Dublin Rock-n-Roll Festival 1st to 3rd

The free Festival celebrates the era of the 1950s and 60s when Rock ‘n’ Roll was not only a kind of music it was also a way of life. For a couple of days the Dublin Rock-N-Roll Festival will once again take over Dublin’s Dame District this August.

Quentin Tarantino Week 4th to 9th

Celebrating one of modern cinema’s most respective film producers and directors in The Sugar Club for a week-long in honour of the man himself. Enjoy the screenings and soundtracks of his six most iconic films (like Pulp Fiction, Django, Inglorious Bastards) with great food, drinks and gourmet popcorn.

The Big Grill Festival 14th to 16th

The Big Grill Festival is back and this time it’s even bigger and better. The festival presents attractions you may not have even known existed like whole animal cooks and Ireland’s first USA Low ‘n’ Slow BBQ Competition. The whole festival is taking place in Dublin’s idyllic Herbert Park, Ballsbridge.

Peoples Art 21st to 23rd

This summer enjoy some beautiful artworks around the iconic St Stephen’s Green where the People’s Art Exhibition is taken place to the streets. This collection of visual art is presented by the artists themselves, so you can chat with the creators about the work on show. These free unique exhibitions provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy Dublin’s wonderful surroundings while experiencing stunning works of art.

Ukulele Hooley 2015 22nd to 23rd

Ireland’s Ukulele Hooley is one of Europe’s most popular ukulele festivals and is a mecca each August for ukulele players, groups and performers from all over the world. It is also a great family outing with nearly 19,000 people at the eight hour open air concert of fantastic ukulele music at the People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire. There are a lot of opportunities for visiting ukulele players to play and jam with fellow players; along with workshops and a major Open Mic on the seafront in Dun Laoghaire.

National Heritage Week 22nd to 30th

The National Heritage Week promotes awareness of Ireland’s natural, cultural and built heritage. This year’s festival will focus on Ireland’s industrial and design heritage. Explore in Dublin some of our oldest buildings, take part in the many workshops and talks taking place, or indulge in a performance which shows off our vast musical and spoken work heritage. National Heritage Week attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, 2015’s National Heritage Week will be bursting with exciting events for the whole family.

Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival 27th to 29th

This celebration of Irish craft brewing, live music and fabulous Irish artisan food returns to Dublin. This is a fantastic opportunity to join the gathering of brewers and cider-makers to sample their wares which include products exclusive only to the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival, with over fifty stands and 200 craft beers and ciders produced from all over Ireland. This event allows you to explore the proud Irish creations from our expert brewers and cider-makers and it takes place in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

MCM Ireland Comic Con

During the Comic Con, the Simmonscourt venue will turn its halls into a weird and wonderful place for aficionados of all things comic-book related for the best part of 48 hours. As well as being able to play some newly–released games, chat with fellow self-confessed geeks and grab some highly sought-after merchandise, visit the comic village, catch a talk or two with some celebrities of the comic world and even see robots fighting it out live. Some of the attendees already confirmed include Tara Platt from Tiger & Bunny to Naruto and anime voice over artists Yuri Lowenthal, Gurren Lagannto and Fate/Stay Night, as well as True Blood and Once Upon a Time star Kirsten Bauer.

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Who Needs Temple Bar?

Dublin is home to hundreds of pubs, each with something different to offer. When people come here, they usually have an idea in their mind of exactly what they want – traditional Irish music, good Guinness and chatting to the locals. Generally, they all have heard about the same place and naturally gravitate there with the notion of having a truly great, authentic night out. That place is Temple Bar. I’m here to tell you different.

Depending on how much you have researched, you will either think of Temple Bar as one pub or as an area; it’s both. The Temple Bar district was updated in the 90s with the aim of it becoming the cultural centre of the city – home to restaurants, bars and clubs that define the Irish experience. In one way, they achieved this goal. Temple Bar was the buzz of the city for both Irish and tourists alike. However, as the years progressed, Temple Bar evolved into a different type of beast. Noticing that tourists, in particular, were willing to pay anything to have the “Irish experience”, prices started to slowly increase. At first, not even the locals noticed too much, but over the years, it got a bit too much.

