Dublin 8, Dublin City

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Dublin 8 offers visitors many interesting attractions and things to do and see.  Dublin 8 is home to Phoenix Park (353 1 677 0095), the largest urban park in Europe of 1,752 acres and contains a number of stately homes, such as the Aras an Uachtarian, the residence of the President of Ireland (353 1 677 0095), with guided tours on Saturdays.  The park is home to a large herd of fallow deer, there is a visitor’s centre and bike hire is available. 

Dublin Zoo (353 1 474 8900) is also located in Phoenix Park, where highlights include elephants, lions, tigers and sea lions.  Christ Church Cathedral (353 1 677 8099) is a very popular spot which is Dublin’s oldest building, and includes displays of manuscripts, artefacts and gold. 

Close to Christchurch Cathedral, Dublinia (353 1 679 4611) is a popular attraction which houses fascinating exhibitions revealing glimpses of Dublin’s Viking and medieval and past using reconstructions and interactive displays.  The exhibition is housed in a beautiful neo-gothic building. 

Dublin 8 also boasts one of Dublin’s most important literary and historic buildings, James Joyce House of the Dead (353 1 672 8008), where Joyce set his famous story ‘The Dead.’ 

A darker side of Dublin’s history is well preserved in the Kilmainham Gaol (353 1 453 5984), which gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what it was like to be held here. 

Marsh’s library (353 1 454 3511), offers visitors a glimpse of the oldest public library in Ireland, built in 1701.  The interior remains unchanged since it was built and is a fine example of a 17th Century scholar’s library. 

The Royal Hospital Kilmainham (353 1 612 9900) is well worth a visit, as this magnificent late 17th Century classical building includes a Great Hall, formal gardens, burial grounds and is home to the Irish museum of modern art (353 1 612 9900). 

Included in the number of historical religious buildings well worth a visit are St Patrick’s Cathedral (353 1 475 4817) founded in 1191 and St Audoen’s Church (353 1 677 0088), which is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin. 

Interestingly Dublin 8 is home to the only remaining Guild Hall in Dublin, Tailors Hall, dating from 1796. 

Those interested in Dublin’s literary heritage will enjoy The Shaw Birth Place (353 1 475 0854), the birth place and historic Victorian home of George Bernard Shaw, restored to full detail. 

The Irish Jewish museum (353 1 490 1857) in Portobello is an interesting stop to make, as it located in a former synagogue, with original features and presents memorabilia relating to Irish Jewry. 

The War Memorial Gardens on South Circular Road (353 1 888 3233), provides a solemn commemoration to the 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in the First World War. 

Ireland's most popular tourist attractions is in Dublin 8, the Guinness Storehouse (353 1 408 4800), which is located in the heart of the Guinness Brewery.  The Storehouse exhibition will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the ‘black stuff’, and then you can finish with a pint in the Gravity bar with great panoramic views over Dublin’s skyline.