Those glory days left a lasting imprint on the city. Largely rebuilt during this Georgian era, Dublin became elegant and cultured. The British Empire was on a roll, and the city was right there with it. The Golden Age of English Dublin was the 18th century. As the seat of English rule in Ireland for over 700 years, Dublin was the heart of the “civilized” Anglo-Irish area (eastern Ireland) known as “the Pale.” Anything “beyond the Pale” was considered uncultured and almost barbaric.purely Irish. Traveling like a temporary local, you’ll get the absolute most out of every mile, minute, and dollar.įounded as a Viking trading settlement in the ninth century, Dublin grew to be a center of wealth and commerce, second only to London in the British Empire. It’s my hope that this guide will make your trip more meaningful and rewarding. To travel smartly, read this little book in its entirety before you go. Practicalities, near the end of this book, has information on money, staying connected, hotel reservations, transportation, and more. Connections, with tips on trains, buses, and driving.Sleeping and Eating, with good-value recommendations in every price range.Orientation, including tourist information (abbreviated as TI), tips on public transportation, local tour options, and helpful hints.Planning Your Time, with advice on how to make the most of your limited time.To help you have the best trip possible, I’ve included the following topics in this book: Pious, earthy, witty, brooding, feisty, and unpretentious, Dublin is an intoxicating potion to sip or slurp-as the mood strikes you.įor a break from the big city, venture to sights near Dublin: the prehistoric tombs at Brú na Bóinne, the site of the pivotal Battle of the Boyne, the stout ruins of Trim Castle, the impressive Gardens of Powerscourt, the monastic settlement at Glendalough, and the proud Irish equestrian tradition at the National Stud. Stroll vibrant O’Connell Street for a lesson in Ireland’s long struggle for independence, cheer on the local hurling team at Croke Park, and pore over the intricately decorated ninth-century Book of Kells. From its lively pubs filled with Guinness-fueled craic (conversation) and traditional music, to its stately Georgian sights, to its powerful rebel history, the Irish capital delights its visitors. His fiddle spoke for him.This Snapshot guide, excerpted from my guidebook Rick Steves Ireland, introduces you to the city of Dublin. My only negative criticism would be that the fiddler on the night I attended was so soft-spoken that it was sometimes difficult to understand what he was saying. All-in-all, a low-key way to learn something true about Ireland and to have a good time while doing so. The cost of the entertainment is reasonable the pressure to buy drinks and a CD as you "crawl" round the pubs is non-existent. His Traditional Irish Music Pub Crawl, however, is one of the winners: a kind of seminar featuring two musicians, a fiddler and a guitarist three pubs much music and song (jigs, reels, - and lessons in how to tell the difference - ballads, a come-all-ye or two), lots of craic. For instance, in his Ireland 2014 edition he sells the Bunratty Castle banquet short and praises the really awful Trad-on-the-Prom in Galway City. Have been a Rick Steves fan ever since Arthur Frommer could no longer afford Europe on $5-a-day, and have found some of his (Steves') recommendations very good and others not-so-hot.
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