The Wonderful West

Above are pictures that I took this past weekend after my trip to the West coast of Ireland.

A large group of us, about 45 students, toured the area and had an incredible time! After driving for a few hours, we arrived in Galway Friday night and had dinner at Monroe’s Pub. Not only was their Irish strew delicious but their live music was also quite entertaining.

Saturday morning, we woke up early and visited the Cliffs of Moher. If you are traveling to Ireland, you MUST see the Cliffs before you leave. As Ireland’s number 1 tourist site, the Cliffs surpassed my expectations and were breathtaking. The gorgeous scenery provides an excellent opportunity for photo-taking and the tourist shops at the site are filled with great memorabilia and trinkets.

Later in the day, we drove past Dunguaire Castle, had lunch on a farm, went on a hike up a small mountain, and even watched a Gaelic football game. We then spent Saturday night in the village of Carron in county Clare. This small town, surrounded by farmland, has just a pub, church, and post office. After dinner the local townspeople played traditional Irish music for us. Therefore not only did my trip to the West allow me to experience life in a small Irish village but it also incorporated the vibrant city-life of Galway. On the way back to Dublin on Sunday we stopped at Fanore Beach for a quick dip in the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Although my weekend was busy and tiring, it was definitely worth it. Thankfully, the weather was gorgeous both days. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Ireland truly is such a beautiful country and driving from Dublin to Galway allowed me to see its green fields, rolling hills, and roaming cows and sheep.

I’m having such an amazing time so far in Ireland and I can’t wait for more adventures to come!

Courtney

This Weekend in Dublin

The first Indian Film Festival Ireland opens today and runs until Monday 28th June in Rathmines. As well as film screenings the festival also offers discussion forums and public interviews and ends with a charity gala dinner. You can take a look at what some of the films are about on their blog.

The Dublin Pride Festival is on until Sunday 27th June, with an extensive list of events on offer including céilís, club nights, workshops, community street festivals and more. The Dublin Pride Parade takes place on Saturday and is the festival’s flagship event.

Interning at Mount Herbert Hotel

Our intern Courtney will be sharing her insights and experiences of being in Ireland on our blog over the next few weeks. Here's her first post!


Hi everyone,

My name is Courtney and for the next 6 weeks I will be interning in the Finance Department at the wonderful Mount Herbert Hotel in Dublin. I will be entering my junior year in college in the fall, and I’m here through Boston University’s Dublin Internship Program with Dublin City University. In addition to my internship, I am taking a course in Irish History. Even though I’ve only been here for two weeks, I quickly discovered how easy it is to maneuver around this beautiful country. Living in Boston I know how difficult it can be to learn and navigate all the different bus and subway lines, so I have found transportation here surprisingly simple. One of the first things I noticed upon my arrival is that Dublin is a very compact city. Nearly everything is close or easily walkable. I am also quite amazed at how clean they keep the local streets, even though they are always full of tourists and people traveling to and from work. Street sweepers are constantly traveling up and down the roads collecting any dust or debris. For those considering coming to Dublin, I would highly recommend it. Not only is the city gorgeous, but the people are incredibly welcoming and friendly. Most are not afraid of starting a pleasant conversation with a stranger and love to contribute to the banter of a good laugh. Everyone I have met around Dublin and at Mount Herbert Hotel exude the kindness and warmth to make any visitor feel right at home!

For those considering coming to Dublin for only a few days, I would highly suggest the following:

• Tour the Guinness Storehouse – Although self-guided, the tour is organized remarkably well. Not only do you get to learn how Guinness is created, but you also receive a free pint at their Gravity Bar.

• Take a stroll through St. Stephen’s Green – If you get a nice and sunny day, walking through this beautiful green park is a great idea. You’ll be guaranteed to see many walking, relaxing, and picnicking.

• Temple Bar – As one of the most famous areas in Dublin, Temple Bar is a must for any tourist. Listen to Irish music and take in the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub.

• Tour Trinity College – In the heart of Dublin center, Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university. If you take a guided tour by a student at Trinity you can not only see the famous Book of Kells but also the college’s beautiful stone buildings.

