tourist attractions dublin

Kilmainham Gaol is the largest unoccupied gaol on the island of Ireland. A tour of the facilities gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what it was like to be a prisoner in one of these strongholds of punishment and correction between 1796, when it opened, and 1924 when it closed.
The gaol has played a very important role in Irish history with the leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 being detained here. The leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising wer...

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is one of the most exciting developments in the Irish arts world.
The museum presents, through its permanent collection and temporary programmes, international and Irish art of the 20th century with associated educational and community programmes.
Performance, theatre and music are included in its work, with particular emphasis on the overlap between the visual and performing arts.
The Royal Hospital Kilmainham, the finest 17th-century bu...

The Gardens, 19.5 hectares on the south bank of the Tolka, contain many attractive features including an arboretum, rock garden and Burren area, large pond, extensive herbaceous borders, student garden and annual display of decorative plants including a rare example of Victorian carpet bedding.

Glass houses include the beautifully restored curvilinear range built by Richard Turner between 1843 and 1869. The large Palm House is being restored. There is a well stocked alpine house and...

The castle was first built about 1204 by King John of England as a stronghold to protect against the Irish and to safe-keep treasure. It was the headquaters of the English government in Ireland for many centuries until it was won back by the Irish Free State in 1922.
Famous accomplishments to take place here include the night that Michael Collins broke into the castle during the Black and Tan War to see if he could find if the British had any information about him. And in 1907 the Irish...

Building work on this impressive Georgian building began in 1776 and was based on the designs of architect Thomas Cooley. On the death of Cooley in 1784, work continued, to an enhanced design by the renowned architect James Gandon. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Ruthland in 1786 and the building was completed in 1802 although the first court session took place in 1796.
It has a fine central block with an arched courtyard and end pavilion on either side. The portico is sup...

The main entrance to the park is on Parkgate Street in Dublin 7. The Phoenix Park is made up of extensive lawns, tree-lined pathways, nature trails, lakes as well as ornamental gardens. Admission to the park is free and you'll also get the chance to see a deer or two as it's home to a herd of wild deer.
Attractions within the park include Dublin Zoo, the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, the Wellington Monument, the Papal Cross, which was erected in memory of Pope John Paul II's visit in 19...

Defensive walls were built around Dublin at various times by the Vikings, the Normans and their successors. Although only a few sections still survive, old documents - especially a detailed report of 1585 - give location and descriptions of the walls, gates and towers. Look out for a series of granite markers erected in 1991 at various points along the line of the walls....

The Book of Kells contains a Latin text of the four gospels richly decorated by Irish monks around the year 800 AD. The greatest Irish work of art to survive from the Middle Ages, it has been in the library of Trinity College Dublin since the 1660s.
The ’Picturing the Word’ exhibit will place it in its historical and cultural context and compares its images and techniques to those in contemporary metalwork, bone, slate, stone and enamels. Much of the exhibition is an analysis of its ani...

James Butler, Duke of Ormonde, founded the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham having first obtained a charter from charles II in 1680.

The Duke's plans for a hospice for pensioner soldiers was based on the institution of 'Les Invalides' in Paris. The Royal Hospital is now the oldest surviving fully classical building in Ireland. It is also the largest 17th century building.

Ranged around the quadrangle, the building includes the Master's Quarters for the governor of the hospita...