Ten locks west along the Grand Canal from Dublin. Robertstown is a characteristic 19th century canal side village, with warehouses and cottages flanking the waterfront, freight barges plied the route until about 1960, but pleasure boats have since replaced them. Visitors can take barge cruises from...
The spine of Dublin’s most popular and stylish shopping district runs south from Trinity College to the glass-covered St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. At the north end, at the junction with Nassau Street, is a bronze statue by Jean Rynhart of Molly Malone, the celebrated...
A little to the West of the city centre, ringed by a wall 11km (7 miles) long, is Europe’s largest enclosed city park. Phoenix Park is over 1700 acres in size. The name “Phoenix” is said to be a corruption of the Gaelic Fionn Uisce,...
Completed in 1802 by James Gandon, this majestic building was virtually gutted 120 years later during the Irish Civil War when government forces bombarded anti-Treaty rebels into submission. The adjacent Public Records Office, with documents dating back to the 12th century, was destroyed by fire. In...
Despite its location close to the old walled city, this part of Dublin remained virtually undeveloped until the founding of Trinity College in 1592. Even then, it was almost a hundred years before the ancient common land further south was enclosed to create St Stephen’s...
In amongst the produce stalls and family-run stores in the warren of streets to the west of O’Connell Street stands what was once one of the most important society church’s in 18th & 19th century Dublin. Dating back to 1697, its design is usually credited...
Originally one of three ancient commons in the old city, St Stephen’s Green was enclosed in 1664. The 22 acre green was laid out in its present form in 1880, using a grant given by Lord Ardilaun, a member of the Guinness family. Landscaped with...
A few minutes’ walk west of the village, is an irregular battlemented structure dating from 1564, but much restored by Francis Bindon in 1738 (his portrait of Swift hangs in the Castle) and by Morrison and Lutyens (1911) who added the pseudo-medieval west tower. Seat...
Beautifully situated on the River Lee, Cork City is after Dublin and Belfast, the 3rd city of Ireland with long established Choral, Film and Jazz Festivals. The rich farmland of Cork (the largest of the 32 counties) is separated by the Ballyhoura, Galty and the...
O’Connell Bridge, named after the founder of Irish nationalism, Dan O’Connell, the Liberator (who’s statue by Foley, appears on the extreme right), is the principal bridge across the Liffey. Once known as Carlisle Bridge it was rebuilt in 1794 and again in 1880. Stand long...