• Consider staying at Mount Herbert Hotel. It has a great location and wonderful amenities.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be providing details about my experiences while exploring Ireland. Hopefully, it will give helpful insight to those thinking about or planning a trip to visit the Emerald Isle!

Cirque du Soleil at The O2 Dublin

The O2 is easily reached from Mount Herbert Hotel so check out our great room only or B&B rates if you need accommodation for Cirque du Soleil. Or treat yourself to overnight accommodation, a pre-show dinner in our Tritonville Bar & Terrace and full Irish breakfast the next morning from just €44.50 per person sharing. Free secure parking is available at the hotel.

Rooftop View

Here's the view from the roof of Mount Herbert Hotel - as you can see Dublin 4 is indeed very leafy. The AVIVA Stadium makes for an impressive backdrop and you can also see the new Convention Centre Dublin to the right (nicknamed the Dyson!) in the last image. That's our Maintenance Manager Michael in the photo above!

This Weekend In Dublin

Below are two festivals on in Dublin this weekend offering not only a variety of entertainment but also the opportunity to participate!

The AIB Street Performance World Championships are on in Merrion Square, Dublin until the 20th June. Drop along to the park and watch contortionists, magicians, breakdancers, comedians and more battle it out for the title. On Sunday there's a World Record Space Hopper attempt taking place outside the Pepper Canister Church, Mount Street, Dublin 2! See more details and register to participate.

Let's French, a festival of French music, runs until 21st June and includes concerts, a film screening of Gainsbourg at the IFI (followed by a Gainsbourg party) and an open mic session at Alliance Française's Cafe des amis on Saturday. You have to register to particpate in the open mic session by emailing cultural@alliance-francaise.ie.

Both of these festivals are easily accessed from Mount Herbert Hotel, either using the DART, bus or on foot.

This Weekend in Dublin

In addition to the Bloomsday Festival featured in our last post, this weekend you can also sample food from the city’s top restaurants at the Taste of Dublin. Held in the Iveagh Gardens, the restaurant festival runs until Sunday 13th June and features well-known and emerging chefs including I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here winner Gino D’Acampo.

At Trinity College, As You Like It is being performed in the front square by The GB Company as part of the Trinity College Dublin Shakespeare Festival. Ending Saturday 12th June, performances begin at 7.30pm each night with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. A variety of Shakespearean performances are also taking place around the city during the daytime with nightly events including lectures, performances and live music, all free of charge.

Art enthusiasts can check out The National College of Art & Design’s Graduate & Postgraduate Show, which opens today and is on until the 20th June. The exhibition includes ceramics, glass, metals, industrial design, fashion design, textile design, visual communication, fine print, media, painting and sculpture.

Bloomsday 2010

Bloomsday Festival starts on Saturday 12th June and runs until Wednesday 16th. The celebration of Ulysses includes four different walking tours in Dublin along with a variety of theatre, music, talks and readings in various venues around the city. See the James Joyce Centre website for a full list of events.

Mount Herbert Hotel is a few minutes from Sandymount Strand, which features in Ulysses, and is ideal for a seaside stroll. Afterwards you could drop in to our Tritonville Bar & Terrace for a homemade soup and a freshly cut sandwich for just €8, or coffee / tea with scone or muffin for €5.

This Weekend in Dublin

We're having great weather for Bloom, Ireland's largest garden festival, which starts today and runs until Monday 7th June. The festival is on in Phoenix Park (with Shuttle Bus running from Heuston Station) and includes a Family Fun & Learning Zone, Spectacular Show Gardens and Artisan Food Market.

On Monday the streets of Dublin will be filled with women taking part in the Flora Women's Mini Marathon. Good luck if you're participating!

Dulin Writers Festival started this week and runs until Sunday 6th June. Readings and conversations take place in venues across the city including Abbey Theatre, Dublin City Gallery - Hugh Lane, Dublin Writers Museum, Project Arts Centre, and more.

Check out the sailing ships, take part in (or watch!) the Docklands Swim, browse River Liffey quayside market stalls and enjoy street entertainment at Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival, which starts tomorrow and runs until Monday 7th June.