The Casino at Marino is one of the best examples of neo-classical architecture in Ireland, and is…read moreone of very few follies still extant in the country (if you don't know what a folly is, it is a type of building that was built by aristocrats to look really good, but not really to perform a specific function. Think of it as a big granite play-house). The building is called 'Casino' as in the Italian for 'little house' (gambling houses were not known as casinos until later), and was built by the architect Sir William Chambers for James Caulfield, the 1st Earl of Charlemont in the 18th Century. The building is like a big optical illusion, as from a distance it looks like it contains only one vast room, but when you get up close, it becomes apparent that it contains a number of rooms across a several floors. And for such a grandiose design, the building itself is actually quite small. And some of the columns were constructed hollow to contain drainpipes in order that the facade would not look cluttered, and the urns on the roof contain chimneys. It's a pity more people don't visit the Casino, although it is understandable as it is located somewhat off the beaten track, not only because it is in the northside suburbs, but also because the entrance isn't even on the main road, you have to go through a housing estate to get there. A sadly overlooked architectural gem on Dublin's northside.

My brother's girlfriend works in Marino teacher training college and she was raving to me how…read moreamazing this place is and was at me to take the tour. The tour takes just under an hour and I am really glad that I heeded her tip. It really is amazing to see the eccentricities too much money will allow you to indulge. "The Casino was designed by Sir William Chambers as a pleasure house for James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont. It is one of the finest 18th century neoclassical buildings in Europe The Casino, meaning "small house", surprisingly contains 16 finely decorated rooms, endlessly rich in subtlety and design. It is a remarkable building - both in terms of structure and history." James Caulfeild did not want his guests to be disturbed by the presence of servants, heaven forbid, so there is a separate corridor for them to bring the food etc to the guests in the room.

The Yeats House is a strange tourist attraction - restored completely in the late 1990s, it now…read morefunctions as offices to an interior design firm. You are permitted to visit and have a look around, but you'll be walking amongst the interior designers who work here - it is best to phone ahead and let them know you are coming. Admission is free. Yeats lived here from 1922 to 1928, after which time the house went into disrepair. It was almost in ruin by the time renovations began in the late 1990s. The grandiose marble fireplaces and lavish chandeliers are not original to no. 82, but they were sourced from other buildings around Merrion Square. The main room of interest is the drawing room, where Yeats entertained eminent figures from the Irish literary scene, and performed some of his most famous plays.

This house - No.82 - has been brilliantly restored by its current occupants 'Merrion Property…read moreGroup' to what it looked like when the famous Nobel Laureate poet, Senator WB Yeats lived there in the 20's. You can see his office/study, the reception rooms etc; the hall as well, if one only sees that, is exquisite, and at the back of the hall, there is a delicious mosaic embroidery, done by Yeat's sisters, Dolly and Lily. Apart from anything else, it's great to get inside a Georgian house on Dublin's most famous Georgian Square, Merrion Square.

O'Connell Street is one of the most well-known and popular streets in Dublin…read more Lots of important history on the street: The Spire Daniel O'Connell Statue General Post Office The street boasts tons of shopping, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and so on.

O'Connell Street is a large, busy street with lots of people, buses and trams, beautiful buildings,…read moreand lots of stores. It is a little grittier than Grafton Street and felt a little less safe. The 1916 uprising memorial Museum is here. There is a cool Dublin sign that lights up at night. It had lots of small convenience stores. It also intersex with another street that had lots of shopping with brand-name stores, chemist, and restaurants.

In the basement of the main post office, this is a wonderful small museum focused on the history of…read moreDublin and the postal service. There are lots of interactive screens which you can touch and read more info and see pictures. A lot of content if you actually go through everything. Really enjoyed seeing the objects and 'sets' of what some of these places used to look like.

Gayle, Fern, Don, and I really enjoyed the "Rebel Rising" tour at the GPO (General Post Office)…read more We took this tour in the afternoon, and on the same day were at the Kilmainham Gaol in the morning. Those 2 taken together really gave us a comprehensive looks at event leading up to the 1916 Easter Rising, Irish Independence, the Civil War and lots of context both before and after. Both tours were docent led which really adds depth over anything self-guided. The exhibits themselves were well curated and interactive. There's also a nice gift shop here, and a working post office in the same building and just through a side door. GPO property remains a magnet for political activism, which was evident when we stepped out the door into the street.

What a beautiful landmark and historic one too. I walked across this bridge daily from my hotel to…read moredowntown. There are plenty of bridges but this one stood out the most, small but surely carried more foot traffic, especially tourists than others. At night, it's such a wonderful lighting with the traditional Irish green. Pretty epic.

Such a beautiful landscape. Definitely brought over a ton…read moreof tourists, but everyone says it's a must see!

