old Library at Trinity College’s Website 3. Visit the Spire of Dublin A fun and quick stop is the Spire of Dublin, which is located at the busy thoroughfare of O’Connell Street Upper, North City in Dublin. This is a tall stainless steel monument towering at nearly 400 feet. As you are walking towards the spire from afar, you will see it slowly grow before your eyes as you get closer. This was an unexpected view for my sisters and me as we happened to come across it as we were traveling around. Cost: Free 4. Eat the Bacon & Cabbage at the Brazen Head Dubbed as the oldest pub in Dublin, the Brazen Head didn’t disappoint. We were seated inside in a cozy atmosphere and I ordered the traditional Bangers & Mash with jumbo pork and leek sausages, creamy mashed potatoes, vegetables, and red wine jus. One of my sisters ordered a classic Guinness that I gladly helped her drink, and my other sister ordered the delectable Bacon & Cabbage with honey roasted carrots, cabbage, and mashed potatoes with parsley sauce.I stole a bite of it and I definitely would order that dish next time. It was all so good and a great way to fuel up for your day in Dublin. Cost: Around €17/entree (as of April 2022) Visit the Official Brazen Head’s Website 5. Visit St. Lawrence’s Heart at the Christ Church Cathedral The Christ Church Cathedral is a grand medieval building that was built over 1,000 years old as a Viking church. The cathedral on the first floor features vaulted ceilings and a beautifully tiled floor. What sparked my interest the most though was the underground crypt where I saw a mummified cat and rat, a rare copy of the Magna Carta, and the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole. Yes, an actual heart! This artifact was an 800-year-old heart of an Irish saint that is encased in a reliquary. So there is not much to see but the heart-shaped container, but still an unusual item to come across in my travels. Cost: €10 (as of April 2022) Visit the Official Christ Church Cathedral’s Website 6. Eat at the Old Mill Restaurant This lively restaurant at 14 Temple Bar Square, Dublin 2, hit the spot on one of our rainy evenings in Dublin. We went up the stairs from the main road in the Temple Bar area and found ourselves in a small dining area. It was busy and crowded so we had to wait for a while for a table. When we finally seated we were welcomed with warm delicious meals. I ordered the home cooked cottage pie topped with creamy mashed potato, and minced ground beef in a rich gravy. It was just what I needed! My sisters ordered the slow cooked beef and Guinness stew, and fish and chips which all looked good too. You can’t go wrong ordering traditional Irish food at the Old Mill Restaurant. Cost: €10 (as of April 2022) Visit the Official Old Mill Restaurant’s Website 7. Spend the Night in Downtown Dublin You will want to spend at least one night in downtown Dublin before moving on to other cities in Ireland. We had two different hotels we stayed at, one for the first night we flew into Dublin, and another one for our last two days in the country. The first hotel we stayed at was at the Temple Bar Inn. The total cost was $202 for one night in a triple bedroom. This was a great location near Temple Bar and other popular sites. The room was spacious and the layout was nice with two twin beds in a corner nook of the room, and the other twin bed near the door. View and book the Temple Bar Inn at booking.com. We loved the Temple Bar Inn, and would’ve stayed there again on our last few days in Ireland, but they didn’t have any availability. The only other hotel available with three beds on the days we needed was The Gardiner Lodge. This was a little further away from the Temple Square area but still within walking distance. The room had three twin beds in a row with a large bathroom. It had a really nice view of the inner garden courtyard. The total cost was more on the spendy side at $762 for two nights for a triple bedroom. View and book the Gardiner Lodge at booking.com.
