Trifter

When looking for a break and wanting some fresh nightlife Dublin is not the first place you think about.

We always seem to associate it with Irish dancing and Guinness. However since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Irish Republic the scene is developing and Dublin is a city that is coming of age.

Like must of the worlds major cities Dublin is becoming quite cosmopolitan and the gay quarter is no exception.

There is only one bar/club in the city that is a dedicated gay venue but many others have gay nights.

The George is one of the cities only dedicated gay venues. According to the website I checked out they charge about 6 euros per shot/mixer so take it easy.

If you want to eat out then try The Odessa Lounge and Grill. This is a very stylish eatery that usually gets busy on a Saturday evening so the best option might be to book a table.

A good buy for those wanting to experience what Dublin has to offer would be The Dublin Pass. With this you can get free admission to 27 of Dublin’s top visitor attractions. These include castles, museums and art galleries but remember to check the opening times of your desired attractions before purchasing your Dublin Pass. You can either order online at www.dublinpass.ie/dublinpass/convenience/ and have it delivered to your address before your trip or pick it up on arrival at the tourist office. A one day pass will cost you 35 euros per adult and 19 euros per child.

For you shopaholics there are many malls with a wide selection of boutiques. You fashion lovers will want try Grafton Street. You will find many high street names here. You will also find Henry Street to have a selection of high street names too. For the bargain hunters O’Connell Street is where you will find boutiques which will suit your taste.

Culture and History

If you want a bit of local culture you will find that there is a selection of museums and old style pubs and the famous Guinness factory tour.

The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street is a place which has a collection of prehistoric gold artefacts or Irelands Gold it’s standard opening times are Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm and 2pm-5pm on Sundays and closed on Mondays including bank holidays. You can experience prehistoric Ireland.

This is a city which has many cultural attractions. It is rich in history and has pride in a long tradition in music. You can get a true experience of Dublin if you immerse yourself in it’s rich, vibrant culture.

Temple Bar is located on the south side of the River Liffey. It is home to more than 50 cultural organisations.

Also this is a city with lots to see and many historical landmarks. These include the house of Oscar Wilde located at no1 Merrion Square, however you cannot go inside to look around because this site has been annexed by the American College. You can however go and visit a statue of the genius in Merrion Park.

Away from the City

To escape the hostel and bustle of the city you might want to pay a trip to Ireland’s eye. This Island is quite small and has no inhabitants. It is home to allsorts of wildlife and is reached regularly by tourist boats from the mainland. It located just a mile from the coast and directly north of Howth Harbour.

Getting there

Dublin is just a short flight from the UK and Ryanair have flights from selected UK airports with prices starting from around £19.99 each way. For full details check out the website www.ryanair.com.

Getting around

There are a number of rail links to Dublin. The best one for getting around in the city is the Dart which serves the towns along Dublin Bay. The LUAS a modren light rail transit system will give links to Sandyford and Tallaght.

Where to stay

The Skylon Hotel is situated 3km north of the city centre. Staying there will keep close to all the major city centre attractions. Facilities here include:

• 126 rooms 38 of which are superior deluxe executive
• Bar and lobby areas with Wi-Fi access
• Parking facilities
• A restaurant where you can get a Irish breakfast.

Rates for this hotel start from 48 euros. To find out more visit www.dublinskylonhotel.com

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Airport transport

Airlink buses link the airport to the city centre route 747 goes via Central Bus Station and Connolly Rail Station. Route 748 goes via Heuston Rail Station, Connolly Rail Station and Central bus station. Full details are available from www.dublinbus.ie/home/.

All prices are correct at the time of doing research but may be subject to change.