One day, when I'm much more mature and responsible for things like mortgages, car payments and a…read moredog, I'd like to move to Chapelizod's cozy village. Named for its locally legendary grave of Iseult of Ireland (Tristan's main squeeze and Wagner's tragic opera heroine), the modern village has a small-town feel that brings me back for long walks along the Liffey on summer evenings and Sunday drives. Joyce loved it too, and gives it pride of place in Finnegan's Wake, placing scenes in local pubs and squares throughout the tiny town. With a main street abutting Phoenix Park, a bottle neck through-road that keeps traffic sane, and a village pub that's got plenty of promise, Chapelizod is a homely slice of small-town Ireland that Dublin (thankfully) left to its own devices.

Rathfarnham Castle use to be really old and scary, well to me it was. I use to stare at the windows…read morewhilst waiting for the bus with my mam and I swore I saw a ghost in there one time! Honest mum I did! Not any more now because it is all cleaned up and given a lick of paint, sure you would hardly even know it was from the 1500's! The grounds have all been cleaned up and the grass cut and it is a lovely place now to go for a stroll, long the lake and watch all the dogs chase balls and ducks and check out the local running clubs who frequent the paths. Late evening is a lovely time for a stroll here as it is very quiet. During the day it is a little more lively especially now as they have built a new children's play ground, keep an eye and ear out for the ice cream van who swings by here every Sunday and elbow any under fives who attempt to buy their screwball before you! The Castle itself is open for a tour and has a tearoom. Sometimes there is even talks and concerts help here too.

Rathfarnham Castle is my second review today that was involved in the Battle of Rathmines in 1649…read more It's got a lot of history and doesn't look it's age, as it is believe to have bene built in the late 1500s. Tours are avaiable of the interior and there's a tea room if you're feeling a bit peckish. Make sure to check before you go for opening times as I went there once and they weren't open. One of the main draws as Melanie pointed out is the exapnisve grounds that they somehow managed to keep away from urban development. So if castles aren't your thing maybe the green open spaces will entice you.

The walk that starts from Sean Moore Park and ends a little after the Pigeon House (another Dublin…read morelandmark) is a perfect spring/ summer outing. On a nice sunny day, I can think of nothing better to do then spend the afternoon strolling down the pathways of the Irishtown Nature Walk. The walk itself is not arduous but still not easy. The trail bends and twists and is at times hilly, but there are a number of benches to rest and to gaze at the beautiful view of sand and sea. The hike will take you through blackberry bushes and tall grass. There are a number of sea birds to look out for. This activity is popular with athletic types. Joggers, dog walkers and cyclists raced past me. Overall, it was a quiet and relaxing hike, one that will work up an appetite.

I am incredibly lucky to have this right on my doorstep, a headland with lovely sea views and wild…read moreovergrown parkland to explore at the same time... lovely. Sometimes when I really want to shake things up I go and join the local druggies and alcoholics in the park to discuss the deeper philosophical quandaries and questions like when the fridge door closes does the light go out. A few of them having recently slept in a fridge were able to confirm that yes, the light does go out. ..er... yeah, deffo only to be explored during daylight hours.

I am not a boxing fan but when I was invited to go watch a match by a boxing fan, I could not say…read moreno. They are one of the fittest athletes and the speed of the boxers in the ring was unreal. Yes I winced and squeezed my friends hand so hard that he had to make sure I was not in labour. 'Why would you think I am in labour?' 'Because you are trying to rip through my flesh with your nails?' 'You think I'm fat don't you?' I nearly ended up in the ring with him. I hate to admit it but I enjoyed myself, I guess I like violence. It was nice to do something different, the stadium is impressive, the atmosphere was good in a loving violence type of way. In all seriousness though, I would recommend it as a good night out if you are up for something different. They also hold concerts and conferences here. Boxing matches of all age groups can be watched too, just keep looking at their events page on their website, although they really should update their website!

I've never actually been to a boxing match here. I have however done the far more boring thing and…read morebeen to a folk concert in the National Stadium. I was really impessed with the stadium as a concert venue. The sound was great, the stadium was easy to navigate and although I was seated off to the side, the gig was briilliant. Apparently they have a night a week dedicated to bingo. And I am very tempted...

This slender strip of greenery makes for a soothing walk (or a lovely general commute path, should…read moreyou be so lucky). In Summer the trees and sidewalks are bursting with life, while in these snowy climes it offers a whisper of a wintry wonderland. Beautiful. The only thing that takes this down from a full rating is the sheer amount of litter that is dumped into the canal. Not cool. Stop it. If you're by the Rathmines area of the walk, visit the swans. There are, last I'd counted, over 50 within a single stretch of the canal - you can't miss them, and you'll commonly find a swarm placidly nestled along the sidewalk or gobbling the bread people throw at them. They don't get ruffled if you walk close to them (and if they're being fed you may have no choice in the matter), but please, resist the urge to pet them.