These days, you’d be hard-pressed trying to find a local Dubliner in the Temple Bar district. Instead, we’ve gone back to the tradition of having our own local bars. Unlike the almost frantically busy pubs in Temple Bar, local pubs offer more of a personal touch at far more reasonable prices. We all have our own preferred bars that we can go to any night of the week, chat with the barmen, with other locals and the odd strays that come in and are instantly felt welcome – and that’s where the Irish touch becomes prevalent.

We Irish are commonly associated with being a friendly, out-going bunch who can talk to a stranger for hours. This is not an image that is supported in Temple Bar. There, people are seen as faceless ATM machines who are willing to pay over €6.50 for a pint of Guinness – a price so unreasonable that I can’t begin to fathom it. And instead of getting the usual Irish banter and craic, you are treated as a way to make more money for the pub. This is something that needs to change.

So, when you get to Isaacs Hostel or Jacobs Inn, ask us at the desk for advice. There’s no better advice than that coming from locals – we all know bars, drink and prices, and we want you all to have the best possible time when you get here.  We want you to leave with a fair opinion of Dublin and Ireland. And, most importantly, we don’t want you to leave with empty pockets. If we can give you the best possible night at half the cost of Temple Bar, we will – it’s what we’re here for.

So, let’s throw off the shackles of the reputation Temple Bar has, and go back to the roots of this country – local guys and girls in the pubs where our parents drank, having the time of our lives. Because it’s the people that make the place, not the other way around.

Sláinte!

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Bouldering is very similar to Rock Climbing, you still climb up walls, but these walls are a maximum of 4.5 meters high, and there’s some lovely big cushions at the bottom as well. Which means there’s no ropes and shorter climbs. This makes it much more accessible than normal climbing, where you need a partner, knowledge of knots and more expensive gear. Bouldering is easy to get into and highly addictive.

Gravity Climbing Centre is a short walk from the Blackhorse stop on the LUAS red line about 20 minutes from the hostel. The friendly staff will get you kitted up and clued in with a few minutes and before you know it you’ll be jumping down to the pad after your first climb. Go with a few mates and hang out, taking it in turns climbing the same sections or just go alone and make some new friends. The staff and customers there are all approachable and always willing to give advice on how to tackle the next obstacle. Depending on your fitness the 90 minute intro session should wear you out, but if you want you can become a member and stay there all day.

Jumpzone trampoline park is a little more casual, no special skills needed here, just lots of enthusiasm. A short bus ride north of the city, the site is the biggest in Europe. It’s a huge room, filled with trampolines, simple as that. Whether you fancy a bounce around or you want to practice those backflips this is a great place to be. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make within one session, and with the foam pit you try those tricks you were too scared to try before.  And for those of you with a competitive edge, there’s a couple of dodgeball courts to get into as well. Team up, or just go one on one with a buddy, there’s plenty of ways to have fun with trampolines and balls!

Benjamin Duff – Versestravel

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Heading down on the DART south of Dublin, I soon arrived at Dun Loaghaire and from the station I was at Aboveboard within a couple minutes. I was greeted by Richard, the Venezuelan who would be guiding around the board, and the harbour that morning. The sun was shining, but the breeze was up a little, so we decided the harbour would be the best bet for a fun and interesting paddle.

Getting changed and heading down didn’t take long and soon we were getting our instructions on how to work these boards. It’s pretty simple, it involves a big board, a long paddle and a great workout;  but Richard was very good at improving our technique so we could get the most from the board. Standing straight (rather than sideways like a surfboard) you paddle with arms straight, similar to Kayaking, but this uses a lot more of you core strength. As we paddled around I could feel my core tightening and knew this would be a great workout

Working our way around the harbour we dodged kids in sailing dinghies, and paddled past million dollar gin palaces. At one point Richard decided to test the water and show us how to get back on in case we fell off, and how to pull another person on to the board if there was an emergency. Feeling a bit like the guys on Baywatch we practiced our skills, which of course meant pushing each other in so they needed rescuing!

The experience was excellent, and I left feeling happy and well worked without being exhausted. The weather held out nicely, but this would still be fun in the cold and wet, the wetsuits are so thick there’s no need to worry about freezing!

