ATTR AC TIO N S
KARL LEONARD
ENDA CAVANAGH
DUBLIN CASTLE
GLASNEVIN CEMETERY TOURS
DUBLIN DUBLIN CASTLE Dame Street, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 645 8813 dublincastle.ie Dating from the early 13th century, Dublin Castle was originally built on the site of a Viking Settlement as a defensive fortification, and for centuries served as the headquarters for British administration in Ireland. Following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government and continues to be a major government complex, in addition to a must-see tourist destination. Visitors can experience the castle’s rich history through the ornate bedrooms, dining rooms, picture gallery and drawing rooms, with tours running daily. The complex is also home to the beautiful Chester Beatty Library, housing a collection of rare books.
NATIONAL WAX MUSEUM PLUS 22-25 Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 671 8373 waxmuseumplus.ie The National Wax Museum Plus was opened in the iconic Lafayette building that divides Westmoreland Street and D’Olier Street – an appropriately central location for a museum full of figures central to
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Irish history. Visitors can explore the past via the museum’s own Augmented Reality app – watch Brendan Behan’s face spring to life and recite poetry, or a sketch of the Liffey morph into an animated pictorial history of Dublin. Kids will love how the app gamifies the museum too, with treasures (and ghosts!) to find and Night at the Museum events, where visitors are taken through the museum in masks and actors bring exhibits to life. Game Of Thrones fans will also want to watch out for the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, who was unveiled earlier this year to coincide with the final season of the epic series. Be sure to visit their sister museum The Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum (Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2), to experience the wonderful history of Irish music.
EPIC – THE IRISH EMIGRATION MUSEUM The CHQ building, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 906 0861 epicchq.com One of the newest major attractions in Dublin, EPIC tells the unforgettable story of the 10 million Irish people who left their homeland
over the centuries – and how they influenced and shaped the world. The interactive galleries make this family-friendly experience an essential destination for everyone with an interest in Ireland’s people, culture and history. The museum also houses the Irish Family History Centre, with experts helping visitors uncover their Irish roots. Shortlisted for European Museum of the Year 2018 and included in the Top 5 Irish Museums on TripAdvisor, EPIC is open from 10am to 6.45pm daily (last entry 5pm)
GLASNEVIN CEMETERY TOURS Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Tel: (01) 882 6500, glasnevinmuseum.ie The largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland, Glasnevin is the resting place of some of the most famous figures in Irish history. Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Collins and Eamonn DeValera are buried here, next to well-known artists such as Brendan Behan, Luke Kelly and Christy Brown. The hauntingly gorgeous Victorian Garden cemetery covers 124 acres of glorious parkland. Guided tours
of the cemetery and museum are available daily, with each guide passionate about telling the stories of Ireland’s complex and fascinating history. The tour of Glasnevin Cemetery gives a fascinating view of its heritage.
GUINNESS STOREHOUSE St. Jame’s Gate, Dublin 8 Tel: (01) 408 4800 guinness-storehouse.com Leased to Arthur Guinness in 1759 for 9,000 years, St. James’s Gate Brewery has been the home of Guinness for more than two centuries. Formerly a fermentation plant at the brewery, it was transformed into the seven-floor Guinness Storehouse. It offers daily tours, and includes the ‘Taste experience’, where visitors can learn about the four ingredients that go into Guinness and the all-important pouring process. The beer is poured first about three quarters full, left for about a minute to settle, and then filled to the top. It takes 119.5 seconds to craft a perfect pint of Guinness, and visitors are guided through the full process.
