Advantages: History melds with modern-day use
Disadvantages: None at all

...Dublin Castle is a historic gem which has the added advantage of being used for modern government ,in a town renowned for appreciating its diverse and interesting history. A visit to Dublin Castle is enhanced by the energetic and enthusiastic tour guides. You wait in a reception room, for the appointed time, and then a guide joins you for a very professional group tour to share a look back in time, with a difference. What sets Dublin Castle apart from others is that it is still used as a seat of power, a conference centre and a historic and has the most impressive Chester Beatty Library. It is a visitor attraction but government and council business is operating from here, all the time. In the International Conference Centre the suite is used for Ireland's hosting of the Presidency of the European Union. A highlight... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly, smiley & relaxed people
Disadvantages: Rain and more rain!

...Dublin Since I'm here to travel, I thought that I should actually write about travelling instead of eating and drinking. We went to Dublin in January this year, and had a fantastic time. Our flights cost £55 each return (incl. taxes) from Heathrow to Dublin on Aer Lingus. We booked online - www.aerlingus.com. The flights themselves were pretty good, with no delays and friendly service, which makes a pleasant change from Air France. Plus, our bags arrived with us this time (see previous review on Air France). The only thing about Aer Lingus is that you have to pay for the food onboard - the flights are cheap for a reason, but the food onboard is not. However, don't let that put you off - the flight only lasted an hour, so if you can't go without eating or drinking for that long (like the MOTH) then I would recommend taking... Read review

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Advantages: Great way to see the city if you're short of time
Disadvantages: Not a lot

...~ ~ Many people who visit the “Fair City” of Dublin these days do so on short or weekend breaks. In fact, only last year Dublin gained the premier spot as the most popular weekend holiday destination in Europe, overtaking both Paris and Amsterdam for the first time. If you are one of these “short break” visitors, it is very easy to allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the vast array of attractions that vie for your attention, and with your time limited, it is almost impossible to fit in everything you would like to see or visit. ~ ~ Dublin Bus, the semi-State company that run the public transport system here in Dublin, have been the subject of much critical debate over the general effectiveness of their city service over the last few years, but one initiative that they have introduced is truly superb... Read review

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Advantages: Good reading
Disadvantages: Using references a fair bit.

...Dubliners is a collection of short stories by James Joyce, 15 in all, written about the people and places in Dublin.(Oddly enough) James Joyce (1882-1941) was born in Dublin to a middle class catholic family, whose social and economic status declined during Joyce's youth and adolescence. "Dubliners" Joyce himself remarked, was meant to reveal the paralysis at the heart of Irish society. Each of the 15 stories deals with a different aspect of Dublin life. Joyce claimed there was a structural progression followed, from childhood to adolescence through to adulthood and private life. (Though this is disputed by some) If you know little about Joyce, as I did, this is an excellent place to start finding out. I wasn't really going to bother, I thought until my wife collected enough i Points to afford a trip to Dublin. The ferry we went... Read review

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Advantages: A wonderful City
Disadvantages: None that I can think of.

...My Mother wasn’t born in Ireland, (like an old song says), but my Grandmother, (my Father's Mother), was born in Dublin. Her Family arrived there in 1493 when they fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. We decided to visit Dublin for a few days. We were going to Israel via Amsterdam and in those days it was cheaper to fly from Amsterdam to Dublin than it was from London. We flew on Aer Lingus for a little over an hour. Dublin is the capital city of Erin, (the Gaelic name of Ireland). The currency then was the punt or the Irish pound,(they use the Euro now). The official language is Gaelic but English is used as well. Dublin’s population is just under one million people. We stayed at the Drury Court Hotel near St. Stevens Greens the first night and then had to move to the Fitzwilliam Hotel, (for the next 2 nights). It is near... Read review

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Advantages: Low cost travel there, friendly, party city, speak English
Disadvantages: Sat. night taxis!

