Ten great reasons to visit Ireland

Molly Malone

The song ‘Cockles and Mussels’ is the unofficial anthem of Dublin city. The song’s tragic heroine Molly Malone and her barrow have come to stand as one of the most familiar symbols of the capital. The statue of Molly Malone is located on Suffolk Street, just a short walk from Trinity College and Grafton Street. Molly Malone worked as a fishmonger but also as a working girl and died in one of the outbreaks of Cholera that regularly used to sweep the city of Dublin. The statue of Molly and her cart is affectionately nicknamed ‘The Tart with the Cart’ by Dubliners.

Moore St Market

Moore Street Market is an open-air fruit and vegetable market, which is held from Mondays-Saturdays. This colourful and lively street is a must for visitors wishing to experience a slice of life and get a flavour of Dublin through the wit of its people. The Moore Street accent, with its typical Dublin street cries, is widely celebrated.

Stroll along Grafton Street

Running from Stephen’s Green in the south to College Green in the north, Grafton Street is one of the busiest streets in Ireland and one of Dublin’s most prominent shopping districts. It is full of high street and up-market shops, department stores and shopping centres and is the perfect place to stroll along as you window shop, or pause to watch one of the many buskers and street performers.

Many of Ireland’s biggest music acts such as singer/ songwriter Damien Rice, Academy Award Winner Glen Hansard and AngloIrish band Keywest started out busking on Grafton Street.

Dublin Zoo

Located in Phoenix Park, in the heart of Dublin City, Dublin Zoo is Ireland’s most popular family attraction, and welcomed over one million visitors last year. As one of the world’s oldest zoos, the 28-hectare park is home to some 400 animals in an environment where education and conservation combine for an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Dublin Zoo is much more than a fun-filled, stimulating day out for all the family...it’s a place to learn about wild animals, especially those which are endangered. The zoo is a registered charity – your visit will help maintain Dublin Zoo and contribute to conservation programmes.

Marvel at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. The building is a busy place that serves as a place of worship, a visitor attraction and as a host for many events. As the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years.

Get a photo at the Spire

The huge, striking and innovative monument stands in the middle of O’Connell Street just across from the famous GPO. 120m high and 3m in diameter at the base, the Spire rises above O’Connell Street, breaking above the roof line with as slender and elegant a movement as is technically possible. The Spire is approximately 15cm in diameter at its apex. The upper part of the Spire sways gently when the wind blows, reflecting the character of the city’s climate. The monument’s tip can sway up to a maximum of 1.5m under extreme wind loading; don’t be too alarmed if you’re nearby when this happens!

Take a tour at the Jameson Distillery

The new look Jameson Distillery Bow St. offers three fully guided experiences: Bow St. Experience, The Whiskey Makers, and The Whiskey Shakers - all of which have a firm focus on immersive storytelling. You’ll be invited to touch, smell and most importantly, taste Jameson in the original Bow St. Distillery buildings. An exciting part of their Whiskey Makers & Whiskey Shakers experiences is a visit to their live Maturation Warehouse, where you’ll get to taste Jameson straight from the barrel.

Take a walk over Ha’penny Bridge

The Ha’penny Bridge is the best-known and most photographed of Dublin’s bridges. It was built in 1816 and was the first iron bridge in Ireland. It is a single span structure with cast iron railings and decorative lamps. It was originally named the Liffey Bridge but is now called the Ha’penny because until 1919, to cross it there was a half-penny charge.

Explore Dublin Castle

Erected in the early 13th century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland. In 1922, following Ireland’s independence, Dublin Castle was handed over to the new Irish government. It is now a major government complex and a key tourist attraction.

General Post Office

Located on O’Connell Street, The General Post Office (GPO) was the last of Dublin’s prominent public Georgian buildings to be built. Completed in 1818, the GPO still serves Dublin as a post office and a notable landmark.

The GPO is one of Ireland’s most famous buildings, given its role in the 1916 Easter Rising. The building served as the headquarters for the Easter Rising and got heavily damaged in the fighting. Heralded as a symbol of Irish independence, the GPO houses a small museum on the building’s place in Irish life.