Benjamin Duff –

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Wakedock is located in the Central Canal, just 5 mins from the DART station and 20mins walk from the hostel. The day we headed down was sunny with little wind, after introductions and instructions we got changed and headed out to the starting platform. There’s no need to be worried about the cold, although the water is pretty chilly, after only one run we were warm and toasty in our wetsuits.

The set up is simple, one line like a clothes line pulls the tow handle across the water. The height of the line helps to pull you out of the water making it easy to get started. Within seconds we were up and away, and shortly after we reached the far end of the course. It takes a little getting used to learning to carve out and tuck back in to turn around without going back in the water, but soon enough we were performing beautiful carves over the water.

In fact the whole experience was very easy – much easier than being towed behind a boat and a lot of fun. By the end of the session we were even trying slides on the first obstacle, not too successfully as you can see in the video! The instructor was very helpful, giving tips and help wherever he saw it was needed, making sure we were ok after each bail. The impact vest and helmet protect your vital parts from the worst of the falls, but not once did we get hurt.

Exciting, adrenalin pumping, heart racing – if you’ve never tried wakeboarding this is the easiest way to go, and if you’re already a pro, the obstacles make it a great place to practice those backflips. Best of all, the weather really doesn’t matter, as you’ll be wet anyway. So next time you’re not sure what to do on a rainy day and you want the rush of adrenalin – you know where to go!

Check out the Video here

Benjamin Duff – Versestravel

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Triple Distilled, twice as smooth – Jameson Irish Whiskey

 The Old Jameson Distillery is one of the top attractions in Dublin, where the story of John Jameson & son is told in an exciting, engaging way that is guaranteed to enlighten any visitor. Located in the heart of Dublin and only a short hop  (a few stops on the Luas  or a 2o minute walk  from Isaacs Hostel) , a visit to the old distillery will transport you back in time to when one of Ireland’s greatest entrepreneurs, John Jameson, first made Irish whiskey history. 

 On a visit expert guides will lead you through the site, relaying the fascinating story of Jameson. Through the atmosphere and above all the taste, you will discover the time honoured secret of how three simple ingredients- water, barley and yeast – are transformed into the smooth golden spirit that has always been and continues to be Jameson Irish Whiskey.

 The Jameson tour begins with an audio visual presentation, followed by a walk through the recreated distillery, then onto the Jameson Discovery Bar for a little Jameson tasting, beginning with a complimentary glass of a Jameson signature drink for everyone. Lucky volunteers will then be selected to partake in a tutored whiskey tasting where each person will receive a much sought after Irish Whiskey Taster Certificate and even have the option to become a „Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster“.

 Within the Old Jameson Distillery, there are three bars in tribute to John Jameson and while visiting any of the bars there is the option to sample Jameson and do a comparison tasting – comparing the great Jameson to other world brands, those familiar with Jameson Whiskey can upgrade to a Jameson Reserve whiskey tasting or purchase a personalised bottle of 12 year distillery reserve.

The distillery is also home to a restaurant and gift shop with exclusive Jameson products. The beautifully unique „3rd Sill Restaurant“ looks out over the hustle and bustle of the Old Jameson Distillery, and offers an a-la carte menu daily from 12.00-5.00pm. While the gift shop allows you to purchase exclusive Jameson gifts that are not stocked in any other gift stores – there is no shortage of unique gift ideas, from Jameson reserve whiskey to clothing and glassware.

Located in Smithfield, on the site of the original Jameson Distillery in Dublin, the distillery is open 7 days a week, with tours running from 10am until 5.15pm. WiFi is available for all visitors and the site is wheelchair accessible. Just remember customers under 18 years of age will be unable to consume any alcohol on site.

Book tickets here in advance or just ask the guys at reception on arrival

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We hit the road about 11 on Saturday morning and drove directly to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, the gateway to the Newgrange and Knowth ancient sites. Despite plenty of warnings, (normally the wait time is pretty long – it’s recommended you arrive as early as possible) we were lucky to be able to immediately join the Knowthe followed shortly by Newgrange. Tours include transport to the site, and are necessary to gain access to the megaliths, there’s no sneaking in or queue jumping possible.
Knowth has one megalith, surrounded by several satellite tombs, it has clearly been reconstructed in parts, but a lot of the original pieces are still in place. It is an impressive site, especially when you understand that these monuments were built over 5000 years ago, 500 years before the first Pyramid in Egypt. The tour guide was knowledgeable and interesting, showing us the various stages in development that had happened in and around the hill. There is also an opportunity to go inside, to a newly built display room, showing some of the more recent (but still 100s of years old) developments and the entrance to the original passageway to the central chamber that held the remains that led archaeologists to believe it to be a tomb.