Even though we did not actually go onto the island itself, the ferry boat tour around the Eye of…read moreIreland was still such a beautiful experience. Being out on the ocean and seeing the island from the water gave us incredible views of the rugged coastline and dramatic seaside cliffs. One of the highlights was getting to see puffins and the many different seabirds that live on and around the island. Watching them fly around the cliffs and rest along the rocks made the experience feel so peaceful and special. The scenery was absolutely stunning and felt like something out of a postcard. The entire boat ride was relaxing, scenic, and a wonderful way to experience the natural beauty of the area. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Howth, especially if you enjoy wildlife, ocean views, and beautiful coastal landscapes.

My review of Ireland's Eye is a little biased considering the weather I got while here. So it's a…read moresmall Island just a few minutes by boat from Howth harbour (so easily accessible from the city by DART). The Island has a nice beach, 7th century castle, Martello tower (climb up the rope to get inside!) and small cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. It's a perfect spot for a picnic and day out in the sun, you will not believe you are still in Dublin. OK, so lets talk about the ultimate way to see this island! On those rare calm days, don your wetsuit, grab a SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) and venture out from Howth harbour. Ok, so most of us can't just do that, but if a calm spell is coming contact the guys in Puremagic (Clontarf Rd). They are a super friendly group and they organise SUP lessons and SUParis around the Island. I went out on a SUP with Puremagic on a Friday evening and it was one of the most amazing things I've done in my 27 years in Dublin. As you approach the Island you will see curious seals starting to pop there heads out of the water. Before you know it you'll be surrounded by over 20 of them, some continued to follow us around the island. The side of the Island facing away from the coast is beautiful cliff face with large nesting bird colones. As I passed peacefully on my SUP just meters from the cliff face I could see thousands of birds flying, diving and skimming along the water. My favorite bird was the razorbill, they seem to struggle flying out of the water and spent most of the time skimming along on there belly, they looked like a cross between a penguin and a flying bird. There are also a few small caves along the cliff that a pretty cool to venture into. There is a sandy beach on the Island and when the tide is in there are a few spots from the rocks that provide a good spot for a bit of diving. So I've rambled, but I can not recommend SUPari around the Island more, so if you get the chance, DO IT!

Just like so many other memorials and tributes, this one is dedicated to victims of battle-people…read morefighting for their rights and freedom. No matter the culture, this seems to be a prevailing characteristic of humanity-we like to fight each other. It's a lovely little garden with a water feature in the center. There's a large sculpture at the end which depicts four children who were transformed into swans and will turn back into humans after 900 years, according to the legend of the Children of Lir.

One of the must see free gardens and parks in Dublin. We met our tour guide here as he deemed it…read morethe "staple of the city center" and talked about the significance of the Garden of Remembrance. If you've taken any time to study Irish history - you'll know the Irish fought for their land and freedoms for centuries and often times, they were not the victors. In the few years spent traveling to Ireland you'll hear a lot of the Irish people's plight for freedom and it was never an easy battle. Essentially this garden of remembrance signifies the Irish people and their contributions towards fighting for their freedoms. What I found interesting is that Our tour guide called himself a "blue blood" which in simpler terms he referred to him being a true Dublin local and that these garden means a lot to his people and those working in the city. He taught us a lot about the grounds, the fountains and statues. We toured the grounds with him and they were very nice and well kept. While looking over the fountain statues we were introduced to one of the groundskeepers as well. As lovely as it is it's also a somber place. We were told the story of what the children and swan statue represents, an Irish folklore. All interesting stuff and while the garden is free, I'd highly recommend hiring a local guide as there is so much we wouldn't have learned had we not had someone to tell us the history and stories of what we were looking at on the grounds.

A wonderful pub in Howth that is in a very convenient place! The service and staff are great, as…read morewell as good fun. I went during subs live music and, though it was crowded, it was a very good time!

The Bloody Stream - no not the pub the actual stream. I am sure a lot of visitors to Howth think…read morewhat a strange name for a pub but little do they know running beneath the train station is "The Bloody Stream" So here is the history bit . . . in 1177 there was a big battle between The Vikings who were the locals in Howth at the time and the Normans who arrived into the harbour to attack. The Normans defeated The Vikings and the blood from the dead and wounded flowed into the river giving it it's name. During many excavations weapons, armour and human remains were found around the site of the train station. The head of the Norman invaders, Sir Almeric Tristram, having won the battle became the first Earl of Howth and as the battle was won on the feast day of St.Lawrence he adopted St. Lawrence as his family name. His decedents, the St.Lawrence family still live in Howth Castle today. The stream runs down from the castle and then disappears under the main road - you will pass a little waterfall of the stream on the right just before you come into Howth. #yelpelite2016 #yelpelite