Things to Do & Places to See

Mount Herbert Hotel is an ideal base if you’re visiting Dublin, with the option of hopping on the DART or the bus and getting to the city centre in just a few minutes, but there’s also a lot to see and do within the immediate vicinity. Below are a few places which can be reached on foot from the hotel.

AVIVA Stadium
The AVIVA Stadium is right next door to Mount Herbert Hotel and due to open this summer. The new home of international rugby and football will have a seated capacity of 50,000, all under roof cover, and will also host concerts and events.

Sandymount Green
Head down towards Sandymount village and relax in Sandymount Green, a small park dating from the early 1800s with horsechestnut trees that were planted by the Corbett family in the same century. The park also features a bust of W.B. Yeats, who was born at 5 Sandymount Avenue.

Sandymount Strand
For outstanding views over to Poolbeg and Dun Laoghaire, carry on down to Sandymount Strand (which features in James Joyce's "Ulysses") and join the joggers and walkers on the 1km stretch of promenade or the sandy beach. Half way along is a Martello Tower which was constructed in 1804. Also look out for the sculpture "An Cailin Ban" by Mexican artist Sebastian, donated to the city by the Mexican government.

RDS
The RDS in Ballsbridge is a few minutes walk from Mount Herbert Hotel. Founded in 1731 to improve the country’s economic condition by promoting agriculture, arts, industry and science in Ireland, the society grew into an invaluable resource which resulted in national institutions including the National Botanic Gardens, the Veterinary College, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National College of Art & Design, the National Museum of Ireland, the Natural History Museum, the National Library of Ireland and the Radium Institute. A large number of events are held at the RDS, from equestrian, rugby and soccer to concerts, shows and exhibitions.

Herbert Park
The 32 acre Herbert Park (named after Sidney Herbert, the father of the Earl of Pembroke who gave the land to the council in 1903 for development as a public park) features a number of football pitches, tennis courts, formal gardens, a duck pond, children’s play area and bowling green. This Ballsbridge park is about ten minutes walk from Mount Herbert Hotel.

National Print Museum
You’ll find the National Print Museum on Haddington Road, situated in the old Garrison Chapel of Beggars Bush Barracks. The Museum, which is about ten minutes walk away from Mount Herbert Hotel, is home to a fascinating collection of artefacts and objects relating to printing history. As well as permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Museum also runs regular workshops in printing-related crafts such as calligraphy, printmaking and batik, and holds a series of lectures each year.

Image courtesy of Michael Foley http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfoleyphotography/