Having stayed here every week for almost a year would have expected a better standard of treatment…read more Must point out that never had any prior issues with any staff member. The reason I say this is that upon reading previous reviews, have noticed the tendency of management to discredit every negative review with some slander. I was staying in Abbey Court every week but mostly not at the weekend and had gotten into a habit of leaving a lot of my belongings in a luggage room for convenience. I fully understood that it was completely at my own risk and returned after being away one weekend to discover that the luggage room had been completely cleared out and according to reception staff Lorenzo, whatever was in the luggage room was indiscriminately put into black bags and disposed of. Was extremely disappointed to put it mildly as had few hundred euro worth of clothes, toiletries, shoes, jacket, and a phone which was in the bottom of a backpack. When asking Lorenzo what I could possibly do, he immediately took an accusatory manner blaming me for having left my belongings there in the first place but said he would let me look through the bin shed for my luggage. Thought little bit of empathy wouldn't have gone amiss given the circumstances and fact that I would have been known to these staff. It was late at night and difficult to properly search through the bins, so I decided to get up early the next morning and talk to the head of cleaning Florian. Needless to say I never got any of my luggage back and had no choice but to accept the luggage was left at a certain risk and unfortunately was gone. However a week later I checked my Google account and noticed that my phone which had been in my luggage was now switched on and being used by someone in Moldova. When I showed this proof to the manager Reggie he told me that while he did not agree with it, the cleaning staff had emptied out all the luggage, taken what was of value and disposed of the rest. He also told me he would try and get my phone back for me, which he managed to do. The phone was handed back to me with no apology or explanation. I had to initiate a conversation with Reggie the following day and he offered me an excuse about one of the cleaning staff taking the phone and sending it to their kid in Moldova. Had my phone not been with my luggage, the original explanation (while distressing) of the luggage just been thrown out would have been accepted. The fact of the matter is they lied, and obviously if they took my phone I'm sure they wouldn't have passed up on my good shoes, jacket, clothes and everything else of value. Also the fact that the head of cleaning Florian allowed me to route through the filthy bin shed for half an hour while knowing that my luggage had already been divided up by his staff was an added frustration. At least if he had been honest with me could have saved me the hassle and subsequent sickness I had that week. This is my experience, I wouldn't recommend staying in Abbey Court.

This place has all the charm when looking for something right in the heart of Dublin. Just a few…read moresteps from the popular O'Connel and just a few paces from Trinity College. Everything was great: staff, rooming, showers, and public areas. I've been traveling with a partner across Ireland and out of the 5 hostels we stayed, this was the best. Our highlight was meeting great roommates and staying up all night sharing stories of our different (or not so different) worlds. All I can say is if you're looking for a social situation, be open, start a little conversation and let it bloom. The Abbey Court is a wonderful setting for it.

Visited Powerscourt Waterfall and honestly, the best part is how close it is to the city while…read morestill feeling completely secluded. It's a beautiful spot, perfect for a family picnic or a quick getaway from the noise of Dublin. The scenery is stunning and really worth the trip just make sure to go on a good-weather day to enjoy it fully. A great spot for open barbecue

The waterfall was easy to get to. Very pretty and worth while! Lots of places to hang out around…read morethe falls and great for families

Peaceful park in a beautiful neighborhood. This park was large, clean, and not very crowded on a…read moreSaturday morning in the middle of summer, on a gorgeous blue-sky day. Strolling through the park we found a cute little playground with some whimsical artwork/sculptures, like the giant sticking up out of the ground. We found Oscar Wilde's statue and the Jokers Chair. We continued on through the park, taking in the beautifully manicured lawns, watched as some workers set up for an event, and stopped to really appreciate the gardens and large oak trees. I couldn't believe how beautiful the wildflowers were, especially enjoying the hydrangeas that were more than I had ever seen in one place in the wild. Walking through the neighborhood, it felt safe and clean, as we walked from Merrion's square park to Fitzgerald park. We loved the architecture, the vine covered walls of the buildings, and of course all of the brightly painted doors.

Over the past year (completed in May or June 2014 I believe), Merrion Square Playground went…read morethrough a dramatic transformation into a new well planned and enjoyable playground for the children. It amazing looking at what it was and what it is now. I only wished they would have renovated this park much earlier. The only problem now is how crowded this playground has become! Children now have multiple towers to climb which all connect through rope bridges. The playground is made of smooth wood rather than the old cold steely metal and it is much more modern. Where this was probably the saddest playgrounds in need of repair, it is now the best I have visited in central Dublin.

Paddy was a great tour guide. If you're going on a vagabond tour, make sure to listen to your…read moreguide. Tour groups that listen to the rules get to do more stuff than just what's on the itinerary because they will be able to trust you to be back to the van on time. We were able to see a lot of non touristy parts of ireland that were super scenic and peaceful. I loved seeing loads of animals including sheep, cows, dolphins, deer, birds, and dogs. We did do the bike ride and sea safari as optional extras. Very good add ons. You don't miss anything from the main tour when participating in the extras.

Everything about Vagabond Adventure Tours was amazing. We had a wonderful group that became fast…read morefriends. Our guide, Brendan, was phenomenal and had a personal touch by teaching us about the culture, seeing hidden gems, listening to Irish stories and songs. Our off road adventures had us laughing and enjoying all the countryside had to offer. The excursions were fantastic. The hotels were cozy and had tons of charm. All the food was delicious from the gourmet to the roadside stops for chicken filets. Every view is a postcard.

