This is the type of place you see spring up in New York, where a load of amazing and quirky and…read morecreative people get off their amazing and quirky and creative asses and do something amazing and quirky and creative. Nestled away just off Queen St and Benburb St, with buildings all around, and the Luas running right next to it, is the Art Tunnel Smithfield. A 70m long narrow strip of garden slash art gallery slash park slash community area. It's truly amazing what's been done here in I believe about 10 months. A narrow, derelict site has been changed into something truly wonderful for the community to own and be part of and use to enrich their lives. The space is divided into a few sections - 1) A wild section out the back that hasn't been leveled or 'done' in anyway - just allowed to grow and be a home for local flora and fauna 2) A community art section that will soon be encased by gorgeous creepers, making it feel nearly like a secret garden art gallery. Any member of the community can ask to put something up here - at the moment it's full of small canvasses made by eight year olds, and they are fab! 3) A small seating area where you can sit with your book, or chat to others who are using the space 4) A curated arts section for more large scale pieces by emerging artists. You will need to come down to really see what these wonderful pieces are about This is all housed amongst flowers and greenery not normally seen in areas like this. Anyone can become a key holder - just contact the guys through the Facebook page, or get down there yourself and have a chat. I'm delighted I've found it and will certainly be making the most of it!

Stumbled across this place the other day on my way somewhere else…read more It's like finding a Narnia-like garden in the middle of the city. It is there for any local residents to use. You can go in and garden, create art, or just admire what's already there. This is the type of place that makes Dublin the unique city it is.

This was really cool!…read more They have a huge archive of classic English surnames. Mine, Saunders is an English/Welsh name derivative of Anderson. I was able tot get a plaque with my last name, which had history and other cool information and our family crest. I also got a pin for my brother with the coat of Arms. If you have a surname of English lineage, this shop is really cool!

Amazing service, nothing was too much trouble for the Team. I was absolutely delighted with the…read morerefurbished plaque and the amazing painting of the armorials by the heraldic artist. The attention to detail was incredible. I also have to mention the kindness and consideration shown to me when I discovered my wallet was missing from my handbag as I went to pay going so far as to call the Resturant I had recently left to enquire if it had been found. I cannot recommend House of Names highly enough for their professional service/ attention to detail and a "caring" attutide towards their customers.

Dublin Tourist Guide: Trinity College - the Long Room…read more If you're traveling to Dublin you must make a few hours to walk Trinity College. I'll share more about the college itself on that yelp page but this review is strictly for the library at Trinity college with an emphasis on the Long Room (one of the most famous views on the campus). Built in the 1700s this library has been used in reference in so many movies and many people will recognize these photos from social media, as it's a highly photographed spot from the college. I was extremely lucky that despite coming in the summer we came on a weekday and it wasn't as packed as most people's own pictures seem to reflect. So my pro tip of course would be to come off season, but if you can't - even us coming in peak tourist season a weekday mid afternoon was a great time to come. The library is literally stunning. I'll honestly never forget it and for as simple as a library may seem, it was one of my favorite historical spots (indoors) that I had seen. The library is roped off on the sides so you don't have full access which makes sense as they don't want people touching the books. Being in the center though you still got great views and I was also lucky to come when they weren't doing maintenance on the library. Something to keep in mind as I've seen they sometimes remove the books for cleaning and maintenance, so something to look up before coming. 5/5 would recommend coming to the long room at the library, a great spot to check out.

Must-visit part of Trinity College in Dublin - we stopped by after The Book of Kells…read more The long room is a library with tens of thousands of books and busts of famous men and women (like Socrates and Shakespeare) lining both sides. It also houses the Brian Boru Harp, which is the oldest surviving Irish harp and a symbol of Ireland. Other notable artifacts include The Irish Proclamation of 1916, and various books and letters of scientific and cultural significance - from botanical drawings to world maps to metal coins. Wish I had taken more time to browse - will be back!

I love a pedestrian-only shopping district and Henry Street in Dublin has it with a lovely mix of…read morehigh-street brands and local boutiques. There's a diverse selection of stores, including well-known brands like Zara, M&S, and Debenhams and lots of smaller shops and ethnic options. The area has attractive cafes and eateries. There's a bustling vibe and the central location near the GPO Museum and The Spire, Henry Street is a must-see for anybody wishing to experience Dublin's retail and cultural scene. [Review 1835 of 2024 - 92 in Republic of Ireland - 22857 overall]

While walking in Dublin, it is completely necessary to stroll down Henry Street to mingle with…read morelocals and tourists alike. Along this pedestrian-only promenade are countless shops and a handful of restaurants. The span stretches three-tenths of a mile under the names Mary Street and Henry Street from Wolfe Tone to O'Connell Street. The local flavor, the electricity, the shopping are all an enjoyable immersion within Dublin. The only drawback is the lack of quality restaurants along the way. Only Butlers Chocolate Café and The Church are worth dining in this particular stretch. The installation of a reputable eatery could be a massive success in this area.

So glad that we ended up being in Dublin during the night market, and that we happened to see a…read moreflyer about the night market. Although it's very small and not so many vendors, I thought it was great, and the vendors that were there were really nice. I ended up buying something from 3 vendors, and as a bonus, knocked out some souvenirs. Personally, I'd rather support the local vendors rather than the shops around Temple bar.

Thought I would check this out last Thursday, as I had been looking for some cheaper things to do…read morethat could get me out of the apartment during the week. I have to say this was a lot of fun! There was loads of booths selling everything you could think of, from picture frames, to statues, to scarves! Live painting (which was REALLY interesting to watch) and live music. Definitely great craic for a thursday night. Can't wait to check out the next one!

Outdoor art along the River Liffie…read more Horror and loss is defined in the faces We are great fans of outdoor statues Irish potato famine is not clearly understood in US We recommend a visit to nearby EPIC

The famine memorial on the Customs House Quay is in remembrance of the Great Famine of 1845-1849,…read morewhich saw the population of Ireland cut in half through death and emigration. (It's very near the EPIC Museum, which tells the story of some of those migrants.) The memorial shows emigrants leaving Ireland for a new life and is worth a visit if you're in the area.

Tonight off I went to one more event, part of the "Dublin Food Porn" theme. It was a 1h or so quick…read moreset up in the basement of the trendy Platform 61 in D2. The crew had their masks and leathers on and there were leaflets of lube of different flavours and tingling things... The place itself is very small and there were many people so got a bit overcrowded and warm. There was a queue of at least 20 girls waiting for a bit of make-up so I preferred to look at the products, chat and try the cocktails and nibbles. My stars go to the delicious mint and vodka drinks and to the absolutely delish creme brûlée! The event itself didn't have much interaction though. The goodie bag had a discount voucher, 2 condoms and a few small samples of lube.

Finally, I feel connected to the world and my own nationality. I don't drink alcohol, never had a…read moretaste for it, probably because I've a maaaaaajor sweet tooth hehe! Good food is my only buzz. I was on a Youth Exchange with Italian folk and swore I was meant to be Italian because of their love of fine foods. I am a food enthusiast and am always eating in the City Centre. I look up reviews like these ones sussing out new little places. I really love to hear independent cafes/restaurants opening up because they take their own way on serving up a dish, with unique recipes and a different approach to the same old, same old that you'd get in the likes of Starbucks, Costa etc. I've chosen to share a few photos here that when I look at, still make my mouth water. Pitt Bros is a must-try for anyone who likes MEAT. And, if you like authentic American style BBQ! The meat is cooked low 'n' slow with some of the tastiest sides such as Mac 'n' Cheese. N.B. This is the only Mac 'n' Cheese I've found that I like! Sweet Republic is a must-try for sweet lovers. It's in the name, it's a republic for sweet things! They've got surreal combinations, such as overloaded milkshakes with muffin tops! Thinking of the nutella milkshake with the donut top is giving me a head rush.. Aungier Danger is a little hub for creatively filled donuts. It's got all sorts of donuts such as a red velvet and banana and carmel. They stay open until all the fresh donuts have been sold! I popped in late one evening, and as expected all the lovely donuts were gone. However, the lad on the counter prompted me with a donut style ice cream cone filled with vanilla ice cream. I was hesitant at first, but after my first bite of that doughy cone I was very pleased with my choice! The dough was so tasty and the ice cream complemented the sweetness!

I had the opportunity to join a group of furiously hip youngsters on a walking tour of Dublin…read more.. with a twist. We were taken around the centre to loads of small, quirky businesses and got to talk to the owners about their passion. We met at Clement & Pekoe for an excellent cup of coffee and a chat with the owner. The stops that stood out for me were Balla Ban (Dublin's smallest art Gallery), Sseduced (Dublin's very first raw vegan restaurant) and the Icon Factory and walk. Each time we had the pleasure to meet people who were not only enchanting but truly inspiring. Dublin has such an intimate charm and this walk brought me even closer to it. Grab your walking shoes and hop on board if you get a chance, I promise however well you know Dublin, you'll be surprised!

A fresh view of Dublin? Yes please! I've lived within 15 minutes walk of Temple Bar for last six…read moreyears and visit it quite a lot for movies, markets and the occasional coffee but my tour with Picture This made it all shiny and new. I'm a great defender of Temple Bar, being a regular visitor to its book market, food market, cafes, restaurants, its one or two decent pubs, and of course the IFI. To my surprise, the Picture This crew drew out my passion for this part of our dirty old town even more during a series meet and greets with the owners and managers of some very cool small Temple Bar businesses. It's genuinely humbling to see people pursuing their passions, in some cases giving up comfortable lifestyles to do so, adding life and a bit of creativity to what could be a very stale tourist-driven part of the city. I'm going to have to do individual reviews of the stops in order to do them justice (check out my Picture This! list here on Yelp). Great tour, and lovely to meet people who make things happen, both at Picture This! and in the businesses themselves.

These guys are Dublin heroes, ferrying tourists laden down with bags, drunken students and the…read moreplain lazy all around the city, pumping their little legs until their calf muscles bulge pleasantly. Technically, you don't have to pay them, but really, if you don't give him a tip after he has carted you all the way to the Guinness Storehouse, then you are the grinchiest of all the Grinches.

Still as evocative today as it was when they laid the last tile in 1974, Desmond Kinney's "The…read moreTáin" is a brilliant piece of Dublin art tying in Setanta House with its mythic namesake. Often read left to right (as you come in at the end of the story and the entrance of the small car park), the wall is a highlight reel of Irish hero Cuchulainn's exploits -cows, queens and bloody battles. As a piece of durable street art, the mural is alive with colour and motion -pulling the observer along its story telling track with fluid bodies and jewel coloured tesserae. I first met this statue at 13 and was awestruck -art existed everywhere in Dublin. That first long picture I snapped would be one of many as I made return trips to the city and this mosaic again and again. Walking past it today feels as if an old friend is just around the corner.