One of our fair cities finer features, the Canal+sunshine is probably the best day that can be had…read morein Dublin. You can walk the scenic peace of her banks, the banter of her pubs or even share a seat with Patrick Kavanagh. Or you can do as the bums do. Tie a load of cans onto a string and keep them cool in the water, only drawing them up when you need one. Might want to get a tetanus shot before trying that last one actually. Nice as it is, this is still Dublin.

The Smithfield Square is busiest on the first Sunday of the month when people come from all over…read moreIreland to trade horses and equipment. Any city slicker or foreigner would appreciate this spectacle despite it attracting a lot of rough and rowdy locals. It's interesting to watch owners ride their horses and ponies bare back and hear the cloppy-clop of the animal's hooves on the cobblestones. There are other notable activities that take place in the square year-round depending on the season. In the summer, there are themed markets that stock speciality foods and products. One time, there was a French market where vendors sold lavender soap, fresh bread and sweets. During the winter, the square puts on Dublin On Ice. This event celebrates winter by allowing Dubliners to experience the joy of skating on an ice rink.

Disclaimer: I've had several negative experiences with horses. Including being thrown off one when…read moreI was two and being assigned a horse named Ruff when I was 20 and decided to give it a second chance. Let's just say he lived up to his name and also enjoyed biting other horses' bums. That said when I first moved to Smithfield a few years ago I was so not thrilled to hear that there was a monthly horse fair. I awoke one morning to the sound of hoofs, at first I thought it was just a disturbing nightmare, but when I went out on my balcony I saw two boys riding what can only be described as ponies down North King Street and into the square. The horse fair is definitely something you should check out once, but I can't suggest it as a regular event. For me the experience was all together and unpleasant and I normally hid in my apartment all day until it was over. The smell of manure and hay was enough to turn my stomach. However, that wasn't really the worst part. Despite my earlier disclaimer that I don't like horses, I actually for the first time in my life, felt bad for the horses. Some of the horses were well kept and nicely treated, but for the most part the ponies were being hit by groups of small boys with riding crops, and not in the manner they should be used. Like I said if you're interested horses or just some local culture it's definitely worth a look, but don't go expecting anything too exciting.

Decent place to kill some time and wind down. Bowling alley, snooker & pool hall, along with food…read moreand amusements all under the one roof and in a great location. Thing is though, it is a little expensive for what it is. If you're around at off peak times it's not too bad but nobody really is which turns this place into a little bit of a ghost town. The pool & snooker tables are very worn, bruised and battered. Most of the amusement machines are so old that the images have burnt into the screen and have lost all quality. Bowling is decent enough though. The lanes have been kept in a good condition and if you're in a group of people works out okay in terms of price. Have to give them credit though, they have some great deals for family nights out and even events for the Blanchardstown Centre staff, during the week and weekends. Deals with the likes of Dantes Pizza nearby or even a BYOB night with bowling for the staff.

I'm a big child I love this place! I'm 25 and I'd spend all day here! TGI Fridays beside it though…read moreis a rip off.

What would be like to live in the 1800's in Dublin?…read more Take a walk through this house and you'll know and feel what it would have been like... (encourage the guided tour). The tour, began with a 15 minute video about the history of the house and the area, and then we toured through all 5 storeys of the house. The guide really made the tour come to life - she made us feel just what it must have been like to live there both as the lady of the house and as one of the servants. It was a pity we weren't allowed to take photographs - but you can always buy a souvenir from their little shop. A great place to go if you have an hour to kill in the city centre and don't want to be bombarded with crowds of people and noise. Great for couples, not really a place for children.

The very out of date introductory film we were shown upon entering the museum really set the tone…read morefor what was to follow - the picture quality and mode of storytelling wasn't of a museum standard. It was busy so you could barely hear what was being said on the film at times over the sound of people coming in - this should be in a more cordoned off area. The house has a tearoom, very average with teas, chocolate bars on offer - very old fashioned. Be prepared for walking up and down a lot of stairs. The house actually contains some wonderful artefacts on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, but the ESB should be ashamed of the tired and outdated presentation of the place. With the info panels and gaudy mannequins it looks like it was lifted out of a museum design circa 1995. For far superior presentations of Georgian Homes I would recommend visiting the North-side of the city - to the Georgian Quarter. I was in and out under half an hour, as there really wasn't satisfactory information on the actual occupants of the house through the centuries, rather a general overview of how Georgian houses were used (which doesn't really do it justice of being a genuinely Dublin Georgian home) and it would have be interesting to explore its current context, as it was once part of the 'Georgian Mile', a row of fine 18th century houses which were controversially destroyed by the ESB in the 1960s.