Recently in Ireland Category

Ireland has a literary tradition that goes back centuries, with writers such as Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde calling the Emerald Isle home, but none are more respected than James Joyce. The consummate Irish novelist, Joyce defined the Irish experience in the early 20th century in such works as Dubliners, Finnegans Wake, and his all-time classic, Ulysses. Those curious to learn more about Joyce should drop by the James Joyce Centre in Dublin, where exhibits detail his storied career and bring to life the land that shaped his ideas. In an exhibition entitled James Joyce & Ulysses, for example, interactive installations and three films delve into the novel and the historical events that surrounded it, including the controversy surrounding its publication. The Joyce Studt gives visitors an idea of the environment in which Joyce wrote his masterwork while living in Trieste, Zurich, and Paris from 1914 to 1922. There's even the front-door from No. 7 Eccles Street (Leopold Bloom's home in Ulysses) on display in the backyard. Lectures and special events are held periodically, but to experience Dublin as Joyce did, take one of three guided walking tours, including the Joyce Circular, Dubliners, and In the Footsteps of Leopold Bloom, which explores the background of Ulysses and Bloom's thoughts as he crosses the city. It's literature in motion. Guests at the Westin Dublin might enjoy this inspired tribute to Ireland's most beloved novelist.

[image via James Joyce Centre]

Visitors to Dublin usually make a beeline for the Guinness brewery at St. James's Gate, but the source of the city's second most popular tipple deserves a visit as well. The Old Jameson Distillery has been producing one of Ireland's finest whiskeys on Bow Street in downtown Dublin since 1780, and a look into its inner workings is like a glimpse into the soul of Ireland itself. Tours of the old works are available every day, with guides explaining every step of Jameson's famous "barley to bottle" process. The finer points of malting, milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, and maturing whiskey are laid out in interactive exhibits, so you can see how everything has to be just right to achieve a consistent flavor. At the conclusion of the tour, you'll naturally want to sample some whiskey, so pay a visit to the Jameson bar for a glass of this exquisite uisce beathadh ("water of life"), or enjoy a meal made with local produce from nearby Smithfield Market at the 3rd Still Restaurant. From the sacks of grain to the giant copper kettles that distill its essence, the tour is a fascinating window into one of the country's most beloved national products. Guests at the Westin Dublin might enjoy this tribute to an icon of Irish spirits.

Most world cities have urban parks where one can retreat for a few hours of solitude amid the chaos, but none do it quite like Dublin. That's because Dublin's Phoenix Park is the largest municipal park within city limits in Europe, with 1,760 acres (712 hectares) of natural green space for visitors to spread out and do pretty much anything they like. Nature buffs can wander acres of gardens and wilderness trails, snapping a few photos of the park's resident herd of fallow deer as they graze on the lawn. Families might want to hit the Dublin Zoo, which provides a home to more than 700 animals from around the world, with everything from snow leopards to Sumatran tigers. Those looking for some history can drop by Ashtown Castle, a restored 15th century tower house located next to the visitor center. If the weather's nice, it's often best to just wander the rolling green hills of the park, taking in monuments such as the Wellington Testimonial (pictured), which commemorates the military victories of the First Duke of Wellington. It's the largest obelisk in Europe. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a greener perspective on the Irish capital. Phoenix Park is minutes from the Westin Dublin.

[image via Heritage Ireland]

One of the greatest joys of European travel is visiting ancient castles, retracing the steps of kings and queens who once ruled all the surrounding lands. Visitors to Dublin looking to get their castle fix need look no further than the nearby village of Malahide, where Malahide Castle has stood for more than 800 years as a symbol of wealth, power, and political influence. It was founded by Richard Talbot in 1185, and remained occupied by his ancestors through 1973. Now open to the public, it provides visitors with a vivid look at the life of the nobility in Ireland for most of the last millennium. From the outside, it looks just perfect, with crenelated towers and green ivy creeping up its stony facade. Inside, it's a living museum of Irish history, with period furniture, an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, and many of the day to day items that generations of nobility would have used. Also on the property is the Frye Model Railway, which depicts the railways of Ireland in the 1920's and 1930's, and Tara's Palace, a 1/12 scale dollhouse filled with classic dolls and toys. Be sure to stroll through the Talbot Botanic Gardens, a walled garden with glass houses and a Victorian conservatory containing flowers and plants from around the world. It's just one of many gems to be discovered in this noble estate a stone's throw from the Westin Dublin.