Photo by ladgie353

A quick tour of Southeast Dublin will land you in the cobblestoned Merrion Square, home of many of Dublin’s government buildings. Here you’ll find at least two great structures well worth a visit.

Leinster House, the former residence of the Duke of Leinster, today houses Parliament, and is surrounded by gardens and sculptures. Nearby, on Upper Merrion Street, stands the Department of the Taoiseach, which is similar to the Prime Minister, and also houses the Department of Finance and the Attorney General. Dubliners, known to scoff at any over-the-top pomp, sometimes refer to the ornate building as “Chas Mahal,” a reference to the late Charles Haughey, the sixth Taoiseach. (Most residents, however, simply refer to the structures as “Government buildings.” Simple, but it works.)

All government buildings here are free and open to the public. You must book a tour in advance (for groups only) if you wish to see Parliament, but show up during normal hours of operation at Leinster House and the Department of the Taoiseach and you can view current exhibits and take advantage of free guided tours, free tickets for which can be picked up at the nearby National Gallery (also a free sight).

Once you’ve completed your tour, be sure to take a gander at the structure at One, Merrion Square. This Georgian structure, where Oscar Wilde once lived, is now a museum.

More information, including tour times, can be found on the Dublin Tourism Board’s website. 

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When visiting any city, we’re always relieved to find free activities to take the burden off our wallet. We’re happy to report that enchanted, moody Dublin offers a wide-range of high class sightseeing opportunities that won’t cost you a euro-cent. Our three faves:

Dublin Castle

For die-hard history buffs, reaching the Dublin Castle is like reaching the legendary pot of gold. The impressive stone castle is perched high atop the center of Dublin, overlooking the city. Tour the 13th-century Norman Tower and take a trip through the halls of its medieval prison. Free guided tours of all buildings on the castle grounds are available daily. Check out this historical landmark’s web site, with its interactive maps, 360-degree panoramic photos, and bite-sized history lessons.

Tip: Leave time for the gift shop where crystal jewelry and one-of-a-kind Belleek china pieces abound.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Old meets new at the impressive national modern art museum, housed in the 17th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, once home to retired soldiers. The museum was founded in 1990 and has been an artfully-big hit in Dublin ever since. As a result of generous donations and grants, its doors open daily for free. (cue: applause) A bit off the beaten path—it would take you about 40 minutes on foot—we highly recommend hopping on a bus and heading west of the city to take advantage of this collection.

Tip: Guided tours are free, but fill up quickly. Phone ahead or email the museum at least three weeks in advance to book a spot.

National Gallery of Ireland

Less of a gallery and more of a giant art consortium, this collection offers masterpieces by Irish superstars and European masters, alike. Free tours and lectures are offered daily and are often pegged to national themes. (Recent offering have included Turner’s influence on 20th-century artists, and the significance of Yeats and his diverse body of work.) The National Gallery is centrally located just off Merrion Square.

Tip: Stick around for a concert! Offerings range from chamber orchestra to quartets highlighting Irish composers. Many, but not all, of the concerts are free.

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Photo by pentimento

Writers, get your pencils, pens, and laptops ready! Every Wednesday, the Irish Writers’ Centre hosts a free Scribblers Corner from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m., a time slot that corresponds with the city’s lunch hour. City residents and visitors alike are welcome.

Each week, writers receive a topic and then spend approximately 20 minutes writing whatever comes into his or her head. At the end of writing time, each participant will read out their work, with no feedback given. Scribblers Corner is not a writing class, but rather a time for writers to become inspired and listen to the work of others in a relaxed atmosphere.

For more information, email the Irish Writers’ Centre.

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Photo by Darklight Festival

The Darklight Festival is Dublin’s premiere festival for filmmakers, animators, and artists. The festival explores work that investigates the intersection of art, film, and technology. This year it will kick off on Friday, June 22, 2007.

In addition to screenings of digital filmmaking, a kids program, a symposium, lectures, workshops, and even virtual activities will round out the festival schedule.

