| Dublin is considered to be one of Europe's most | | | | 3. Temple Bar - This area of narrow medieval |
| friendly, lively and accessible cities and draws a | | | | streets located on the south bank of the river |
| great number of tourists and holiday makers each | | | | Liffey is home to some of the cities best night |
| year. If you are planning a Dublin city break this | | | | spots and restaurants and can get extremely |
| year, this short guide to five of the Irish Capitals | | | | lively after dark. During the day tourists can visit |
| most popular attractions should be of interest. | | | | the gallery of photography and national |
| 1. The Guinness Storehouse - It would be difficult | | | | photographic archives as well as the Irish film |
| to write an article on Dublin without mentioning | | | | centre and Temple bar gallery. Nighttime in |
| Guinness, and in a city containing over 1,000 | | | | Temple bar is all about eating drinking and having |
| drinking establishments it's perhaps fitting that | | | | fun and tourists should receive a friendly welcome |
| Dublin's most popular tourist attractions is the | | | | from the locals. |
| Guinness storehouse. Here visitors can trace the | | | | 4. Trinity College - Founded in 1592, Trinity College |
| 250 year history of the black stuff and enjoy a | | | | is Ireland's oldest university. The university |
| pint in the gravity bar, the highest bar in Ireland. If | | | | campus has plenty of interesting buildings including |
| you are very fortunate, you could be one of the | | | | the printing house and the dining hall but the |
| 100 visitors each week selected to start the | | | | College's main attraction is the book of Kells. The |
| brewing of the next batch of Guinness. | | | | book is an ornate and lavishly decorated |
| 2. Dublin Castle - Built in the early thirteenth | | | | manuscript produced by Celtic monks in 800AD |
| century, Dublin castle is one of the oldest | | | | containing the four gospels written in Latin. |
| surviving structures in the city. The castle was | | | | 5. Kilmainham Gaol - Another must see for the |
| the centre of English power for over 700 years | | | | tourist wanting to learn more about Dublin's past. |
| until it was returned to the new Irish Free State | | | | This disused prison is now a museum and has |
| Government in 1922. For those interested in Irish | | | | played an important part in Irish history as the |
| history a tour of the castle is a must. Highlights | | | | leaders of the 1916 Easter rising were held and |
| include the Chapel royal, the undercroft and the | | | | executed at the prison. Visitors can take a guided |
| state apartments, originally built as the residential | | | | tour of the cells and prison yard led by well |
| and public quarters of the Viceregal Court. | | | | informed and knowledgeable tour guides. |