A conference in Dublin

Old Apr 25th, 2004, 10:33 AM
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A conference in Dublin

I have to spend a couple of days in Dublin this week, with the usual limited free time that allows.

What would you do with a stolen hour or evening?
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Old Apr 25th, 2004, 10:46 AM
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The best thing in Dublin in my opinion is The Book of Kells- in Trinity College.
At night, go to the Temple bar area and have a Guiness.
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Old Apr 25th, 2004, 11:59 AM
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The Chester Beatty Library Galleries.

Partly because it's, IMHO, the absolute best small museum in the British Isles. Beats the Wallace Collection, the Ashmolean or the Fitzwilliam - and even the Burrell, though Sheila would never admit it - hollow. The collection of early (2nd century AD!!) scraps of the New Testament are gobsmacking. And the Korans are aestheticaly stunning

Partly because it's inside the precincts of Dublin Castle, which was THE symbol of London government.

Culture and a nationalist hate object rolled into one.

Personally, I'd rather listen to a George Bush speech than hang round Temple Bar with the English stag and hen nights, and Dublin Guinness isn't that much better than you can get at the bar of the Commercial Hotel, Cowdenbeath, any night of the week.

Dublin is, though, the second best theatre centre in these islands, and a few minutes with the theatre section of the Irish Times should throw up a couple of good things, if a friendly Dubliner doesn't pop up on the board with an up to date recommendation
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Old Apr 25th, 2004, 01:02 PM
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I'm obliged to you both. If no-one else answers a word, my free time is full.

I'd never have thought of he Book of Kells, tho' I have two books on the subject here in the house.

I do quite fancy a folk music session. Does anyone know of a good pub for that?
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Old Apr 25th, 2004, 06:49 PM
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Sheila, two more suggestions. High tea at the Shelburne Hotel and whatever's playing at the Abbey Theater. We were lucky to see a revival of the "Playboy of the Western World." I've stayed away from high tea in the states and the UK, but it seemed like an appropriate thing to do at the Shelburne.
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Old Apr 25th, 2004, 11:59 PM
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Hi Sheila,

We enjoyed the music upstairs in Gogarty's. You can't miss it - it's painted a bright yellow & occupies a prominent corner site in the heart of Temple Bar. I've only ever been in there at weekends, however, so I don't know what goes on during the week, which I guess is when you'll be there.

Actually, it might be a little more comfortable as it can get VERY busy on a Friday/Saturday night. My impression is that stag/hen nights are less of a problem than they used to be, but maybe a local like SiobhanP can confirm that.

All the best,

Jim
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Old Apr 26th, 2004, 12:24 AM
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I'd second Flanneruk's vote for the theatre. Unfortunately you've just missed two fantastic Opera productions - Tosca and Jenufa. They have been playing alternate nights for the last week or so and finished last night. What I would highly recommend you go and see is Dancing at Lughnasa at The Gate. I haven't seen it this time, but I saw it a few years ago and it was fantastic.

With regards to Temple Bar, I'm not sure if it's still frequented by stag and hen parties. To be honest, I haven't been to Temple Bar in years...and I don't know of anyone else that has been there in years either! It's not really somewhere that the locals go! You will, however, find live music - places like The Temple Bar and Oliver St John Gogartys would probably be the best places to try. Another place that is heavily marketed for an "oirish" night out is the Arlington Hotel - live music, irish dancing, etc...but, again, it's for tourists only!
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Old Apr 26th, 2004, 12:34 AM
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Worth visiting are the National Museum (www.museum.ie) and The National Gallery (www.nationalgallery.ie) which are only a short walk from Grafton Street.Admission is free.The Gallery has a painting by Vermeer,one of only 40 in the world,as well as a Caravaggio.The museum has a wonderful collection of gold objects,some of them thousands of years old.
 
Old Apr 26th, 2004, 01:44 AM
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My entire post disappeared!!!!!

Ok here is the condensed version

Chester Beatty Library - Largest collection of Asian Art in Europe and beautiful/fascinating. Cafe great for lunch, Med/Arabic influenced food and the best coffee in Dublin in my opinion. Strong and rich.


Dancing at Lughnasa at the gate would be a great evening out.

The IFI (Irish Film Institute) is showing Mexican filmas this week and other foreign films. Nice food and good for a drink inside as well.

The Goghery is fine for music and the one I would reccommend as well as the MUsical pb crawl that starts there at 7:30 most nights.

Bo Staghs or hens during the week but I would not hang out in temple bar. I would go for some of thepubs off grafton street like McDaids (By the westbury hotel) or Keghoes (SP?)on s. Anne Street or a cocktail in the Fitzwilliam Hotel or the Clarence hotel.

The National Gallery (Nassau St Entrance) is lovely for a stolen hour as well as the National Museum on Kildare Street (Beautiful old viking gold etc)

Have fun

Siobhan
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