Home & Away with Robert Walshe
Weekend Hotspot – Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Naas Road Dublin
The Louis Fitzgerald hotel is definitely a property to consider for your next trip to Dublin. This fourstar property southwest of the city is well-connected via public transportation, so it is very easy to get to and from all the main attractions and sights plus you will be enjoying a four-star experience without paying city centre prices. The Louis Fitzgerald hotel has 190 rooms, all of which have en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen cable TVs, and free wifi access. There is a restaurant called LJ’s which serves breakfast and dinner, with a juice bar open all day.
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The Louis Fitzgerald is specifically designed to fulfil a business traveller’s needs, so in addition to the usual amenities you will also find conference rooms and a business centre. Even beyond that, the hotel also has an on-site fitness suite. The journey between the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel and downtown Dublin takes between 20 and 30 minutes, and if you are driving you will find secure on-site parking. The hotel is 11.5 km from central Dublin, and 1 km from the nearest LUAS tram stop. The helpful reception team offers the latest on what to do and see with a long list of suggestions including Guinness Storehouse, Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin
Castle. Temple Bar is reputed to be Dublin’s “bohemian quarter” - it certainly is full of entertainment, art and culinary action. It is generally regarded to be on the list of top attractions of Dublin and visited by everybody and their grandmother for the ceol agus craic. Also located in Temple Bar is the Irish Film Institute, the Project Arts Centre and DESIGN yard. All well worth a visit. Most visitors, however, come for the beer. Built in the late 18th century,
Blood Brother at Bord Gais Theatre Dublin.
Temple Bar, Dublin.
Farmleigh House was purchased by Edward Cecil Guinness, a greatgrandson of Arthur Guinness, in 1873. The house contains many beautiful features including the Main House area (a fine example of Georgian-Victorian architecture), the Sunken Garden, the Walled Gar-
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Naas Road Dublin.
den, the famous Clock Tower and the Lake and The Benjamin Iveagh Library. The library holds some of the finest examples of Irish bookbinding from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The collection was donated to Marsh’s Library by the Guinness family.To the east of the docklands you can explore Grand Canal Square, home to many of the world’s most innovative companies such as Google, Three Arena and Face book, and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, a touring theatre for ballet, opera, musicals and concerts. Returning in 2017 Blood Brothers the awardwinning production will play from 28th March - 8 April 2017. Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brother’s tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Tickets
from €20 are on sale through Ticketmaster. L’Gueuleton is my favourite Dublin dining experience at the moment. Located on Fade Street, just off South Great Georges Street, next door to the trendy Hogan’s Bar the menu varies from French onion soup to slow roast rare breed pork belly. All dishes are impressively presented here. This trendy spot is only three minutes walk from Grafton Street. www.visitdublin. com There are many great value packages at the Louis Fitzgerald hotel including an overnight B&B stay for two adults including dinner on one evening from €120. For best hotel rates visit www.louisfitzgeraldhotel.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio in Northern Ireland and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com