Walking Introduction to Dublin and Ireland

We'll meet at Dublinia and walk over to St. Audoen's, Dublin’s oldest parish church dating back to 1180, and the major religious centre in medieval merchant life.

Walk over to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin’s oldest cathedral, founded by King Sitric Silkenbeard in 1030, and restored by Dublin’s largest whiskey distiller in the 1870s. Architecturally the cathedral is a remarkable example of the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic.

Cross over to Dublin Castle, established by King John in the early 1200s. The castle remained the seat of English power in Ireland from then until the handover of power to the newly independent Irish state in 1922, following the War of Independence. We will visit Dubhlinn Gardens, the site of the original Viking settlement, and from where Dublin gets its name, as well as the internal courtyards.

Walk the cobbled stones of Temple Bar, an eclectic mixture of cultural and nightlife venues, exploring its vibrant and rich street art in its streets and alleys.

A masterpiece of Palladian architecture, it was, on its opening, the first purpose built bi-cameral parliament in the world.

Established in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I it is Ireland’s oldest university, and home to the famous Book of Kells and the Long Room Library. As we cross the Front Square, we'll admire some remarkable examples of Georgian architecture.

Walk to Merrion Square, a fully intact Georgian Square dating from the 1760s and an example of 18th century urban planning. In the square’s park, we'll visit the statue of Oscar Wilde, the renowned 19th century playwright whose family home sits opposite at 1 Merrion Square.

One of the great aristocratic Georgian Houses and currently home to the Irish parliament. Next door, we will see Government Buildings, a fine example of colonial architecture and one of the last government buildings erected under British rule.

We'll finish at the largest Georgian square in the city and explore some of its art installations and sculptures which commemorate aspects of Irish history (eg. Famine, 1798, 1916 Rebellion).