If you are visiting from afar, the festival is happy to recommend hotels near the venues as well as distribute travel information about Dublin. Tickets can be pre-booked, and special student rates will apply if you can produce a valid student identity card when you collect your tickets.

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Photo by Floppy Monkey Puppy Love

Try this for some quick math: 4 days + 22 fabulous restaurants = 1 great culinary event.

This year’s Taste of Dublin will be taking over the city’s Iveagh Gardens for a long weekend of fun and food from June 14 - 17, 2007. In addition to offering the chance to taste the delicacies of some of the city’s best restaurants, this year’s event will also host a Chef’s Demonstration Theatre that will feature some of the UK and Ireland’s best loved celebrity chefs including Rachel and Darina Allen, Nevin Maguire and Antony Worrall Thompson.

Tickets can be booked twenty four hours, and group bookings are available.

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Johnson Castle will once again showcase the world famous Wexford Opera Festival. The festival begins today and will run through June 17, 2007.

This year’s line-up includes three breathtaking shows: Kurt Weill’s Silverlake, a combined performance of Busoni’s Alrlecchino with Stravinsky’s ballet Pulcinnella, and Dvorak’s Rusalka.

Students are in for a special treat this year, as Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency and radio station Lyric FM have teamed up to sponsor 20 student seats for each performance. Student tickets will sell at the reduced price of only €30. Email boxoffice@wexfordopera.com for more information.

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Photo by cassiefornia

If you’re not familiar with the work of Jack B. Yeats, brother of famed poet W.B. Yeats, now is a great time to swing by the National Gallery in Dublin. The Gallery’s impressive collection of oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings by Yeats recently moved from the Dargan Wing to the newly renovated Beit Wing, which was its home from 1999 until its recent move.

The gallery says that the smaller space provides “a more sympathetic scale” in which to showcase its collection of paintings by Yeats, Ireland’s principal 20th century visual artist. We’re no art world copy writers, but we buy it, considering the dreamy, impressionistic tone of Yeats’ work.

Cheapo Bonus: entrance to the National Gallery’s permanent collection is free, as are public tours on Saturdays (3 p.m.) and Sundays (2, 3, and 4 p.m.).

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Photo by Taz Nelson

With a total circumference of over seven miles, the Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe. Now it’s neatly serviced by the LUAS green line, and still boasts totally free entry. There’s no reason anyone visiting Dublin should overlook this urban playground.

The mix of sports fields, polo grounds, gardens, and valleys means that there’s something for everyone at Phoenix Park. Even if you’re not dazzled by the landscape, a quick trip to the Zoo, a glimpse of the Aras an Uachtarain—the Irish President’s house—or a turn about Ashtown Castle will make even the most minute trip worthwhile.

Just make sure you keep your eyes open for stray Frisbees, soccer balls, bikes and kites as the Park can get almost as crowded as the city on sunny days!

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Photo by djmadison41

Now, you can fly direct from the land of Homer to the land of Joyce—and on a budget no less.

Beginning on June 5, 2007, Aer Lingus will be running a new service between Athens and Dublin. Flights can be booked on the Aer Lingus site for travel up through October 27 of this year (2007).

Flights are currently available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The price range, however, is large. We recommend booking as far in advance as possible for the best rates. We found one-way flights starting at €29 and topping out at €195, before taxes.

Prior to the establishment of this route, travelers had to transfer when flying between Athens and Dublin, wasting precious travel time in layovers.

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Photo by SagenVrabel

Attention lovers of the extraordinary! Your world headquarters will soon be set up at Merrion Square Park.

From June 15 through June 17, 2007, this Dublin city center park will play host to the Street Performance World Championship, three days worth of the ordinary, extraordinary, and downright unbelievable. From sword swallowers to bull fighters, this is one competition that will have it all.

Be sure to check out the acts and locate their venues early, as the popular performers are sure to attract a large crowd. And as this is Dublin, remember to bring both your umbrella and your sunglasses—you don’t have to be a fortune teller to know that you’ll probably need both!

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