Visitor Attractions

Dublin Castle
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Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin. In fact the city gets its name from the Black Pool - 'Dubh Linn' which was on the site of the present Castle garden. The Castle stands on the ridge on a strategic site at the junction of the River Liffey and its tributary the Poddle, where the original fortification may have been an early Gaelic Ring Fort. Later a Viking Fortress stood on this site - a portion of which is on view to visitors at the 'Undercroft'.
The south range houses the magnificent State Apartments that were built as the residential quarters of the viceregal court. They are now the venue for Ireland's Presidencies of the European Community, Presidential Inaugurations and State Functions. The State Apartments, Undercroft and Chapel Royal are open to visitors.
www.dublincastle.ie

Dublin Writers Museum
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The Irish literary tradition is one of the most illustrious in the world, famous for four Nobel Prize winners and for many other writers of international renown. In 1991, the Dublin Writers Museum was opened to house a history and celebration of literary Dublin.
Situated in a magnificent 18th century mansion in the north city centre, the collection features the lives and works of Dublin's literary celebrities over the past three hundred years. Swift and Sheridan, Shaw and Wilde, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett are among those presented through their books, letters, portraits and personal items. The museum holds exhibitions and readings and has a special room devoted to children's literature. The Dublin Writers Museum is an essential visit for anyone who wants to discover, explore or simply enjoy Dublin's immense literary heritage.
www.visitdublin.com

Dublin Zoo
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DUBLIN ZOO...GO WILD!
Dublin Zoo is Ireland's No. 1 family visitor attraction. Visitors can explore the African Plains, which has doubled the size of the Zoo and is home to giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, cheetahs, lions and chimpanzees. Discover World of Cats, World of Primates, Fringes of the Arctic and City Farm and be sure to take a trip on the Nakuru Safari in the African Plains! For a unique, fun and wild experience just a few minutes from the city centre, visit Dublin Zoo!
Dublin Zoo is about fun, learning, and of course, conservation. Dublin Zoo works in partnership with zoos worldwide to make a significant contribution to the conservation of the natural diversity of life on earth. The Zoo participates in global breeding programmes that help to ensure the continued survival of endangered species. By visiting Dublin Zoo, you are contributing directly to the continued care of the animals.
www.dublinzoo.ie

Guinness Storehouse
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A visit to the home of Guinness is the high point of any trip to Dublin. At the Guinness Storehouse you'll discover all there is to know about the world famous beer. It's a dramatic story that begins over 250 years ago and ends in Gravity, the sky bar, with a complimentary pint of Guinness and an astonishing view of Dublin City! A visit includes: Brewing/Advertising/The Arthur Guinness Story/Copperage/Transport/Guinness/Around the World/Bars/Store.
www.guinness-storehouse.com

James Joyce Centre
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The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting an understanding of the life and works of James Joyce. The James Joyce Centre provides the casual visitor, student and scholar alike with a rewarding and memorable experience. Join us for a walking tour of historic Dublin and take in some of the monumental and ordinary sights and sounds of the city in which Joyce staged all his works. Walking tours are available at 11am and 2pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and by arrangement. Come in to enjoy our two new exhibitions. With the generous support of the National Library of Ireland, the Joyce Centre is the new home to highlights from the Library's 2004-2006 landmark James Joyce & Ulysses exhibition. Through interactive installations and three films, you may delve into the novel, its historical backdrop, its publishing controversies and learn more about Joyce's life. The Centre also hosts International Joyce, an exhibition originally organised by the Cultural Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. This panel-based exhibition provides a wonderful introduction to the life and works of James Joyce as well as his legacy. Stop by for a Lunch and Lecture in our newly opened Cafe Ulysses. Joyce spent much of his creative life in Paris, and we've brought a little of that atmosphere to the Centre. Come and listen to an introductory talk on themes of special Joycean interest while you enjoy an authentic French meal, or stop by anytime, savour a coffee and pastry and take in a tour of this fine Georgian house.
www.jamesjoyce.ie

Irish Museum of Modern Art
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The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. The Museum presents a wide variety of art in a dynamic programme of exhibitions, which regularly includes bodies of work its own Collection and its award winning Education and Community Department. It also creates more widespread access to art and artists through its National and Artists' Studio programmes. The Museum is housed in the magnificent, 17th century Royal Hospital building, whose grounds include a formal garden, meadow and medieval burial grounds.
www.imma.ie

The GAA Museum & Croke Park Stadium Tour
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Founded in 1884, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is Ireland's largest sporting and cultural organisation. Croke Park is the home of Ireland's unique national games of hurling and gaelic football. A visit to the GAA museum at Croke Park facilitates an interactive experience of an integral part of the fabric of Irish life and heritage. Historic exhibits and databacks provide an insight to the past. Touchscreen technology brings you the historic moments, the great games and names. Specially designed interctives allow you to test yourself in the skills of Ireland's most popular games. In addition to the museum you may tour Croke Park, the fourth largest stadium in Europe. The tour offers an in-depth look at one of the most historic and modern sporting arenas in the world and includes the dressing rooms, corporate suites, VIP section, media centre and, of course, pitch side.
http://www.gaa.ie/museum

Trinity College
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Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1, the College is in an enviable position in the very heart of Ireland's capital. Trinity College has produced many famous graduates over the centuries including Edmund Burke, Oliver Goldsmith (whose statue stand outside), Johnathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. The College distinguished itself by admitting female students to degrees as early as 1903. With its wide squares and gracious buildings, Trinity is an oasis of quiet encircled by busy streets. Its oldest surviving block, the Rubrics, dates from Queen Anne's time.
http://www.tcd.ie