This is a tour for those who are fit, flexible, and want to get a feel for the city, from a local with a lot of knowledge. I worked in property, and politics, in this city for many years, so have plenty to say! However, as it is your day and your tour, I take the lead from the client's interests and if I see eyes glazing over, we change topic/take a break/change the plan. You have a guide for a day, and we make the most of it - I believe in being flexible and open. Previous tours where we have gone off plan have taken us on train trips, off to the Jewish Quarter, a themed pub crawl - you are on a holiday, not a school outing!
We start off in the gorgeous Georgian quarter of the city where you will find our museums, galleries, libraries and Parliamentary Dublin. We will dip into these for a quick tour of the highlights, covering art, literature and the treasures of our archeological museum. Two highlights for me are a Nobel medal for literature and the passport belonging to WB Yeats! If you are interested in James Joyce, we will call into Sweny's, a chemist shop that opened in 1847, and little changed. It featured in a scene in Joyce's masterpiece and now operates as a Joyce Centre, run by volunteers. Occasionally we get a song sung to us here! And of course, we will visit Oscar - Oscar Wilde, a former resident of Merrion Square and famous author, playwright and poet. There is a fabulous sculpture of him in the park, close to his former home.
En route to Dublin Castle we will walk an unusual route across Dublin's central district. This is a route that showcases our wonderful mix of shops, pubs, restaurants and heritage buildings and will take a look at some fantastic Georgian ceilings. This part of the tour is also usually the time we take a break in one of Dublin's atmospheric old pubs that do food well and I have plenty of suggestions...
Dublin Castle was the seat of British rule for over 700 years and is an interesting complex of buildings. We can tour the State Apartments, visiting the former throne room and seeing St Patrick's Hall where our Presidents are inaugurated. There is also a Revenue Museum for anyone interested in tax! The gorgeous gardens to the rear provide a welcome relaxing space and the nearby restaurant at the Chester Beatty Museum is popular with clients.
You will make your own way to the meeting points