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| Things To Know
Finding Your Way
The Heart of Dublin The Ha'penny Bridge |
The Heart of Dublin South of O'Connell Bridge is the brimming heart of Dublin. From the south side of the bridge, walk down Westmoreland Street to College Green, a frantic concentration of traffic that initially detracts from the stupendous buildings that surround it. Admire the neoclassic splendor of the Bank of Ireland and the elegant entrance to Trinity College, through which you can escape to the crowded but relaxing college campus. Otherwise, carefully cross College Green to the south and then continue past the buxom statue of Molly Malone, heroine of the famous “Cockles and Mussels” refrain, wheeling her cart in the midst of Dublin shoppers. The statue has become cheerfully known, through irrepressible Dublin wit, as “The Tart with the Cart.” Ahead lies pedestrian-only Grafton Street, crammed with interesting stores and delightful side streets on both sides. Expect street performers of all kinds, from guitarists and mime artists to harpists or half an orchestra of music students. Stop at Bewley's Coffee House, a famous Dublin institution. Head east to Leinster House, seat of Irish government, and to the National Museum and National Gallery. Beyond these lie the 18th-century Georgian splendors of Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Street. Alternatively, go west from Grafton Street along store-lined Wicklow Street, then on to Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral; or head back north across Dame Street and into Temple Bar, the rejuvenated old riverside district that is the exciting focus of Dublin by night. Vary your Dublin experiences. Enjoy Temple Bar's restaurants and lively streets like Crow Street and Crown Alley, or visit St. Patrick's Cathedral on Patrick Street, where Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was dean. Enjoy outstanding drama at Dublin's Abbey Theatre on Abbey Street, or classic Irish entertainment at the Olympia on Dame Street. Above all, visit Dublin's famous pubs for great music and talk. There is a quicker, sharper edge to the Irish here, as befits a busy, cosmopolitan city. |
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