The area around Dublin’s city centre is rich with attractions, from stunning country estates – survivors of the Georgian heyday – to ancient Celtic remains and some spectacular scenery and walks, both in man-made landscaped surroundings or wilder natural settings. As in days gone by, many of Ireland’s wealthy and well known choose to live in Dublin County’s peaceful villages, benefiting from their close proximity to the capital while enjoying a more traditional way of life. The 10 sights selected here are less than an hour from Dublin as long as the journeys are undertaken outside the rush hours. A number of companies run day- or half-day trips to most of the sights within easy reach of Dublin.
Tour company buses to areas outside Dublin depart from the Central Bus Station, Busarus, in Store Street. Numbers to the Newgrange site are limited so expect to queue in high season.-
Named after the traditional bathing area on Sandycove shore, this trendy bar-restaurant has magnificent views of Dublin Bay. Up-to-the-minute style and delicious food.
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Morning
Head out of Dublin on the N4 west road to Celbridge and Castletown House . Take the first tour and you will get an excellent history of the house and family as well as being talked through the architectural highlights. Negotiate your way back to the Naas Road (N7) via Clane, across the Curragh towards Kildare and the National Stud – there’s an excellent café here for a coffee. After a leisurely wander around the gardens, enjoy the fascinating and informative tour through the business of blood-stock.
After leaving here head for Russborough House by returning to Naas and taking the N81 Blessington road. The café-cum-restaurant at Russborough serves simple but delicious home-made fare for lunch. Then tour the house and savour the views of the Wicklow Mountains .
Afternoon
Retrace your steps to Naas and the N7 to Dublin and follow signs for Kilmainham Gaol and Hospital . After a sombre visit to this former prison, cut across to Kilmainham Hospital for the Irish Museum of Modern Art. If further refreshment is required, there’s a good café in the basement. Standing in the formal gardens here you get a great view across to Phoenix Park which you could visit on your way back into the centre, energy levels permitting.
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There’s a great atmosphere in this 16th-century inn, which makes the most of its antique features, large log fires and traditional Irish evenings.
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A simply decorated café serving the Avoca kitchens’ well-tested fare. Spread over a number of large rooms, the acoustics can be a bit wearing when it’s full. Wonderful views from the terrace (see Powerscourt Estate).
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This is one of the main outlets of Avoca, stocking a wide range of their own label clothes, gifts and foods. The self-serve restaurant sells huge helpings of Mediterranean food.
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Charles Stewart Parnell was born in Avondale House, which is now a museum dedicated to his memory.
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A very special restaurant in what used to be the Customs Hall. Lots of space and light with high ceilings and attractive decor. The seafood menu is delicious.
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The same idea as the original restaurant in Chatham Row (see MAO); the space here is bigger and airier – very much suited to the style of the food.
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This picturesque fishing village has a number of unusual buildings and a heritage centre.
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This was the first example of Palladianism to be constructed in Ireland (1722–32) and remains the largest and most significant of its kind in the country. Architects Alessandro Galilei and Sir Edward Lovett Pearce built the house for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish Parliament. The fine interiors were commissioned in the second half of the 18th century by Lady Louisa Lennox, the wife of Conolly’s great-nephew Tom, who took up residence here in 1758. The house remained in the family until 1965 and, after a period of ownership by the Georgian Society, is now run by the state.
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Restaurant price categories
For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
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