Last Summer Trinity College's Rose Garden provided a beautiful and idyllic setting for…read moreShakespeare's best-loved romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream. Situated behind the New Square apartments the garden provides a composed sanctuary away from the other often harried university grounds. The cherry blossom in April is a sight to savour, the pastel pinks and whites complimenting the unruffled spirit of this safe haven superbly. As the Spring draws closer you notice actors practicing plays within the garden and I was fortunate enough to see it turn into an Open Air Theatre when the official Shakespeare Company came to perform there as referred to in my opening sentence. The dramatic, vivid emerald green of the lawn and rustic auburn of the tree trunks provided a picturesque setting for this poignant performance to be carried out within. The emotion of the performance was translated well within such a stirring and unique backdrop as this creating a magical open-air festival of love, laughter and amorous adventure. Furthermore, the Elizabethan costumes worn by the actors corresponded with the romanticism attributed to the garden perfectly. With a sun-dial at the back and wrought iron birds lining the lawn this refuge from the hustle and bustle evitable within a vibrant student community as that which Trinity exudes is a wonderful place to visit. Grab a bench and enjoy an hour or two with a take away tea and enthralling book.

I visited this spot after going through the library. It was a nice sunny day and the garden was a…read morelovely place to just take a break and get some air and sun. There were some great views but I think the garden itself could be more fleshed out. I wanted more plants and flowers but it was a lot of rock and walkways which was disappointing. It was easy to get to at least and there were some benches to relax on, but that was about it.

Serenity within serenity…read more Hidden atop the Chester Beatty Library is the rooftop garden. A faded wooden sign indicates that this was designed as a contemporary Irish garden using natural materials, without trying to imitate a historic style from any particular culture. High wood trellises deliberately shield the garden from outside view, though there are small cutouts that offer a partial view of the grounds below if you stand right behind them. There are climbing plants on the trellises that are supposed to enclose the garden when they are mature. Whether you're here to unwind from a busy day, or simply to take a break during your exploration of the Library, the rooftop garden offers a tranquil, protective place to get away from it all.

I really love this place. I love bringing the doggies for…read morewalks here. The gardens are beautiful I think the tunnels and stepping stones are so much fun and all the little streams are so cool. They have ducks too which is a bonus. There are lots and lots of horses, as expected. Really great to walk around. Only ate in the cafe once and its lovely, I especially love the outdoor seating. Overall it slays

It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that this exists where it does, but here we are. It's a lovely…read morelittle place and I enjoyed my visit to the Stud Farm as well. Recommended.

So so beautiful and quirky. Love this place, amazing finds…read moreto be had. Beautiful walks

We were driving past by total chance and I saw the sign for 'The Green Barn' as I was heading…read moretowards Athy looking for a place to stop on our journey from Dublin to Kilkenny. It's part of Burton House and it's one of the most amazing food venues in Ireland, the craftsmanship and architecture is just superb against the stunning backdrop of the curated vegetable gardens. It's pure heaven, I really hope it gets the visitors it needs though it was quiet when we were there on a Friday afternoon. Apparently it opened in October 2016 so it might not be well known yet.

We visited Mount Usher Gardens last Sunday morning with some of the kids and we all had a really…read moregreat time. While I have come to appreciate beautiful gardens and views over the years, I was quite surprised at how much the kids enjoyed the walk through the gardens, along the riverbank, through the wildflower meadows, around the rare trees and shrubs and across the suspended walk-bridges. It cost about EU 25 for the 5 of us, and we got a couple of hours of real enjoyment from this. Over the next few months the trees and shrubs will bloom at different times and I expect to visit again to see the colours change. We finished up with lunch in the Avoca restaurant in the gardens. The restaurant is excellent, as all Avoca's seem to be. Great food and excellent service. Next time I visit Mount Usher, I will book a table in the restaurant before I start the tour of the gardens so that I can avoid queing for a table when I'm ready for lunch. The only snag was the very limited parking.

I guess the middle of winter isn't the best time to visit a botanical garden however we still…read morereally enjoyed ourselves while on the tree trail. It's nice to have outdoor options during covid times so this was a perfect spot to spend some time outside the house.

Hidden gem in the beautiful surroundings of the gothic Tullynally castle and woodlands…read more Superb home cooking in an authentic rustic cafe served by the delightful Shirley and her team. The castle and court yard also host a wide range of events from classical music to a vintage car rally that arrived when I was there. Castlepollard may be off the beaten tourist track but, if you are in the area, its well worth a diversion for a leisurely coffee and some home baking.

This was on my bucket list forever and I made it! It was…read moreamazing joining local folks for a swim in the sea. These were people who are there every morning. It was great making friends, if even for an hour or two. The water was cold at first but once acclimated, refreshing and invigorating. Once a men's only bathing area it's now a year-round endeavor for all. Hope to go back again.

The forty foot is a deep sea inlet between Sandycove and Bullock harbours just south of Dublin…read more People come here all year round to to swim in the Irish sea; even in winter. The best time to come here is on Christmas Day when loads of mad men, women and children come to jump of the rocks into the freezing water. Why? I have no idea, but make sure you bring your camera cause it is a sight to behold!

Its a easy experience to go through, beautiful castle with free lockers to store backpacks.read more

Dublin Castle was originally built in the early 1200s as a medieval fortress under the instruction…read moreof King John of England. For centuries, it was the headquarters of English (and eventually British) rule in Ireland. In 1684, a large fire destroyed a large portion of the castle. Instead of matching the original Gothic style, most of it was rebuilt using a Georgian style, similar to what you'd find in the French Palace of Versailles! It's quite the contrast. When you visit Dublin Castle, you can choose to explore it in two ways: with a self-guided tour to the state apartments or with a scheduled guided tour that visits the Viking Excavation, the Chapel Royal, and the State Apartments. When you first enter the courtyard, you'll immediately see the newer Georgian architecture in the neat red brick buildings surrounding the square. From the 13th century to the early 20th century, the castle was under British control. It served from being a royal palace and parliament to a prison. Dublin Castle was eventually handed over to General Michael Collins on the 16th of January in 1922. Collins was a soldier and a politician who lead the Irish people through their fight for Independence Dublin Castle plays a huge role in Ireland's history and a walk around the grounds is time well spent. Today the castle is a government complex and tourist attraction. Stroll through the famous Chester Beatty Library if time permits