A poor man's Book of Kells, this library can hold its own. Entry is under 10 euros and the…read moredisplays should keep you busy for about a half hour. I would not say it is a cannot miss in Dublin, but if you have extra time or are here for a return visit, I would certainly recommend working it in. So what will you find. Tons of old books. A bit of history on books, writing, and the printing press. A cool Instagram-able shot or two if you want a smart looking selfie. Enjoy!

We bought the combo ticket with St Patrick's Cathedral and really enjoyed our visit to the Library…read moresince it had an exhibit showcasing the oldest printed books in the world. Inside every shelf and bookcase were packed with so much history. More impressive than the setting for the Book of Kells since many of the books were under restoration. The oldest books for the exhibition were in display cases to highlight specific topics, authors, designs, printing methods and/or age. It was really quite impressive. I got a kick out of the Easter "egg" hunt they crafted for Easter weekend. The Lego minifigs were hidden throughout the library and we just checked off our handout as we went a long. We did find all the minifigs eventually so they did a good job of placing them in the library. Staff here were so outgoing and informative. Always ready to provide more details or answer questions. As we exited through the gift shop we walked through a quiet but pleasant garden. Must see in Dublin!

As I was strolling through the streets of Dublin I was in the mood to get lost in exploration…read more After quite some time of walking through the busy streets, stopping for a nice flat white and bracing the Irish winter winds I decided to turn a corner and ended up stumbling upon this place. Those that know me know I am a complete book girly. What asked what my pass time and hobbies are books are the answer to both. So when I saw this place I knew it was a must to head in and see what magic awaited. As i walked in I could see the great selection of books offered. They also had date with a book in which you only have a clue summary about the book that gives you a brief exiting blurb to catch your eye. Loved that they make reading fun! If you're in the mood for coffee or pastries there is a cafe located upstairs which is the perfect place to relax while reading a book. If you're in Dublin this is a must see! Great books and cute cafe it's giving all the vibes for a perfect relaxed day.

Books Upstairs requires you to wander across a couple rooms on the ground floor and then through a…read moremulti-level upstairs (accessed from the far fiction section room) maze of used books of various genres. There's distinct literary vibe here, which took me awhile to get my bearings. There's lots of space to wander, of which both Gayle and I enjoyed. I only scratched this book store's surface, but did leave with nice literary journal and a book of poems titled Brink. The fellow old guy behind the counter pretty much left everybody along, and in my judgement not only knowing the time and being willing to tell you how the watch operated.

Another Irish independent bookshop which is great to see especially with Hughes & Hughes and…read more Easons always expanding. This shop has been a feature of Rathmines since the 70's and is still going strong. Hannas as well as being a very well stocked and organised bookshop, also supplies Libraries and this branch is well knowing to school kids and frustrated parents alike as the main place to go for next years textbooks. The shop is pretty much one big room with ceiling to floor books. They specialise in Irish books and the staff and helpful and extremely knowledgeable.

It is a modest bookshop but what wins it for me it the very friendly and knowledgeable shop owner…read more He didn't make me feel small when I mispronounced the author's name as sadly a lot of other places would. He swiftly took me to my section and I left with two books of my favourite author. Happy days.

The Library Project was perhaps the most interesting bookshop I've visited in Dublin, or maybe…read moreelsewhere. It kind of reminded me of the now defunct Ampersand Bookstore in Portland Oregon, as the books are largely well curated small press editions. The selections here heavily feature alternative zines, Dublin/Irish artists/authors, and with a heavily political emphasis in some areas. The most interesting book on that subject was one covering pro-Palestinian protest fashion. I would not have expected a place like this is such a heavy populated (and drinking) tourist area right across the street from the Temple Bar. My only regret is not having the chance to come back and enjoying another layer of this literary onion. Their website does offer a number of choices, but being there and handling the paper between your fingers is always a better option.

An incredibly cool bookstore right in Temple Bar that I am not nearly hip enough to be in. An art…read morebookstore with a mix of diverse coffee books to local zines and works by Dublin and greater Irish artists, their selection is highly curated, very political, and incredibly beautiful. A peaceful, quiet, beautiful find in an otherwise touristy, busy neighborhood.

