SIGHTS TO SEE
The National Museum, National Library and National Gallery are located very close to one another, near Government buildings in Dublin 2. All three are worth a visit, not least because they are free of charge!
* National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 6777444 (marketing@museum.ie, fax: +353 1 6777450). Open 10AM to 5PM Tue to Sat and 2PM to 5PM on Sun, closed Mon, Christmas Day and Good Friday. Archaeology and History. Free entrance.
* The National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2 (DART Pearse Station will get you to within five minutes from the Gallery.), ☎ +353 1 6615133 (info@ngi.ie, fax: +353 1 6615372). Open 9:30AM to 5:30PM Mon to Sat (till 8:30PM on Tue) and 12PM to 5:30PM on Sun. Closed on Good Friday and between 24 and 26 December.. Free entrance.
* Irish Museum of Modern Art, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, ☎ +353 1 6129900 (info@imma.ie, fax: +353 1 612 9999). Open 10AM to 5:30PM from Tue to Sat (opens 10:30AM on Wed), 12PM to 5:30PM on Sun and Bank Holidays. Closed on Mon.
* The Old Library at Trinity College, College Green, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 896 2320 (adiffley@tcd.ie, fax: +353 1 896 2690). Open 9:30AM to 5PM Mon to Sat, 10:30AM (12AM Oct to Apr) to 5:30PM on Sun. The book of Kells is a highlight €8.00.
* Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 677 7129 (info@dublincastle.ie, fax: +353 679 7831). Guided Tour Prices €4.50, alternative Tour of Chapel Royal & Undercroft €3.50.
* Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 407 0750 (info@cbl.ie, fax: +353 1 407 0760). Open 11Am to 5PM Sat, 1PM to 5PM Sun, 10AM to 5PM Mon to Fri. Closed on Mon from Oct to Apr. Contains a wide selection of early books and manuscripts, including sacred texts and manuscripts. European Museum of the Year 2002. Free entry.
* The Bram Stoker Museum, Clontarf Rd, Dublin 3 (Take the DART to Clontarf station, this will leave you beside the museum.), ☎ +353 1 805 7824 (info@thebramstokerdraculaexperience.com). Open 4PM to 10PM Fri, 12PM to 10PM on Sat and Sun. A frightening tour through the life of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. Very good indeed. €7 for adults, €4 for children and €5 for students and OAP.
* Christ Church Cathedral, Christ Church Place, Dublin 2, ☎ +353 1 677 8099 (email@cccdub.ie). dating back to the 11th century, is the oldest building in Dublin, though it underwent a massive restoration in the 19th century. Particularly interesting is the crypt, which predates the cathedral. Connected to the cathedral is the exhibition "Dublinia", which contains a great deal of information about Dublin during the middle ages.
* Kilmainham Gaol. Open Apr to Sep 9:30AM to 5PM daily, during Oct to Mar 9:30AM to 4PM Mon to Sat and 10AM to 5PM Sun. The prison where the 1916 rebels were executed. It is located slightly outside the city center and can be reached by local bus. Guided tours leave every 30 minutes and are very interesting. It is well worth a visit if you are in any way interested in history. Adults: €5.30, senior and groups: €3.70, children and students: €2.10, family €11.50.
* Phoenix Park, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, ☎ +353 1 677 0095 (phoenixparkvisitorcentre@duchas.ie, fax: +353 1 672 6454). The largest enclosed urban park in Europe. Includes a polo field and Dublin Zoo. The residences of the President of Ireland and the US Ambassador are situated in the park, but are not open to the public. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the herd of wild fallow deer that inhabit the park!
* Dublin Zoo, Welington/Zoo road (info@dublinzoo.ie). Open Mon to Sat 9:30AM to 4PM in winter and 6PM in summer. Adults: €14.00, student and OAP Student: €11.50, children €9.50, family from €40.00 for 4 to €49.00 for 6.
National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, ☎ +353 1 804 0300 (botanicgardens@opw.ie, fax: +353 1 836 0080). Open daily Nov to Jan 9AM to 4:30PM and Feb to Oct 9AM to 6PM.
* Leopardstown racecourse, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 (From Dublin city center, follow the N11 south, turn right into the R113 (Leopardstown Road), the racecourse will be on your left), ☎ +353 1 289 0500 (info@leopardstown.com, fax: +353 1 289 2634). Located in the southern suburb of Leopardstown/Foxrock, there are regular meetings throughout the year. There is a "Pay as you Play" golf course within the racecourse grounds, as well as bars, restaurants and a nightclub (Club 92) €12-55, with reductions for students and OAPs.
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