Dublin: The Fairest of Them All?

Once upon a time, Dublin was the hub of the Irish Republican Army and their struggle to free themselves from the clutches of the British. It was the rallying point for the likes of Podraig Pearse and Eamon De Valera, the capital of Ireland and the scene of some of the most disturbing struggles for freedom in the history of the world. Now, it is a city where drunken stockbrokers go for a stag weekend and the “craic”.

The image of Dublin as, essentially, party central is not incorrect. There is no doubt that the capital of the Republic of Ireland is a brilliant place to have a night out, enjoying the fun – or “craic”, as English and American tourists like to say, while the Irish shy away from this phrase – of the notorious Temple Bar and sampling the world famous Guinness. Yet Dublin is so much more than that, a fact rarely appreciated by the weekend crowd who see it nothing more than a larger night club.

Dublin is one of the most charming cities on the face of the planet, and deserves a little more credit than the booze-fuelled weekends it is becoming synonymous with. As well as the moving stories of the Easter Rising in 1916, where Ireland battled with Britain to be free from their oppression regime, there city has hundreds of years of history dating back to before Christ.

The city is also a hub for fans of literature. Over the years, the city has been the home of many world famous writers, including Oscar Wilde and Dracula author, Bram Stoker. In fact, one can visit the house and street where Dracula, the forerunner to the vampire fiction of today, was actually written.

Dublin is also host to distilleries and museums celebrated that favorite Irish past-time: drinking. Factories and museums of Dublin’s two most famous exports, the stout drink Guinness and whiskey, can be visited and enjoyed. Each tour of the distillery ends with a tasting session; thankfully, a taxi rank is located outside for convenience of the less than sober visitors who must find their way home!

Simply, look beyond the night life and one soon discovers a Dublin of historical and cultural significance… all of which can be taken in with a night on the town, of course.