The Hotel is located in the residential neighbourhood of Ballsbridge, which features manicured private gardens, fascinating architecture and several local pubs and restaurants. The show grounds of the Royal Dublin Society also make for an interesting stroll. Located adjacent to the Hotel, the grounds are home to exciting events, trade fairs and the annual Dublin Horse Show.

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The lush green space of Herbert Park is just a short stroll from the Hotel. With a large duck pond and lovely gardens – including semi-tropical plants and a wide variety of roses – the park is an excellent place for strolling, jogging or simply relaxing. There is also an excellent activity playground for children.

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The Royal Dublin Society is host to a wide range of exhibitions, artists and concerts, but the most important date in its calendar is the Dublin Horse Show, which is held every August.

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In just two hours this award-winning and entertaining “seminar on the street”, conducted by history graduates of Trinity College, explores the main features of Irish history. Learn about the development of Dublin city, the influence of the American and French revolutions, the Great Famine from 1845 to 1849, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, Partition and current peace negotiations. The tour commences at the Front Gate of Trinity College.
May to September: Daily at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
October and April: Daily at 11:00 am
November to March: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 am

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As Ireland is a relatively small country, many destinations are within easy reach and make for outstanding day trips. Among the most popular destinations are Waterford, famous for its crystal making (three hours drive); the 15th-century Bunratty Castle and adjacent Folk Park, in County Clare (five hours drive).

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Housed in the Old Library, the Book of Kells is widely regarded as the most significant illuminated manuscript to have emerged from Europe's Middle Ages. This Latin version of the gospels of the New Testament contains lavish and unequalled illustrations. It is housed in its own museum with interpretive displays providing historical context, as well as a gift shop.
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This majestic building, situated on the quays of the river Liffey, is one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the city. The Custom House was designed in 1791 by James Gandon and has played an important role in Dublin's social, economic and political history. One of the most dramatic events was the fire in 1921, during the War of Independence, which caused extensive damage. The Visitor Centre describes the history of the Custom House and related events in Irish history.

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Founded in 1871 by John Gunne, this theatre continues to host all manner of entertainment, from classic Irish plays and West End shows to concerts and variety acts, as well as pantomimes and opera. The Gaiety Theatre is also used as a late-night weekend club.
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Vibrant and spirited, Grafton Street is alive and entertaining at any time of the day or evening. A pedestrian thoroughfare through the centre of historic Dublin, Grafton Street is both the main shopping zone for the city and the best place to watch impromptu street performers and musicians. At one end of the street is the lovely St. Stephen's Green; at the other, Trinity College and the famous statue of Molly Malone.

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Home of the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Concert Hall is Ireland's most prestigious music venue. It features a program of visiting international artists and orchestras.
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The National Gallery is home to over 2,500 paintings and over 10,000 other items, including drawings, prints and sculpture. It features an extensive collection of Irish art (17th to 20th centuries) and of works from the major schools of European art (13th to 20th centuries). The Milltown Rooms house a collection of exquisite paintings from Russborough House. The new Millennium Wing (opened in 2001) provides a purpose-built exhibition space for visiting exhibits.
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Founded in 1877, the National Library is the largest public library in Ireland. It houses over 500,000 books, as well as maps, prints and manuscripts. The library is also home to the Office of the Chief Herald. The library's public service counter is manned by helpful officials. Admission is free.
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The National Museum of Ireland combines several collections of Irish artifacts and masterpieces. The collections include the Treasury (which exhibits the Tara Brooch, the Cross of Cong and the Ardagh Chalice), Prehistoric Ireland, Viking Ireland, the Road to Independence (1916-1921) and Ancient Egypt. The Celtic Gold collection is a stunning display of gold artifacts dating from Ireland's ancient pre-Celtic past.
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Known affectionately by Dubliners of a previous generation as the "Dead Zoo," the Natural History Museum was opened in 1857 by Dr. David Livingstone. It is crammed with antique glass cabinets displaying stuffed animals from all over the world. The museum has remained virtually unchanged since Victorian times.

