Things To Do and See

 

Pre & Post Conference Tours

In addition to being a wonderful location for a Conference, Dublin and Ireland offer plenty of choice for those of you who may wish to take a break and arrive a few days early or stay on for a while.

Abbey Conference & Corporate has a specialist division who will be happy to assist you in arranging your itinerary, car hire, accommodation etc for pre/post conference trips. Please contact jana@abbey.ie with your request.

 

Chester Beatty Library

The Chester Beatty Library and Galleries are situated in the gardens of Dublin Castle in the heart of the city centre. The Library's collections are displayed in two permanent exhibitions: "Sacred Traditions" and "Artistic Traditions". The "Sacred Traditions" Gallery exhibits the sacred texts, illuminated manuscripts and miniature paintings from the great religions and systems of belief represented in the collections, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism with smaller displays on Confucianism, Daoism, Sikhism and Jainism. The Biblical Papyri, the remarkable collection of Qur'an manuscripts and scrolls and books of Buddhist thought provide the focus for the displays.
Chester Beatty Library website

Christ Church Cathedral

The Dean and Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral welcome visitors to Dublin's oldest building – the mother church of the dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland. The Cathedral was founded in the year 1030 by Sitruic, King of the Dublin Norsemen. Christ Church Cathedral is one of Dublin's oldest and most recognised landmarks. Dating back to the eleventh century, the cathedral and the exhibition "Treasures of Christ Church" reflect 1000 years of history, architecture and worship in Ireland. The choral services are sung by the cathedral choir, which traces its origins to the choir school founded in 1480 and is famous for the taking part in the first performance of Handel's Messiah. Treasures of Christ Church display a unique range of manuscripts, historic artefacts and spectacular examples of gold and silverware. Christ Church Cathedral holds a series of concerts, recitals and talks every year.
Christ Church Cathedral website

Gallery of Photography

Ireland's only gallery exclusively devoted to photography stocks a wide selection of unusual postcards and books. Services available include restoring and copying old photographs and dark room rental. The gallery exhibition programme illustrates existing and emerging talent from a diverse area of documentary to mixed media installations – and is structured around groups, theme and one-person shows. The Gallery is non-profit making and funded by the Arts Council and Dublin Corporation. In addition to revenue from sales, prints etc. the Gallery relies on sponsorship and support from members.
Gallery of Photography website

Irish City Multi-Lingual Tours

Hop on board Dublin's first and only language tour. Enjoy the sights of Ireland's capital city with audio commentary in 7 languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian & kid's commentary). Your Language Tour ticket is also valid on the Dublin City Sightseeing Tour, which means you can enjoy unlimited travel on the Hop on Hop Off tour (with 24hr valid tickets) allowing you to really explore one of Europe's most popular short break destinations.
Irish City Tours Multi-lingual website

IMMA – Irish Museum of Modern Art

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. The museum presents a wide variety of art in a dynamic programme of exhibitions, which regularly includes bodies of work from its own collection and its award-winning Education and Community Department. It also creates more widespread access to art and artists through its Studio and National programmes.
IMMA website

Irish Pubs

From famous trad sessions to the atmospheric Johnnie Fox's high in the Dublin Mountains, Ireland's numerous old-fashioned bars and pubs are some of the best in the world. A combination of creamy pints of stout, lively local characters, wonderful music and dance, great "craic" means you'll never want to leave. In addition to many traditional and welcoming pubs, Dublin now offers a variety of wine bars and modern and chic restaurants. Now matter what your taste, there's a bar/pub in Dublin for you!

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what it was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishment and correction between 1796 when the jail opened and 1924 when it closed, and it offers a panoramic insight into some of the most profound, disturbing and inspirational themes of modern Irish history. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, leaders of the 1916 Rising and DeValera are associated with the gaol. The visit includes a guided tour (in English) and exhibition.
Kilmainham Gaol website

National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland was founded by an Act of Parliament in 1854 and opened to the public in 1864. It houses some 13,000 works of art, comprising the most important and representative collection of Irish and European master paintings. Among the Irish artists represented are James Barry, Nathaniel Hone, William Orpen, Roderic O'Conor, and Louis le Brocquy, while the European collection is represented by well-known artists such as Fra Angelico, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Poussin, Vermeer, Goya, Murillo and Gainsborough. Complementary to the permanent display is a National Portrait Collection and a special room dedicated to the artistic works of Jack B. Yeats and his family.

The last decade of the Gallery has witnessed major expansion and refurbishment, most recently with the opening of the Millenium Wing. The Gallery runs a regular programme of exhibitions, education and family activies.
National Gallery of Ireland

National Museum of Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is divided into four main sections/buildings, three of which are present in Dublin.

Visit the Archaeology Museum on Kildare Street or the Decorative Arts & History Museum in the Collins Barracks on Benburb Street. The Natural History Section on Merrion Street is currently closed until further notice.
National Museum of Ireland website

Phoenix Park

The largest city park in Europe – Phoenix Park has several monuments including the Wellington Testimonial obelisk and the Papal Cross, which marks the site where Pope John Paul II preached to over a million people in 1979. There are broad expanses of grassland and avenues of trees including oak, beech, pine, chestnut and lime. Fallow deer can be seen roaming the forested areas. The park also features playing fields for Gaelic Football, hurling and polo, plus running, cycling and horse riding trails.
Heritage Ireland website

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's is the National Cathedral of Ireland and is built on the site where St Patrick preached. There was a small church on the site which was still in existence when the Anglo-Normans arrived. This church was replaced with a stone church in 1191 and it was further remodelled in 1225 to the same design as Salisbury Cathedral. Ireland's first university was founded at St. Patrick's in 1320 and intermittently operated for 200 years. St Patrick's is Gothic in style and its splendid interior, is adorned with funeral monuments, such as The Boyle Family Memorial and the grave of Dean Jonathan Swift. Swift was dean here until his death in 1745. The Chancel has ornate stained-glass windows, and spectacular choir stalls, once used by the knights of St Patrick adjoin the Altar. The massive west towers house a large peal of bells whose ringing tones are so much part of the character of Dublin.
St. Patrick's Cathedral website

St. Stephens Green

Ireland's best know public park is in the heart of Dublin City. It was re-opened for the citizens of Dublin in 1880 by Lord Ardilaun and the original Victorian layout has been maintained. Over 3.5km of pathways are accessible for all users. The park offers a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers and wildlife. Furthermore a number of sculptures are located throughout the green and the park is often popular for art exhibits.
Heritage Ireland website

 

Temple Bar

In the 18th century the area was home to many craftsmen and artisans until post-war industrialisation led to a decline in the area. Nowadays, this quarter in the heart of Dublin City does not only offer some of Dublin’s best night spots, traditional pubs, busy restaurants, inviting cafes, bustling markets and unusual shops but along the cobbled streets you will also find a variety of cultural venues such as the Irish Film Institute, the Gallery of Photography and the Project Arts Centre.
Temple Bar website or http://www.tascq.ie/

 

Trinity College "Book of Kells"

Trinity College Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, the college is in an enviable position in the heart of Ireland's capital. Its forty acre site retains most of its cobbled squares and other world seclusion. The gardens and parks have a unique collection of buildings dating from the 17th to the 20th century. The "Book of Kells", a 9th century illuminated manuscript of the four gospels, is on view in the Old Library. The Book of Kells "Turning Darkness into Light" exhibition also includes information on the Book of Durrow, the Book of Armagh, the Book of Mulling and the Book of Dimma.
Trinity College website