Historical Attractions
Guinness Storehouse
The new Guinness Experience, which opened in December 2000, is located in the heart of the Guinness brewery in Dublin.
Often surprising, always entertaining, the adventure begins the moment you walk through the door and into the building's giant, pint shaped heart of glass.
As you wander up through Guinness Storehouse, you'll discover what goes into making the Black Stuff- the ingredients, the process, the passion.
Old Jameson Distillery
The Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield Village is in the heart of Old Dublin.Irish whiskey can trace its history back to the 6th century. Almost like a tour of a working distillery you can follow the fascinating craft of whiskey making.
Finally the tour culminates in the Jameson bar for a traditional Irish whiskey tasting. Tour includes: Audio Visual Presentation, Guided Tour of Old Distillery and Whiskey Tasting.
Restaurant and Gift Shop open every day.
Dublin Zoo
The Zoo is set in 30 acres of landscaped grounds around ornamental lakes where over 700 animals and tropical birds from around the world can be seen.
A daily "Meet the Keeper" and feeding programme operates which gives you the opportunity to learn about the many rare and endangered species that live in Dublin Zoo. Be sure to visit the New World of Primates and see the monkey islands. Fringes of the Arctic features polar bears, snowy owls and arctic foxes.
Afterwards take a train ride around the Zoo.
Croke Park
The GAA Museum at Croke Park is designed to facilitate an experience of an integral part of Irish life and heritage through an exploration of its culture, history and unique national sports.
Historic exhibits and databanks give you an insight of the past. Touchscreen technology brings you the historic moments, the great names and games.
Specially designed interactives allow you to test yourself in the skills of Ireland’s most popular games.
Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle, set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, was both a fortress and a private home for nearly 800 years and is an interesting mix of architectural styles.The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery.
Many additions and alterations have been made to this romantic and beautiful structure, but the contours of the surrounding parklands have changed little in 800 years, retaining a sense of the past. The grounds are also open to the public and appeal to all visitors, young and old.
The Casino
The Casino is considered to be one of the finest 18th Century neo-Classical buildings in Europe. It is located at Marino, just off the Malahide Road and only 3 miles north of the centre of Dublin.
Designed by Sir William Chambers as a pleasure house for James Caulfield, 1st Earl of Charlemont, The Casino, meaning "small house", surprisingly contains 16 finely decorated rooms.
It is a box of tricks, full of illusions and appears to be bigger on the inside than is conveyed from its external structure.
Newbridge House
This delightful 18th Century manor is set on 350 acres of park land, 12 miles north of the city centre and boasts one of the finest Georgian interiors in Ireland.
Each room open to the public has its own style of antique and original furniture-indeed the house appears more or less as it did 150 years ago.
The house was built in 1737, to a design by Richard Castle, for the Archbishop of Dublin. The grounds also contain a 29 acre traditional farm.
National Gallery
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1854, the National Gallery first opened its doors to the public in January 1864. At the time of it inauguration there were just 125 paintings in the collection (the first purchase was 15 paintings bought in 1856 in Rome).
Today the collection boasts some 3,000 paintings and approximately 10,000 other works in different media including watercolours, drawings, prints and sculpture.
There is a most attractive self service restaurant in addition to the Gallery Shop during Gallery hours.
Please ask at our main desk for more information
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral stands on the oldest Christian site in Dublin where, it is said, the Saint baptised converts to the Christian faith in a well beside the building. Because of this sacred association with St. Patrick, a church has stood here since 450 A.D. In 1191 that old church was replaced by the present building, the largest church in Ireland.
The famous Jonathan Swift who was Dean of St. Patrick's (1713-1745) is buried in the Cathedral beside Stella. Also to be found are old Celtic grave stones, medieval brasses and tiles; the medieval Chapter House door with a hole in it, dating from 1492, which gave the phrase "chancing your arm" to the English language.
Trinity College
Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, the College is in an enviable position in the very heart of Ireland's capital and in 1992 celebrated 400 years.
Trinity College, on its 40 acre site retains some of its ancient seclusion and its cobbled squares and gardens and parks have a tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustling streets outside.
The college is famed for the great treasures it has the honour to be guardian of. These include the Book of Kells, a 9th century illuminated manuscript, the books of Durrow and Armagh and an early Irish harp.These are displayed in The Colonnades exhibition Gallery and the Long Room which is the most impressive library in the College housing over 200,000 of Trinity's oldest books.
The Book of Kells ‘Picturing the Word’ exhibition places the manuscript in its historical and cultural context and permits the visitor to view the Book of Kells in much greater detail than is normally possible.
