Leinster – Dublin, Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Monastic ruins, Waterford

Whether you are interested in visiting historic sites involved in Ireland’s long quest for freedom, visiting sites of religious significance, touring museums or just having fun staying within Dublin’s city limits offers access to many different attractions during the day, as well as the fun of the pub culture complete with authentic Irish music in the Temple Bar district at night.  The bus (BusEireann.ie) and rail network (irishrail.ie) are centered in Dublin and will enable you to enjoy the benefits of staying in the city center while making day-long excursions to such significant prehistoric sites such as Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, monastic ruins at Clonmacnoise or Glendalough, or visiting (and shopping) at the Waterford Crystal Works .  The province of Leinster holds many interesting destinations which you can discover from Dublin, Ireland and return in the same day to enjoy the comfort and benefits of the capital city.  Dublin also benefits from the many ferries to Ireland from the United Kingdom easing travel complications.

Recommended daylong tour within Dublin:

Dublin City tour:    Start at the Kilmainham Gaol (Inchicore Rd., buses 51B, 51C, 78A, 79, 79A – southwest of Heuston Station about one mile) for the dramatic tour of the prison that held practically every notable Irish political prisoner from 1796 until its closing in 1924.  In these cells, many with plaques noting their famous inhabitants, political prisoners were incarcerated, tortured and later led to the execution ground outside in the courtyard.  Just a very few of the notable prisoners’ cells you will visit on the guided tour are Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Davitt, Padraig Pearse, Countess Markiewicz, Eamon de Valera and Joseph Plunkett – who married Grace Gifford in the prison chapel (also on the tour) just hours before his execution for participating in the Easter Uprising (Grace herself would eventually end up a prisoner in Kilmainham as well).  Several notable movies have been filmed inside the prison as well, including scenes from “In the Name of the Father.”  Official tours of the prison depart every half hour.
Exiting Kilmainham Gaol turn east on Inchicore Rd. you will reach the Guinness Storehouse in less than one mile.  Tours of the Guinness works are very popular – and not just for the free samples at its conclusion.

Upon leaving the Guinness Storehouse turn north to cross the River Liffey on the Heuston Bridge (directly in front of the Heuston Station) and board the Light Rail (known as LUAS – you will probably want to purchase an all-day ticket so that you may re-board the light rail system) directly in front of the station and head in the direction of The Point.  The third stop is directly behind the Four Courts Building – famous for its role in both the Easter Uprising and the Civil War following establishment of the Irish Free State when anti-Treaty militants occupied the building and established a base complete with armory.  After a months-long standoff Commander in Chief of the Irish Free State, Michael Collins, had government forces attack the building and remove the occupants.  Unfortunately, just as the anti-Treaty Republicans were vacating the building the armory caused a huge explosion and destroyed the precious Archives and most of the building. It was rebuilt in 1932 and now houses the Supreme Court, High Court and Dublin Circuit Court (until 2010 it also housed a fourth court the Central Criminal Court). Re-board the LUAS behind the Four Courts building and continue in the same direction for two more stops and get off at the Abbey St. stop.  Walk back to O’Connell Street which you’ve just crossed on the train and directly across the street you will see the GPO (or General Post Office) which was the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Uprising.  On the morning of Easter Monday 1916, Padraig Pearse read the Proclamation of the Republic on the steps of the GPO as his compatriots raised two Republican flags over the building.  The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and the Irish Citizens Army occupied several other sites in Dublin including the Four Courts Building, Boland’s Mill and St. Stephens’ Green – and were expecting support from a general uprising by the IRB throughout the country which never occurred.  Due to the limited nature of the uprising the British were able to bring thousands of reinforcements into Dublin, as well as field artillery which they fired point blank into the GPO. After seven days of fighting the GPO was ablaze and the Republicans were forced to surrender to avoid further loss of life.  The façade of the GPO still bears scars from the fighting – while the rest of the building either burned down or had to be destroyed and has since been rebuilt.  At first many citizens of Dublin were angry at the death and destruction in their city, however after fifteen leaders of the Easter Uprising were executed at the Kilmainham Gaol public sentiment turned strongly in favor of the Republicans.  This unsuccessful effort led directly to a renewed political activism and the war of independence.

Read More at Best Dublin Tours Part 2.

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