Seeing the Sights - Dublin - page 118

to the top of Dalkey Hill; from here you can see the expanse of the
bay, the Wicklow Hills in the distance, and the obelisk topping
nearby Killiney Hill. If you continue on to the obelisk, there is a
trail leading from there down on the seaward side to Vico Road,
another lovely place for a seaside walk. It's about .8km (half a mile)
from the parking lot to Killiney Hill.
WATERSPORTS Certified level-one and level-two instruction and
equipment rental for three watersports—kayaking, sailing, and wind-
surfing—are available at the Surfdock Centre, Grand Canal Dock
Yard, Ringsend, Dublin 4 ( & 01/668-3945; fax [phone]; www.
surfdock.ie). The center has 17 hectares (42 acres) of enclosed fresh
water for its courses. It's open from June to September.
6 Spectator Sports
GAELIC SPORTS If your schedule permits, try to get to a Gaelic
football or hurling match—the only indigenously Irish games and
two of the fastest-moving sports in the world. Gaelic football is
vaguely a cross between soccer and American football; you can move
the ball with either your hands or feet. Hurling is a lightning-speed
game in which 30 men use heavy sticks to fling a hard leather ball
called a sliotar —think field hockey meets lacrosse. Both amateur
sports are played every weekend throughout the summer at various
local fields, culminating in September with the All-Ireland Finals,
the Irish version of the Super Bowl. For schedules and admission
fees, phone the Gaelic Athletic Association, Croke Park, Jones
Road, Dublin 3 ( & 01/836-3222; www.gaa.ie).
GREYHOUND RACING Watching these lean, swift canines is
one of the leading spectator sports in the Dublin area. Races are held
throughout the year at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium,
Southlotts Road, Dublin 4 ( & 01/668-3502 ), and Harold's Cross
Stadium, 151 Harold's Cross Rd., Dublin 6 ( & 01/497-1081 ). For
a complete schedule and details for races throughout Ireland, contact
Bord na gCon (the Greyhound Board), Limerick ( & 061/315788;
www.igb.ie).
HORSE RACING The closest racecourse to the city center is the
Leopardstown Race Course, off the Stillorgan road (N11),
Foxrock, Dublin 18 ( & 01/289-2888; www.leopardstown.com).
This modern facility with all-weather glass-enclosed spectator stands
is 9.7km (6 miles) south of the city center. Racing meets—mainly