...Having visited Dublin about 10 times in the last year ( to see my gorgeous girlfriend) I guess I'm suitably qualified to advise on a Dublin weekend by now. 1. Travel> Boat Unless you live close to Holyhead, get on a plane to Ireland. I have been by boat twice and the cost for one person (sometimes 2 or 3)is more than the plane. Boats take between 1.5-3 hours depending on which one you take. I think Irish Ferries and Stena operate the services, which if you're on a driving holiday is a good option. 1.1 - Travel >Flights Flights to Dublin are my fave option. From Leeds, where I fly, you can go by 1. British European 2. Aer Lingus 3. Ryanair 1&2 are targeted towards the business traveller. Ryanair fly to nearly every airport in mainland UK. www.ryanair.com and for the 40 min flight are worth every penny. The best... Read review

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Advantages: easy to read, believable characters
Disadvantages: annoying characters, not as good as later works

...My experience with the popular Irish author Marve Binchy reminds me of eating a dessert such as trifle or a gooey gateau. I enjoy them in small doses occasionally but if I consumed them regularly I would easily sicken myself and get bored of them! I have read a few of her novels and also her collection of short stories set around the stations on the London Underground Central and Victoria Lines. When I saw a copy of Dublin 4, a collection of four short stories set in the Southside of Dublin, in a charity shop for under a pound I could not resist buying it. I thought it would be nice light easy reading for my trek across Manchester everyday to get to work. Dublin 4 was published in 1982 and is one of the earliest Marve Binchy books published. It is a fairly slim volume for her as it is only 206 pages long. The setting for the stories... Read review

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Advantages: See opinion
Disadvantages: See opinion

...~ ~ A recent survey shows that Dublin has recently overtaken both Amsterdam and Paris as the top spot in Europe for weekend breaks. As a taxi-driver in the “Fair City” I can only endorse the findings of this survey. I would estimate there is probably three times the volume of travellers passing through the Airport in Dublin in 2001 than there was in 1995. ~ ~ The reasons behind this huge upsurge in visitors are not too hard to understand. Ireland in general, and Dublin in particular, has undergone an economic boom in the last decade, which is practically unprecedented in European economic history. Economic growth has been steadily increasing at the astonishing rate of around 10% per annum. Not only does this mean that Ireland’s previous biggest export, people, has stopped, but that these tens of thousands... Read review

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Advantages: Great shops, great atmosphere, great city
Disadvantages: one way streets

...I recently visited Dublin with my mum and dad. We had a great time as it is a lovely city and their is plenty to do. We watched Riverdance which was excellent and spent days shopping. When we decided to arrange a trip to Dublin we were told about the lovely towns and villages around the edge of Dublin and by the coast. To visit these places we thought we would hire a car as it would be easier than trying to catch buses which it was but if you don't live in the centre of Dublin it is a nightmare to get to a destination. You probably only need to get to the end of the road you're on but can't because of the one way signs and the one way turns. The idea is good to control traffic but to get somewhere quick isn't. If you are going to visit Dublin for a few days i would suggest you don't hire a car unless you really know your way round... Read review

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Advantages: Great Party Atmospere, Great Guinness, Great Time
Disadvantages: Not for Your "Horlicks, Pipe and Sliper folk

...Every New Years eve i throw a party for all the family and close friends. We fill the table up with buttys and make sure the patio is full of beer and wine, keeping chilled as there is no room in the fridge. Afetr about 23.00, everyone is getting in the party mood and i start my party piece...i play the DJ..as i have been bang into my music since i was 4. Nothing gets the party started more than a few of the oldies...you know...a bit of Frank and Deano, and then by around the 1.30 mark everyone is hooked on my Irish section....if you dont start dancing to The Irish Rover....your probably dead. And i always stick good old Molly Malone on as well.....you must know the track...it starts off...In Dublin Fair City... It was no wonder that for my 20th wedding anaversery last May, i invited two friends of ours to share it with us and make... Read review

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