Newgrange is a larger and more visually impressive site, with the quartz wall rebuilt along the front side. The carved rocks on display are the originals, and in the correct position, and are the reason for the wooden steps that lead to the internal passage. While this somewhat spoils the frontage, it protects these carvings, with the Tri-Spiral, a symbol only seen at this site. The tour guide here provides an excellent base of knowledge about the site, including the uncertainties involved with piecing together the evidence, and the variety of theories about the area. You are lead into the megalith to the very centre, a chamber which contains three large dish shaped pieces that are said to have been the first stones laid (they are too large to fit through the passageway).
There is some wonderful original carving, as well as some less historic carved graffiti from the 1800’s. Using the lights it’s possible to give you an idea of what the room is like on the morning of the shortest days of the year.

On these days the sunlight comes through the ‚roof box‘, a window above the door,  right into the chamber. This is only for 20 minutes maximum, and is said to be of ancient sacred significance. You can enter a lottery to be allowed to be in the room on one of these day on the Heritage Ireland website. I hope the weather is good for the winners.

If you don’t have  your own transport to get to these amazing  site. There are tours from from Dublin  which the Hostel staff here can help you with .

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Using the mini-card discounts available in the hostel reception, the entry price is very reasonable, and getting there is easier enough. Once inside, the layout excellently guides you through and past the animal enclosures, giving you an opportunity to see Tigers, Wolves, Snow Leopards and Orang Utans on one side, with lemurs and other monkeys jumping around on the lakes small islands on the other.

The African Safari area is very impressive with a great viewing pathway along the edge of a large plain. Giraffes and Zebra impress with their diversity, while the Rhinos dose near the far wall. It successfully recreates that African feel, but one better, all the animals are right in front of you. The Hippo is another good spot, although getting a photo is tricky as he surfaces for only a few seconds at a time as he circles his shady pool.

The Gorillas and Chimpanzees are great fun to watch, climbing and swinging around their enclosures, hunting out food and grooming while the younger apes play fight and chase each other about. There’s also some aquatic animals to check out in Dublin Zoo, sealions and penguins both pulling in crowds as they cruise happily around their pools. Catching a feeding is highly recommended as you’ll get to see them more active.

Finally, the highlight of the tour is the new born Elephant. Bigger than you might expect for less than a month old this baby is still very young and doesn’t do too much. If you’re lucky you’ll see him testing out his legs and taking a little stroll. Imagine new born Bambi, but much heavier!

While the park is very family orientated there is still plenty for those that are young at heart to enjoy. The animals at Dublin Zoo are spectacular regardless of age, although heading over on a week day will help reduce the crowds and give a better view for the feedings.

Benjamin Duff

Versestravel

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There is a huge range of galleries and museums often overlooked by tourists who are distracted by the bigger attractions. But if you’ve got a little extra time, or you’re running low on funds, these cultural stops are an amazing way to enrich your trip.

IMMA Irish Museum of Modern Art

A wonderful collection of modern art, including photography, installations and much more, there is something here for everyone from the critic to the novice. The Gardens offer a chance to enjoy the sunshine, while the main gallery can shelter you from the rain – perfect for the bi-polar Irish weather.

National Gallery

This collection of classical artwork includes some of the most prodigious artists from the Emerald Isle. It’s not the largest gallery, but it means it doesn’t drag on for those that are fresh to the subject. By keeping it short and sweet it showcases only the best works, keeping attention close and telling a rich story of Dublin culture through each exhibit.

National Museum

It would be possible to spend days exploring this museum if you wish, with exhibitions on natural history, the Viking invasions, science and loads more. Easy to find from the museum LUAS if spend anymore than a few days in Dublin it would be crazy to miss this.

