I know it seems strange to be looking at Dublin on the travel slot, but imagine a situation where you could wake up as a tourist in your own country, or in your own city even.
George tweeted to ask people what makes Dublin special, and what they would recommend for a visitor, and there were tonnes of responses, so we're only going to scratch the surface here, but I tried to take on board some of the recommendations, and as a Dubliner, myself, I tried to rediscover Dublin, with the inside track from suggestions from people around the country.
Have a listen...
Some of the tweets that came in....
Odhrán Allen @odhranallen says:
@ghook Dublin highlights for locals & visitors @CBL_Dublin @tcddublin @IMMAIreland @ThePigsEar @QueenOfTartsDub @howthismagic @Riverdance
Dan @JokerandtheDan
@ghook Cassidy's on Westmoreland St. Fantastic pub, staff, music and atmosphere. Craft beers and homemade pizza. Great stuff.
Chris :) @chris_derry says:
@ghook Has to be @glasnevinmuseum - Days of things to do..
Darren Geraghty @GeraghtyDarren 2h
@ghook All we have is the Book of Kells and pubs.
#Michael Shimaoka @Metalmoccha 2h
@ghook If it's Halloween, I'd recommend the Ghost Bus tour. The Guinness storehouse would be another one.
#A.T.Fox @fox_ad 2h
@ghook Porterhouse also catch a cricket game in trinity over the summer
Ciaran Behan @mrcbehan 2h
@ghook saint endas park ballyboden
@ghook kilmainham a must
We were innundated with suggestions of places to go, so I managed to go to a few. The first place I went was St. Patricks' Cathedral which someone recommended. It's where Jonathan Swift is buried. It's an incredible building, and there are so many stories which you can hear on the daily tours.
The chair William of orange sat in
So there's so much to see there- it's a short walk from Dublin city centre. There are guided tours during week days. The tours are free, but there is an admission fee:
Adults: €5.50
OAP's/Students: €4.50
Families: €15.00
www.stpatrickscathedral.ie for more information
The Little Museum of Dublin:
So I wandered back into town, and someone had recommended the Little Museum of Dublin, so that was next on my list.
It's just on St. Stephen's Green in a beautiful bright Georgian house.
The tour guide Ciaran McMahon brought a group of us around the house, and took us through the last 100 years of history. You really get a sense of the city on the tour, and a taste of the Dublin sense of humour as well- Ciaran keeps it entertaining, with tonnes of anecdotes, and he gives what he describes as a tapas version of Irish history - just little bites.
So after the tour you can head downstairs to this lovely cafe- Hatch & Sons Irish Kitchen which is attached to the museum. It's really bright and the food is amazing. The service, admittedly could have been a little faster, but I was there on a busy Sunday afternoon.
So, I wondered what to do next and a few people who tweeted had recommended places along the coast, so I headed out on the dart towards Dalkey. Dalkey is like a Post Man Pat village. You have the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. It's just idyllic. And in the middle of the village, a castle that dates back to the 14th century.
Part of travel is time travel, and at Dalkey castle, the characters you meet really bring you back in time. The first person I met was the medieval archer who brought me up to the battlements, where you look out over Dalkey quarry.
And then I met the barber surgeon.
It's a great day out for kids, and families. The Queens is nextdoor for a pint or a bite to eat afterwards, or you can head to Bono's local - Fitzgeralds. Michelle Obama's local now too.
The Castle also have a new writers centre and you can do a literary walking tour as well.
www.dalkeycastle.com for more information there.
There's also plenty of other things to do around Dalkey.
Derek Goulding @derekgoulding tweeted to recommend:
@ghook Killiney Hill on a clear day
Killiney hill is lovely and it's free - you can bring your dogs for a walk or kick a football around. And they have a new little cafe there now, at the bottom of the hill.
And then afterwards, I was tipped off about this regular Sunday morning session, this little known gem. Just at the base of Killiney hill, in Killiney Castle on a Sunday morning there's a jazz session, with a band of fairly elderly jazz musicians who have been playing there since the 1970's. Sometimes it's not the big tourist attractions but these local events that are really special. You can go, it's free, you can drink wine and enjoy the surroundings and the music.
A few more tweets from listeners:
Bridgette @BridgetteBkeane 1h
@ghook a trip to Howth walk the Cliffs and follow the Old Tram Line. #howthismagic
Chelseajoe @JoeSpillane 2h
@ghook The Casino Marino. One of Dublin's best kept secrets and a wonderful architectural gem.
Rory O'Sullivan @Dusselpaddy
@ghook Beschoffs Fish n' Chips, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf. #tastesfromthepast
Barry McStay @bazmcstay 2h
@ghook Beshoff's fish+chips n a stroll round Howth harbour, carvery in O'Neill's on Suffolk St, the gardens at IMMA, sandwiches in Lemon.
A lot of people were recommending Howth, so I thought, how do I get to Howth... And I learned about this new ferry that runs from Dun Laoghaire to Howth called Dublin Bay Cruises.
It was a great experience - a water tour. A different perspective on Dublin - you can travel right across the bay. You get on the ferry on the East pier in Dun Laoghaire, and you get off the boat in Howth. Or vice versa.
The scenery is spectacular, and you go past dalkey island, sorrento terrace, bull island, and Lambay island in North county dublin. There's an audio guide that plays out over the MC. There's a bar downstairs, so you can sit inside or get some air up top. There are seals, puffins, and I'd even heard a rumour that there were wallabies on Lambay island, so I had my eyes peeled for them, but no spottings this time around.
Departing Dun Laoghaire at 11am daily
Departing Howth at 1pm daily
Adult – €19
Student/OAP – €16
Children Age 3-12 – €11
2 Adults 1 Child – €45
2 Adults 2 Children – €50
www.Dublinbaycruises.com for more information
So after that day on the water, you can head back into Dublin city centre, for a bite to eat, and enjoy the night life.
Plenty of tweets with suggestions for places at night:
@ghook O Donoghues pub for the trad music and a creamy pint of Guinness
Deirdre Connolly @DeeCee59 2h
@ghook a visit to Cornucopia restaurant - and Im not a vegetarian!
Simon O'Keeffe @okeeffesimon 2h
@ghook capital comedy club, weds & suns, hapenny bridge inn
Galzac's Guide @Galzacs 2h
@ghook the bernard shaw pub on a sunny afternoon!
RMcG @ReginaMc 2h
@ghook since leaving we really miss the food, friday curry in Tulsi, hangover cure in Eddie Rockets, so much choice for sat night dinner
Tuesday travel on The Right Hook is proudly sponsored by Carmen Wines