The house is in the Wicklow Mountains right by Glendalough. It's a superb location. You can see a…read moretower from the property. There are sheep out back. It's spring now and sheep have just had their lambs. You'd see 1 sheep with a baby hanging out. We saw magpies (birds). There is a stream in front of the house. The home is very clean and Zell greeted us warmly. The room we had was large (#5) and had a large bed with 2 twins. The shower was great. There was a hot water pot with tea and coffee. The internet, because of their location, works only downstairs in the main room. There was a black wood burning stove roaring and a nice view out the windows where we would eat breakfast. Liam talked to us a bit I. The evening. Breakfast was Irish with the sausage and black and white pudding. I don't care for it. The woman that served did not understand much English but she was kind and cordial. There was yogurt, cheese, ham, cereal and juices. Overall, I'd stay there again.

That place is sooooo cosy !!! The rooms are quite large and…read morevery cosy, the breakfast is absoulutely gorgeous, and the entire place is beautiful. Located just 15 minutes walking from the visitor Centre of Glendalough, the two owners will welcome you in the best way possible. They keep your stuff when you arrive even if the room is not ready, they give you very useful tips for your journey, and they can even book a table at the restaurant for you !!!!! The house is in the border of a little river just in front of the sun during the morning. A quiet and lovely place with good prices where you will enjoy your trip for sure!!

Spike Island tour at night was a great tour. We had the tour guide, Marion, and she was very…read moreknowledgeable about the island and it's history. The tour was great. It started in Cobh where you take a ferry across. Dress warm as the chill in the air is bitter. The tour starts off around the outskirts of the fort and makes its way into the fort. We learned about it's many faces (fort, prison, homes, etc.). once full dark sets in, there are candles around the are and it becomes pitch black. Enjoy the tour.

Third and final stop of our Culture Night was the Freemasons Hall which is in a Victorian building…read more It looked to me like this had the biggest queue and wow oh wow I can see why! Where do I even start with here? The building is pretty spectacular yet I've never paid it much attention!!! There was a guide advising us to start upstairs. First stop was the Grand Lodge room. The ceiling was something else!!! It was just incredible. The next highlight was the Knights Templar room. That is really something. Took a seat along the side of the room to just take It all in. We then wandered through the rest of the Hall before visiting the museum. It felt a little like walking in history - don't think I'll forget my visit here anytime soon.

Visited here for the Caxton's Christmas Carol event this year... Wow, the main hall is just…read morestunning. Steeped in history, this grand room is an amazing display of fine building/artwork. The room was perfect for the Christmas Carol event, the acoustics where on point and the singers made the most of the space as they split up at times and made the hall come alive. Was able to go view the museum after the show which brings you on a little journey of old Ireland. The most interesting piece was seeing the orphanage box, where there was a boy section and a girl section, in the past when donations where being collected for orphans you could decide if you wanted to give to boys or girls - shocking and yet truly reflective of our history. I don't often observe culture or the history of Dublin, it's my home city after all but every now and again, I do and when I do... I always enjoy it. This one too, if you can go and visit do, they often are part of the annual open house event, definitely worth a look!

Just back from an open adventure afternoon...ah man, im 6 again and there was no pain -yet- in…read moregoing back in age! There is a decent amount of adventure in the estate, which is massive and with a great scenic view; and yet at no point did i feel unsafe or that there was room for risk. we were a bunch of friends and a family with 2kids under 10 were taking part too. we all had the same amount of fun. Words of advice: your body temperature is going up amd down, be prepare for both. there were no tea/coffee facility when we came which is a real pity so you mihht bring ur own water.we ve been told june onwards is mad busy so booking well ahead is crucial. If you re only interested in the accommodation part of their activity, lets be honest, the houses are ugly unfinished looking things. didnt check the inside tho. i guess the amazing view and the remoteness,along with the river liffey and the sound of birds could make up for that but seriously they could have done a better job at the aesthetic of the houses. great place for fun time in families and friends.

Kippure Estate offers plenty of holiday rental properties within its 240 acres of private estate in…read morethe Wicklow mountains. First impressions are the properties are in a remote location well suited to people who want to get away from it. However, the Estate also doubles up as a team building/corporate centre so it can be far from quiet. We booked a week out of season (May 2008) for 5 adults and two infants in one of the 4 bedroom self-catering apartments. The booking was directly through the compehensive website. The standard of the property we stayed in was average - nothing special. It consisted of 3 bedrooms (one with ensuite) and bathroom on the ground floor and one bedroom on the first floor where the main lounge, dining and kitchen area was located in open plan format. The kitchen is not particularly well stocked with utensils, especially for a large family group, and it was difficult to obtain missing items from reception. Overall I would say the property was OK. For families with small children you should be aware that most days needed an hour in the car to get to the major attractions nearby e.g. the beach south of Wicklow, Glendalough, Powerscourt, etc. This also applies to provisions as there are no shops around the corner - a good 30 minute drive the nearest grocers so stock up or be prepared for a drive. However, it is a good base for day trips to Dublin. Drive to Dublin Zoo and jump on the City sightseeing bus - a good cheap option to get into Dublin avoiding the traffic. Overall, if you really want to get away from it all I would suggest looking for a cosier property that would feel comfortable in bad weather (which can be common in these parts). Unfortunately, this place did not do it for us but this is my opinion so others may love it.