How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Dublin
| VITAL INFORMATION | |
| Population | 505, 739 |
| Languages spoken | English |
| Currency | Euro (EUR); 1 EUR = (appr.) 1.52 USD |
| Average temperature | Summer: 68°F; Winter: 46°F |
| High season | May to July |
Since Saint Patrick's passing in 461, the Irish have used March 17th as a day to remember one of their patron saints. Nowadays, St. Patrick's Day is a full-blown celebration that rings true with Irish descendants (and non-descendants) all over the world. We thought we'd explore Ireland in the days leading up to the big event and show you how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
March 15th: Irish History Lessons
A flight to Dublin Airport leaves visitors a scant six miles from the city. Taxis and buses are available for convenient transport to Dublin, while a special railway is currently under construction. However you choose to travel, you can sit back and enjoy your new surroundings.Once you get to Dublin, you'll notice that the legendary Irish pubs are never more than a stone's throw away. Luckily, there are also plenty of hotels to choose from. One of Dublin's most famous pads is The Clarence, whose history goes back to 1852. Suffering from a weakened image in the mid-'90s, it was renovated by new owners Bono and The Edge, and the result retains The Clarence's traditional Irish architecture while offering guests supreme hospitality. It also houses The Octagon Bar, where a stiff drink is never difficult to come by. For a cheaper alternative, drive 20 minutes outside of the city to the Marine Hotel. Built on a garden acreage, this scenic dwelling offers a countryside feel with easy access to golf courses, such as the nearby Royal Dublin.
Beer is tops on our Dublin tour, but not for drinking just yet. The first stop is the ever-popular Guinness Storehouse, where, every year, 4 million visitors go to see how Ireland's famous beer is made. The building itself is constructed in the shape of a Guinness pint and visitors can learn about the history of the beer and its creator, Arthur Guinness. If you travel to the top of the "pint," you can get a free pint from The Gravity Bar and a bird's eye view of the city.
Medieval history is waiting at Dublin's Trinity College Library, home of the one-of-a-kind Book of Kells manuscript. While some people might balk at visiting a manuscript, this one dates back to approximately 800 A.D., when monks created it by hand and infused it with their own illustrations. Carefully preserved for thousands of years, two volumes with the original Latin text are available for public display. Most of the pleasure comes from seeing the colors, which make up all but two pages of the four Gospels.
For dinner, Irish cuisine is on the menu, courtesy of Gallagher's Boxty House, in the eclectic Temple Bar district. The friendly staff, live music and very Irish atmosphere will whet your appetite for some tasty local cuisine. We'd recommend one of the Boxty dishes, which are potato pancakes stuffed with delicious fillings.
It's time to finish off your first night in Dublin with the Parisian deco style of Cafe En Seine, one of the hippest nightspots on the continent for single guys and pretty young things. The musical ambience varies, with jazz and big band music being popular styles, while patrons can bask in the company of 40-foot trees and French architecture. Selected as the Jameson Pub of the Year in 2002, Cafe En Seine is still going strong, and so are you with only one more night left until St. Patrick's Day.
March 16th: Phoenix Park and J. Joyce
Your second day in Dublin recalls St. Patrick's Day colors. To clarify, you’ll surround yourself with greenery in Phoenix Park, a 1700-acre paradise that is one of the world's largest sealed parks. Originally used for hunting wild game, Phoenix became a public park in 1747 and has since played host to concerts and motor racing. It's also where the Irish President makes his home. Phoenix boasts the almost 180-year-old Dublin Zoo, one of the world's oldest, which currently houses 700-plus animals and birds. Other stops in the park should be made at the Wellington Monument (a tribute to the Duke of the same name) and the Ashtown Castle, a restored house that is connected to the Phoenix's visitor headquarters. All the walking and fresh air will leave you hungry, so visit the nearby Halfway House for some traditional carvery; there's lots of local flavor in the roasted meat and vegetables, as well as in the pub’s visitors.For the afternoon, head south to the Martello Tower in Sandycove that celebrates the life of James Joyce. A museum since the '60s, it's the same tower where Joyce briefly stayed in 1904, when he penned Ulysses. Here, you'll see the same familiar sights that Joyce described in the book. There are also old letters and personal items that once belonged to Joyce, like wallets, guitars and ties -- some of them gifts from Samuel Beckett and Sylvia Beach. For more James Joyce goodness, there's also Dublin's James Joyce Centre, which is operated by his sister's relatives.
