Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/586302
KIERAN CATHCART WEARS HIS PASSION FOR IRISH HISTORY ON HIS SLEEVE. W hen asked to comment on the value of exploring Dublin and the towns and villages within an hour of the city, Kieran didn't hesitate. "Visitors will be absolutely amazed by the opportunity to breathe in the history of the country and get a true sense of what being Irish is all about." And there's no secret in revealing that in Dublin's neighbourhood, there is a ton of activities to enrich your stay. Martin Harte echoed these sentiments. As the Director of the Temple Bar TradFest— the annual end-of-January festival of traditional and folk music, Harte described the popularity of the folk group Beoga, by suggesting, "If you could bottle their energy and drink it, you'd live forever." And you know, as I explored Dublin and the neigh- bouring centres of Newgrange, the Boyne Valley, Glendalough, Wicklow, Malahide and Howth, I quickly came to realize Harte's comment was a fitting tribute to the irre- sistibly amazing experience that Dublin and its neighbours provide. Creativity has no bounds when it comes to the thrill of discovering Ireland. Based on your own level of comfort and curiosity you can walk, hike, cycle, kayak, climb, dance, toe-tap, munch, quaff, ride horseback, rent a car, hire a guide, take a bus or ride the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit). IRISH GEMS Dublin is a great place to begin, with a vir- tual compass of activity covering the area north of the River Liffey (O'Connell Street, the Millennium Spire, the Abbey Theatre); to the west (Jameson's Distillery); on to the south (Grafton Street, Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, St. Patrick's Cathedral); and out to the Silicon Docks area in the east, where Facebook and Google share the neighbourhood with ultra-chic buildings, such as The Marker Hotel and the Daniel Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre. DUBLIN'S IRRESISTIBLE NEIGHBOURHOODS BY STEVE GILLICK DREAMSCAPES FALL/ WINTER 2015 12 TOP: Built in the 18 th century, Dublin Castle was the seat of the United Kingdom government's administration in Ireland until 1922. Rob Durston/Fáilte Ireland BELOW: Time for a bicycle tour of Dublin. Tourism Ireland