Seeing the Sights - Dublin - page 85

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Seeing the Sights

D ublin is a city of many moods and landscapes. There are
medieval churches and imposing castles, graceful Georgian squares
and lantern-lit lanes, broad boulevards and crowded bridges, pictur-
esque parks and pedestrian walkways, intriguing museums and mar-
kets, gardens and galleries, and—if you have any energy left after all
that—electric nightlife. Enjoy!

1 The Top Attractions
Áras an Uachtaráin (The Irish White House) Áras an
Uachtaráin (Irish for “House of the President”) was once the Vicere-
gal Lodge, the summer retreat of the British viceroy, whose ordinary
digs were in Dublin Castle. From what were never humble begin-
nings, the original 1751 country house was expanded several times,
gradually accumulating splendor. President Mary McAleese recently
opened her home to visitors; guided tours originate at the Phoenix
Park Visitors Centre every Saturday. After an introductory historical
film, a bus brings visitors to and from Áras an Uachtaráin. The focus
of the tour is the state reception rooms. The entire tour lasts 1 hour.
Only 525 tickets are given out, first-come, first-served; arrive before
1:30pm, especially in summer.
Note: For security reasons, no backpacks, travel bags, strollers,
buggies, cameras, or mobile phones are allowed on the tour. No
smoking, eating, or drinking are permitted, and no visitor toilets are
available once the tour begins.
In Phoenix Park, Dublin 7. & 01/670-9155. Free admission. Sat 10:30am-4:30pm.
Closed Dec 24-26. Same-day tickets issued at Phoenix Park (see later in this chap-
ter). Bus: 10, 37, or 39.
The Topic of Kells The jewel in Ireland's tourism crown is
the Book of Kells, a magnificent manuscript of the four Gospels,
from around A . D . 800, with elaborate scripting and illumination.
This famous treasure and other early Christian manuscripts are on
permanent public view at Trinity College, in the Colonnades, an
exhibition area on the ground floor of the Old Library. Also housed