Please note - the Natural History Museum is closed for refurbishment until further notice.
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Built to replace the Royal Hibernian Academy of Art, the RHA Gallagher Gallery is one of Ireland's main centres for modern and contemporary art, with constantly changing exhibitions.
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Trinity College was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 on the site of an Augustinian monastery suppressed by her father, Henry VIII, in 1536. Trinity is the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland. The campus comprises many beautiful buildings and is home to the famous Book of Kells, a 9th-century illuminated manuscript, as well as the books of Durrow and Armagh. These treasures are on display in the spectacular Old Library, which houses over 200,000 old books.
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One of only a few specifically commercial theatres in Dublin, Andrews Lane is a well-established venue, hosting both touring provincial companies and international acts, who offer dramatic and musical works.
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The cathedral, founded in 1038 by King Sitric Silkenbeard, is the oldest building in Dublin and sits in the heart of the original medieval city. The church was rebuilt in stone by the Anglo-Norman invaders in the 12th century. It is now the metropolitan church of the Church of Ireland and the seat of the Archbishop of Dublin. Christ Church Cathedral was renovated extensively in the 19th century by the Roe family of distillers, and possesses the finest and largest crypt in the country. There are regular song services by the cathedral's choir.
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Founded in 1191, and built on the site of an ancient spring where it is said that St. Patrick baptized the first Christian converts in Ireland, this is the largest church in Ireland. The cathedral fell into disrepair in the 20th century but was restored thanks to the great generosity of the Guinness family. "Living Stones" is a permanent exhibition that celebrates the place of St. Patrick's Cathedral in the life of the city. The cathedral also has a choir school, founded in 1432, and the choristers sing two services in the cathedral daily.
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Temple Bar is an exciting enclave with pubs, restaurants, shops and galleries. The cobbled streets between Dame Street and the River Liffey are named after Sir William Temple, who acquired the land in the early 1600s. The term "bar" means riverside path.
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Home to the National Theatre of Ireland, this building also houses the Peacock Theatre. The box office is open Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.
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Dublin Castle is located at the heart of the old medieval city, and for several centuries it was the residence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Some vestiges of the original 13th-century castle and moat can be seen during the guided tours. The remainder of the Castle conforms to the shape of the medieval structure, but combines various styles of architecture, as well as reconstructions over the course of seven centuries. On view are the State Apartments, the 19th-century Gothic Chapel Royal and the Undercroft. Visitors can also enjoy the Vault Restaurant, Heritage Centre and craft shop.
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This museum celebrates the great literary heritage of Dublin city. It features the lives and works of Joyce, Wilde, Swift, Sheridan, Shaw, Yeats and Beckett. The museum is situated in a beautiful Georgian house noted for its decorative stained glass windows. The museum also has a special room dedicated to children's literature.
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Since its foundation in 1929 by Hilton Edwards and Michael Mac Liammoir - who were, in fact, English - the theatre has become highly cosmopolitan. It has traditionally shown predominantly European and American dramas, and the Irish content is distinctly Anglo. Orson Wells and James Mason made their acting debuts here. One of the first plays shown here was Oscar Wilde's "Salome."
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The visitor's centre at the St. James's Gate Brewery is devoted to the story of the world-famous stout, Guinness. The self-guided visit includes information on the life of the original Arthur Guinness, the brewing process, advertising, cooperage, transport and Guinness around the world. The price of admission also includes a complimentary pint at the Gravity Bar on the seventh floor (which offers a superb 360-degree view of the city).
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Founded by Sir Hugh Lane in 1908, the Hugh Lane Gallery is located in one of Dublin's finest Georgian buildings, formerly the townhouse of Lord Charlemont. The gallery houses an extensive collection of 19th- and 20th-century pictures from modern masters, including many wonderful Impressionist works. Sir Hugh Lane died on the Lusitania in 1915 and his collection is now divided between the Hugh Lane Gallery and the National Gallery in London. The gallery also houses a permanent exhibit dedicated to the artist Francis Bacon. The contents of his Kensington studio were bequeathed to the gallery after his death, and the studio was faithfully reconstructed on site.
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This was once the principal jail in Ireland, and agitators, nationalists and leaders of successive rebellions against English rule were imprisoned here over the course of two centuries. They included Robert Emmet, Thomas Francis Meagher, Charles Stewart Parnell, Eamon DeValera and the leaders of the 1916 Rising. The prison is unoccupied today but provides visitors with a feeling of what it would have been like to be confined here. The visit includes a guided tour, an audiovisual presentation and an exhibition.

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Built between 1680 and 1684, the Royal Hospital is Ireland's finest 17th-century building. It was founded as a home for wounded soldiers and retained this role until 1927, after which the building fell into serious decline. In 1991 a major restoration project was undertaken and the building was reborn as the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Visitors may also tour the apartments of the Master of the Hospital, including the Banqueting Hall, the exquisite Baroque chapel and the formal French gardens.
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Croke Park is Ireland's largest stadium, seating 82,300, and is home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Founded in 1884, the GAA is dedicated to promoting the games of hurling, football, handball, rounders, and camogie.
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Phoenix Park is one of the world's largest enclosed city parks, covering over 200 hectares (700 acres). The park includes gardens, lakes, a horse racing track, a motor racing track, a cricket pitch, polo grounds, a football pitch, a hurling pitch and the Zoological Gardens. The Visitor Centre explores the history of the park from 3,500 BC to the present. Within the park is the official residence of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain, formerly the Viceregal Lodge.

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Horse Racing Ireland oversees the development of the Irish thoroughbred industry.
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South of Dalkey, the coastal road climbs uphill before tumbling down into the winding leafy lanes around Killiney Village. The route offers one of the most scenic vistas on this stretch of the east coast. Howth Head is clearly visible to the north, with Bray Head and the foothills of the Wicklow mountains to the south.

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The gardens of Powerscourt House are probably the finest in Ireland, due to both their design and dramatic setting at the foot of the Great Sugarloaf Mountain. Originally built in 1731 on the site of a Norman castle, the house was designed by Richard Castle. The gardens are Italianate, with a large lily-padded lake and whimsical statuary.
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Ireland has a strong horse-racing culture, and thanks to its non-elitist image, the sport is enjoyed by all. Much of the thoroughbred industry centres around the Curragh, a grassy plain in county Kildare, which stretches unfenced for more than 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres). Most of the major flat races, including the Irish Derby, take place at the Curragh racecourse just east of Kildare.
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The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough, the "valley of the two lakes," are home to one of Ireland's most atmospheric monastic sites. Most of the buildings date from the 8th to the 12th centuries, and many were restored in the 19th century.
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There is little traffic in the Wicklow mountains to disturb the enjoyment of the exhilarating scenery of rock-strewn glens, high forest and bogland where heather gives a purple sheen to the land.

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