Sheathed in acres of rolling green expanses, Phoenix Park is one of the largest city parks in Europe. This massive verdant swathe lies nestled in the west of the city, and is a mixture of wilderness and formal landscape gardens. Dotted with tree-cloaked boulevards, pristine tracts of grassland and open recreational spaces, the park is also home to some monumental, nationally significant edifices, too. The Ashtown Castle calls the park home, in addition to the towering Papal Cross which marks the visit of Pope John Paul II back in 1979, the stately Áras an Uachtaráin, the Wellington Monument which is a soaring tribute to the Duke of Wellington, and the teeming Dublin Zoo, are all nestled in its scenic, idyllic expanse. Among the many recreational activities offered here are Gaelic football, polo and cricket. Also enclosed within its viridescent fabric is a vibrant burst of plant life, while a bird sanctuary and a herd of fallow deer coexist in peaceful harmony. Playing host to an array of events, festivals as well as racing events, Phoenix Park is a massive window into the unbridled natural beauty and strategic finesse of Ireland.
Bray Head, which can be found in the County Wicklow by the Irish Sea, is a headland that forms a part of the Wicklow Mountains. This headland is a popular tourist attraction and a landmark in the city of Bray which is visited by people from all across the country. A beaten path takes you to the top of the hill providing a stunning view of the sea and the scening surroundings along the way. On top of Bray Head is a concrete cross, named the Holy Year Cross, that was placed there in 1953. During the ocassion of Good Friday, a procession attended by hundreds of devotees climb Bray Head with Holy Year Cross being the destination.
The Dublin Castle symbolized English rule for 700 years, ever since the Anglo-Normans built their fortress on this site. Later, the castle was to serve as the headquarters of the English-appointed Viceroy of Ireland. It was not until 1922 that it was finally handed over to the Irish Free State. The castle's apartments shelter opulent, wonderfully-decorated rooms, while carpets of rolling, formal gardens lend it an alluring aura. Sheltered within the castle's fabric are insignia and collectibles of historical interest, like a stately throne donated by King William of Orange and a variety of banners of the now-disbanded Knights of St Patrick. The Castle is very much a working series of buildings; it is used for State functions and many government agencies are based here. It forges a synergy of history and art, hosting an array of exhibitions centered around the same. The castle grounds are also home to the magnificent Chapel Royal and the splendid Chester Beatty Library. A window into the country's monumental, medieval past, this mighty castle is indeed one of the most priceless possessions of Dublin.
Official residence of the President of Ireland, this sprawling white edifice sits gracefully on verdant, rolling lawns of the massive Phoenix Park. Built in 1751 as a rather luxurious home for the park ranger, the house became the residence of successive viceroys, who oversaw British rule in Ireland. In 1938, it became home to the president of the newly-independent Ireland and today, welcomes some 15,000 visitors each year. Priding itself on its moniker 'The Irish White House', this residence is home to a massive assemblage of ornate rooms, sprawling quarters and a decadent chapel. A picture-perfect edifice replete with great Irish fervor, Áras an Uachtaráin is beautifully ornamented with columns, a framed pediment, a poised portico and gardens, the flowers of which are enlivened with bursts of color come summer. 'The Áras' has gracefully aged well over 260 years, and is indefinitely one of the most priceless possessions of Dublin.
A visit to a graveyard may not be your idea of a jolly day out, but Glasnevin Cemetery is one of the most fascinating places in Dublin. It is the final resting place of some of the most famous figures in Irish history, including former Irish presidents Eamon de Valera and Sean T. O'Reilly. Other political heroes buried in its atmospheric grounds include Michael Collins, Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell and Roger Casement. The graves of literary figures such as Gerard Manley Hopkins and Brendan Behan can also be found. Buy a heritage map to find the key graves. Admission is free.
An Post Museum gives a unique and wonderful insight in to the history of one of Ireland’s oldest and most respected institutions, the Irish Post Office. It celebrates the influence that the Irish Post Office has had on Irish society, politics, transport and technology. From stamps and mail boats to the role of GPO staff on Easter Monday 1916, Letters, Lives and Liberty tells the story of how the Post Office has played a vital role in the development of Irish society over the generations. Visitors can see the finest examples of Ireland's first ever stamps in spectacular color and detail.
The Grangegorman Military Cemetery is found on Blackhorse Avenue adjacent to Pheonix Park in the Irish city of Dublin. Opened in 1876, it is the largest war cemetery in Ireland and contains the graves of soldiers and their families from those killed in the Marlborough barracks and Crimea to soldiers of World War I as well as soldiers of the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence between 1919 and 1921. Graves of Dublin Fusiliers are of the highest number and many Sherwood Foresters and South Staffs are also found here. The Irish National War Memorial Gardens that commemorates the 49,400 Irish soldiers killed in World War I is found only a kilometer (half a mile) away.
St. Doulagh’s Church is located in the Fingal region of Ireland. One of the oldest religious buildings of Ireland, the church is one of the two religious institutions that fall under the “United Parishes of Malahide, Portmarnock and St Doulagh’s”. Dating back to the early 12th Century, the church is one of the most renowned tourist spots of the region. This beautiful stonework is a complex structure which includes a pool-house made with stone. The church, in fact, is one of Ireland’s only existing standalone baptistery.
Sheathed in acres of rolling green expanses, Phoenix Park is one of the largest city parks in Europe. This massive verdant swathe lies nestled in the west of the city, and is a mixture of wilderness and formal landscape gardens. Dotted with tree-cloaked boulevards, pristine tracts of grassland and open recreational spaces, the park is also home to some monumental, nationally significant edifices, too. The Ashtown Castle calls the park home, in addition to the towering Papal Cross which marks the visit of Pope John Paul II back in 1979, the stately Áras an Uachtaráin, the Wellington Monument which is a soaring tribute to the Duke of Wellington, and the teeming Dublin Zoo, are all nestled in its scenic, idyllic expanse. Among the many recreational activities offered here are Gaelic football, polo and cricket. Also enclosed within its viridescent fabric is a vibrant burst of plant life, while a bird sanctuary and a herd of fallow deer coexist in peaceful harmony. Playing host to an array of events, festivals as well as racing events, Phoenix Park is a massive window into the unbridled natural beauty and strategic finesse of Ireland.
This small Dublin church has a colorful reputation that it may or may not actually deserve. Built by Fr. John Spratt in 1825, Whitefriar's was designed by Sir George Papworth, who was also responsible for building the St Mary's Pro-Cathedral the previous year. Although the claim has recently been questioned, Whitefriar's claims to possess the remains of St. Valentine. According to the story, Spratt visited Rome in 1835, met Pope Gregory XVI and was given the remains as a gift. The church now boasts a specially designed altar and shrine as well as a statue designed by Irene Broe depicting Saint Valentine holding a crocus plant - the symbol of spring.
Maynooth Castle is located near the National University of Ireland (South Campus). It is a major tourist attraction and no visit to the city is complete without a stop here. It belonged to the Fitzgerald family during the 12th Century. Constructed at the confluence of two streams, it was one of the largest castles of the country. Today, only the Gate House and the Solar Tower survive, as much of the structure was damaged during the Eleven Years War.