The Westbury

Temple Bar is situated between Dame Street and the river Liffey, and stretches from the Bank of Ireland (Old Parliament) building to Christchurch Cathedral. The area was earmarked for demolition in the 1980s to make way for a central bus and rail station, but through concerted effort and protest was saved and redeveloped as an entertainment and cultural quarter. At times at victim of its own success, the 18th century cobbled streets are home to a variety of bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and galleries. The area is undeniably lively and this is particularly the case at the weekends when crowds of young revellers can get pretty boisterous! That said, the area has several notable restaurants and some great bars and live music venues. The Irish Film Institute, the Project Arts Centre and the Gallery Of Photography / National Photographic Archive are all very worthy cultural enterprises. Meeting House Square is home to a farmer’s market on Saturdays. The square is also used regularly over the summer months for outdoor film screenings. (See the website for details.) The more recently developed Cow Lane / Old City area close to Christchurch Cathedral showcases the latest trends in Irish fashion and interior design. All in all, the area holds something for every visitor and is a rewarding area to wander in for a morning or afternoon any time of year.

The Joyce Centre is located a short distance away from the Writers Museum on what was once one of the grandest addresses in the city. The exhibit caters to true died-in-the-wool Joyce fans, and is devoted to a greater understanding of and interest in his life and works with displays on the structure of his great novel Ulysses. The centre also organises walking tours to locations in the city associated with Joyce. Call the centre for exact dates and times. Visiting Hours: Mon-Sat: 9.30am-5.00pm Sun: 12.30am-5.00pm

The ‘College of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity’ was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I on the site of an Augustinian priory suppressed by her father, King Henry VIII in 1536. It is the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland. The campus is arranged around a series of traditional quadrangles providing a haven of peace and quiet amidst the bustle of the city centre. Alumni include Jonathon Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. The college is home to one of Ireland’s greatest treasures, the famous Book Of Kells – a 9th century illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels. This and other treasures are on display in the Long Room of the Old Library Building, which also houses 200,000 volumes of old and rare books. Visitors should also view the 18th century Chapel located in the Front Square with its magnificent plastered ceiling and organ. The University also has a wonderful selection of public sculptures including a Henry Moore and Pomodoro’s Sphere outside the Berkeley Library. Over the summer months guided tours are available from the stand at the Front Gate. College souvenirs and clothing can be purchased through the Student Union Shop on Front Square. Visiting Hours: Mon-Sat: 09.30am-5.00pm Sun (October-May): 12.00noon-4.30pm / Sun (June-September): 9.30am-4.30pm

Arthur Guinness acquired the brewery at St. James’s Gate in 1759 and began to brew the famous “black stuff”, a stout with a distinctive creamy-white head. The World of Guinness Exhibition is housed in a 19th century warehouse building. There is an audiovisual presentation on how the stout is made, an overview of Guinness advertising over the decades and finally a chance to taste the product in the breathtaking, glass-enclosed Gravity Bar where visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. A gift store sells lots of Guinness memorabilia and other souvenirs. Visiting Hours: Mon-Sun: 9.30am-5.00pm

The mission of the Library is to collect, preserve and make available books, manuscripts and illustrative material of Irish interest. Users of the Library include those engaged in long-term research, others who may wish to view a book or newspaper article or those with a specific once off need. The National Library is open, free of charge, to all those who wish to consult the collections for material not otherwise available through the public library service or an academic library. A Reader’s Ticket is necessary in order to consult most categories of material. The Library does not lend books and reading is done in the various reading rooms. There is also a copying service and it is possible to get photocopies, photographs, slides, or microfilm of most items in the collections. The Library has an ongoing programme of exhibitions. The Genealogical Office, the Office of the Chief Herald in Kildare Street, and the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar are all part of the National Library. Visiting Hours: Mon-Wed: 9.30am – 8.30pm Thurs & Fri: 9.30am – 4.45pm

A day at Dublin Zoo offers visitors a voyage of discovery in the heart of the city. Where else would you be able to see elephants in the forests of India, lions on the plains of Africa and penguins feeding on the fringes of the Arctic? For younger visitors the highlights of any visit will be the keepers' “Tiger Talk” (11.15am), “Chimpanzee Chat” (12pm), and “Sea Lion Splash” (2.15pm) - check online for availability. Follow the footprints and spot our Asian elephants herd on our new Kaziranga Forest Trail. A unique experience in Ireland, the restaurant includes a small colony of inquisitive meerkats observing unsuspecting visitors! Dublin Zoo works in partnership with zoos worldwide, making a significant contribution to the conservation of the natural diversity of life on earth. Visit Dublin Zoo for a unique, fun, wild experience close to the city centre! Visiting Hours: Daily: 09.30am-4.30pm (Sunday 10:30am-5.00pm

The gallery is home to the over 2,500 paintings and 10,000 other works that make up the National collection. There is an extensive display of Irish works including the paintings of Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet W.B. Yeats. In addition every major European school is represented. Pride of place is given to the Beit Collection of paintings generously donated to the gallery by Lord and Lady Beit of Russborough House, and the recently discovered and restored Caravaggio masterpiece The Taking Of Christ. The gallery has an excellent self-service café and gift shop. Visiting Hours: Tues-Sat: 10.00am-5.00pm Sun: 2.00pm-5.00p

Farmleigh is an estate of 78 acres situated to the north-west of Dublin's Phoenix Park, It was purchased on behalf of the Government in June 1999 and developed in order to provide accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation. Farmleigh remains a unique representation of its heyday, the Edwardian period. Edward Cecil Guinness first Earl of Iveagh, the great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, built Farmleigh around a smaller Georgian house in the 1880's. Many of the artworks and furnishings he collected for Farmleigh remain in the house on loan from the Guinness family to the State. The Benjamin Iveagh collection of rare books, bindings and manuscripts is held in the Library. The extensive pleasure grounds are a wonderful collection of Victorian and Edwardian ornamental features with walled and sunken gardens, scenic lakeside walks and a range of plants that provide both visual and horticultural interest throughout the seasons.