This night’s dinner comes courtesy of Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. Located in a restored Georgian townhouse in the city's business district, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is a fine-dining establishment rather than a traditional pub. Lauded with acclaim from the Michelin Guide, Chef Guillaume Leburn's menu modernizes traditional dishes with fresh produce, homemade breads and tasty wines. Trust us, if you try the Lobster Ravioli, you might not leave.
Send off your second night on Wexford Street in Whelan's, a musical hotspot since 1989. The design recalls a mix of Celtic style and Italian Renaissance, and there are popular fixtures like a permanent beer-drinking statue that is conveniently located at the bar. Whelan's friendly aura is matched only by its notable musical history. Visitors can count on a variety of live music every week, with Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley and Damien Rice being among the venue's past performers. Whelan's is just the place to prepare for tomorrow's big party.
March 17th: St. Patrick's Spectacle
The big day is here, so start things off in the city center for the two-hour St. Patrick's Day Parade. This event features bands, theater groups and pageants, with observers watching from street level or grandstand seats. Each year brings a new theme, and 2008’s just happen to be “energy.” While pageants stay within the theme, they still carry their original aura, with marching polar bears, robots and bees being part of this year's collection. The marching bands come from as far as the United States, Japan and Italy.
The Earlsfort Terrace hosts Ceili Mor, an afternoon St. Patrick's Day celebration of Irish dancing. The free festival averages close to 10,000 people each year, making it one of the largest of its kind. Dancers perform a variety of structured dances, such as line dancing and round dancing, but be warned that if you're attending, you'll also be participating. The infectious music will help you find your feet and the 2008 sounds come courtesy of the Matt Cunningham Ceili Band, a popular group in their home country and abroad.
For dinner, try Bang Cafe on Merrion Row -- it’s simple in style, but exquisite in food. Contrary to its name, Bang is known for having a relaxed and leisurely paced atmosphere. Since its inception, Chef Lorcan Cribben has been turning local ingredients, organic food and free-range meats into delicious creations. While wine and beer can be good with entrees like the Fillet of Roast Turbot, Bang's cocktail menu might be your best bet, with three different types -- "Aperitifs,” "Shots” and "Sweeteners" -- to choose from. Just make sure to reserve your table in advance, especially for this occasion.
Although the 2008 St. Patrick's Day evening includes a concert by Mary Black and a live performance by traditional Irish band Kila, we'd suggest that you hit Dublin's oldest and wisest pub instead: The Brazen Head, open for business since 1198. Located near the Guinness Brewery, the pub covers three rooms, with two dedicated to live music. The bar's unique look features low ceilings, fireplaces and crooked doorways. Pictures on the walls show off the pub's history and patrons can enjoy a St. Patrick's Day pint in the courtyard. Remember to walk outside for an ideal view of Skyfest, the St. Patrick's Day fireworks display. With a drink in hand, fireworks in the sky, and festive people around you, there's no doubt that you’ll have celebrated St. Patrick's Day in the right place.
tips for the trip
- The actual date for recognizing St. Patrick's passing changes depending on conflicts with Holy Week -- it moves to March 15th in 2008, for instance -- but March 17th is always Ireland's day to celebrate.
- Check out Leo Burdock's, an institution for fish and chips for nearly 100 years. Tom Cruise and Liam Neeson have visited Burdock's in the past.
- If you're a night owl, you might try the Gaiety Theatre. The spacious venue hosts musicals, live bands and is the latest nightclub in town, closing at 4.a.m.
a st. patrick's day adventure
No matter where you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, nothing quite compares to spending it in Dublin. If you can't make it to Ireland this time, be sure to sample a Guinness, wear the appropriate colors, and be merry. The friendly and festive folks of Ireland will thank you for it.Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.theclarence.ie/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186605-d212661-Reviews-Marine_Hotel-Dublin_County_Dublin.html
http://www.boxtyhouse.ie/
http://www.dublintourist.com/details/trinity_college_library_the_book_of_kells.shtml
http://www.brazenhead.com/
http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/home.html
www.visitdublin.com
www.dublinevents.com
www.frommers.com
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk
www.tasteofireland.com
www.dublinpubscene.com
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