The Chester Beatty Library  

Finally this collection of books and scripture donated by the library’s namesake is a wonderful little stop. Its eclectic collection of writing and a few other odd bits makes for a gallery of particular interest to those curious about religious texts and scripture.

Benjamin Duff

Versestravel

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The weather was great, beautiful cloudy sky and constant drizzle, typical Ireland. We had a long way ahead of us, and it was kind of a quiet and fragile atmosphere inside the bus, no one really chatting too much yet. The destination for the day was Galway and the Cliffs of Moher; a site well known for its outstanding natural beauty. As we approached the Cliffs, the shock! Visibility for 25 meters at most, we felt like we are inside a cloud. But another surprise, 15 minutes after we got our tickets, the fog disappeared completely! It was wonderful to see Cliffs in their full glory, huge towering rock faces rising straight from the sea, that place is truly breathtaking.

By the time we left the Cliffs, everyone had met and mingled, and people were happily chatting away and making new friends. Later on we enjoyed lovely food and drinks in Galway, where the Street Performance Festival was taking place giving us some lovely entertainment while we ate. Excellent musicians and jugglers pulled in the crowds giving the city a carnival atmosphere. It was a cosy hostel we stayed in too, Galway City Hostel, fresh and funky place, cool spot right at the corner of main square!

Second day; off to Conemara for exploring, hiking, oysters, and the Coffin Ships Memorial, and everything else that comes with the North-West coast of Ireland. We had another fantastic stop; the Kylemore Abbey and St Patrick Stack, or as the others preferred ‘The Reek’, a highly significant mountain in CountyMayo for religious reasons. In fact every year it is climbed by pilgrims on the last Sunday in July. I’m just glad they did make us go all the way up! The day finished in Bundoran, again food and drinks with a savage sunset, and some craic in the local Pub.

Now, day three; time to surf in Ireland! The day was most spectacular of them all. Especially for all those amateurs like me that were looking forward to seeing what this surfing thing was all about. I’m just going to say that it was extremely good day and I think the rest of the group will completely agree with me. All the crew of Turf n Surf were amazing, great people, well organized and chilled, not even mentioning how skilled surfers and instructors they were. They got all of the newbies standing and surfing within the first hour, and those with some experience got a chance to head further out and catch some of the real waves.

The surf hostel was cool too, nice, large kitchen, rooms with en-suite bathrooms, lots of common areas, free wi-fi, everything else – you name it! By that time we were all enjoying the craic, surfing gets people closer, no doubt (the free beer helped as well!)

Last two days of the tour we were hanging around Northern Ireland. Giants Causway and Belfast were our main destinations, but we stopped in some wacky places on the way including The Dark Hedges. Much of the second episode from second season of Games of Thrones was shot there. Definitely one to check out GoT fans.

Last spot on our journey was Belfast; it’s obvious from arrival that it is great city. Very different from Dublin, you can still feel that there was something going on there, or it is just my imagination? I think there is something in the air. Anyways, the people who went to do Black Taxi Tour around revolutionary spots, like Shankil and Falls Roads were touched deeply by driver stories and direct connection with victims (not included). Some went to TitanicMuseum, which is another excellent choice, but out in the Shipyard, away from City Centre it’s a bit of a commute to get there. There’s a great vibe in Belfast during the regular weekday, with fresh food street markets, good coffee and as always – craic.

As we were spending more time with each other on the bus, in the hostels and around the destinations the bond between us was getting tighter. We all had great time on our last night in Belfast, getting some food in an Italian restaurant and then some drinks in another local Pub, where we got a drinks voucher (thanks Turf n Surf) that got us started on our hangovers.

Anyways beautiful people, if you are tired with the city, and want to check some more of this stunning GreenIsland with a small crew of cool people, check out Turf n Surf. A lot of companies provide tours around Ireland, but none surfs with, hangs with you, and enjoy the craic with you like you were BFFs from childhood apart from TnS.
Big thanks to everyone at Turf n Surf – Killian, Kate, Paul, Brian , Giles, Joe, and all the others, sorry I forgot some names, you all are great people, very committed and cool as hell!

Written by Pavel, edited by Benjamin Duff – @versestravel

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