Walks and Parks in Dublin
Being a relatively small city, many visitors chose to view Dublin by foot. This is, of course, the best way to really get a feel for the city and take in the sights and sounds.
The main thoroughfare in Dublin is O Connell Street. It is a wide and busy street lined with shops and eateries. The General Post Office, scene of the 1916 Rising against the British, is an impressive building mid-way along O Connell Street. Regrettably, the rest of the shops along the street are not of such historical significance. There has been some debate in Ireland of late regarding the plethora of fast-food outlets and knick-knack shops on the capital's main street, and in truth, for a more pleasant shopping experience, visitors would be advised to head to Grafton Street, ten minutes walk away. This is a pedestrianized street where most of the better-known brands have outlets, and there are usually a number of buskers along the way to maintain a good atmosphere.
Organized walks are also available in Dublin. The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour may interest you. It is conducted by published authors and historians. and those who go on this walk will definitely leave with a greater understanding of Dublin's history. For more information, log on to www.1916rising.com.
A newer guided walk is the Walking Tour of Temple Bar. This tour takes a little over an hour and concentrates on the historic Temple Bar area of the city. The tour includes a visit to the first Viking settlements and the old Parliament building on College Green. For more information about this tour, visit www.visit-templebar.com.
At the top of Grafton Street lies St Stephens Green. This is a lovely park with a small lake containing ducks, a bandstand where concerts are often held during the Summer, and a good number of benches to just sit and relax. Although, in the Summer, the young people tend to sprawl out on the grass and enjoy the sunshine while they can.
The main park in Dublin is Phoenix Park which will be dealt with separately.