Le Catedral's fuchsia pink door stands out like a ray of light in the midst of the more cheerless,…read moreindustrialized looking exteriors on St. Augustine Street. This intriguing mode of entry really roused my interest. Upon entry, ascend the white-washed walls laden with a whole conglomerate of paintings and photographs old and new. The Back Loft is a bright and roomy multi-disciplinary loft located at the back of La Catedral Studios. It is a multi-purpose space for the arts in a reclaimed Victorian industrial loft. Refurbished to a bare minimum to preserve the raw fabric of its past time charm, this inspired space is an unconventional artists' playground which embraces any art related project. The space may be hired for art exhibitions, live art events, theatre plays and rehearsals, workshops, intimate music gigs, dance, life drawing, photo shoots, film location and functions, to mention a few. The Back Loft is particularly open to experimentations and to adventurous site-specific work, to individual and collectives' curated projects and is an ideal springboard for emerging artists. I recently attended a photo exhibition here organized by a college friend who was able to get her hands on the venue relatively easily. Since its establishment in 2005, the Back Loft has played host to a great array of events independently curated by individuals and collectives. From what she said the studios offered a nurturing and supportive environment with 24 hr/7 day access, wi-fi, visibility on the studios' blog, kitchen and chill out space, free attendance at the back loft events, participation in an open studio event at Culture Night, negotiable rates for hire of the Back Loft and free access to the Back Loft for private use. I have attended a separate function here where I witnessed the use of one projector, one sound system (mixing desk and two speakers), two microphone stands, one microphone, one upright acoustic piano and a rack of gallery spotlights to further emphasise it's unique resourcefulness. From a punter's point of view the space's great natural light as a result of sky-lights running the length of the space and original pine timber flooring provide the ideal backdrop to witness pioneering artwork like no other.

The Good I saw a pretty kick ass indy play here in the…read morebeginning of December called "The Suitcase Milongurea" by Nicole Rouke and the smokin' sounds of Truly Divine. The space is a solid venue space to host an event. Big room, It has that NY city loft feel meets local messy artist space. Lots of cool local artists have their work displayed all around the gallery. The drawbacks Some of the a/v equipment wasn't working on my last visit there and the bathrooms need better maintenance, but other than that the venue is a chill hang out spot!

What would be like to live in the 1800's in Dublin?…read more Take a walk through this house and you'll know and feel what it would have been like... (encourage the guided tour). The tour, began with a 15 minute video about the history of the house and the area, and then we toured through all 5 storeys of the house. The guide really made the tour come to life - she made us feel just what it must have been like to live there both as the lady of the house and as one of the servants. It was a pity we weren't allowed to take photographs - but you can always buy a souvenir from their little shop. A great place to go if you have an hour to kill in the city centre and don't want to be bombarded with crowds of people and noise. Great for couples, not really a place for children.

The very out of date introductory film we were shown upon entering the museum really set the tone…read morefor what was to follow - the picture quality and mode of storytelling wasn't of a museum standard. It was busy so you could barely hear what was being said on the film at times over the sound of people coming in - this should be in a more cordoned off area. The house has a tearoom, very average with teas, chocolate bars on offer - very old fashioned. Be prepared for walking up and down a lot of stairs. The house actually contains some wonderful artefacts on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, but the ESB should be ashamed of the tired and outdated presentation of the place. With the info panels and gaudy mannequins it looks like it was lifted out of a museum design circa 1995. For far superior presentations of Georgian Homes I would recommend visiting the North-side of the city - to the Georgian Quarter. I was in and out under half an hour, as there really wasn't satisfactory information on the actual occupants of the house through the centuries, rather a general overview of how Georgian houses were used (which doesn't really do it justice of being a genuinely Dublin Georgian home) and it would have be interesting to explore its current context, as it was once part of the 'Georgian Mile', a row of fine 18th century houses which were controversially destroyed by the ESB in the 1960s.

I stopped into this shop after visiting the library. It's tiny but cute. There is decent selection…read morebut it is a bit expensive. I ended up getting a pin for €12.95 and nothing else. The people working here are nice and rang me up quickly. It's worth stopping into but you may not want to pay the high prices that they charge.

After visiting the Chester Beatty Library, I couldn't help but feel like my collection of books and…read moreart was pitiful. All the beautiful manuscripts that Lord Beatty collected from his numerous travels around the world made me envious. It's a good thing that the gift shop next to the museum sells similar stuff. The shop mainly stocks books pertaining to art and religion. It also sells miniature smiling Buddhas and little cobras, the kind of idols you would pray to . There were some delicate wooden statues of Jesus, but they cost an arm and a leg. But I suppose that you have to pay the price for good art. One more thing worth mentioning is the shop's eclectic collection of Tarot Cards. It sells Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot, Jane Austen Tarot, Celtic Tarot and the list goes on. These pretty illustrations will put you back 20 quid!

A contemporary structure within an ancient building, The Atrium stands in palpable contrast to the…read moretime-honoured Dining Hall. The Dining Hall is saturated with various antique fixtures and fittings that harp back to Trinity's illustrious history whilst The Atrium embodies a more prevailing, up-and-coming side to the university often hosting a wealth of contemporary affairs such as fashion show receptions and photography exhibitions again in contrast to the more customary activities you would expect to go on within the conventional setting of the Dining Hall. A perfect spot for receptions and buffets alike, the Atrium loans itself to artistic and innovative activity, entertainment, staging and presentations. The interior is very up-to-the-minute with beech wood beams outlining the balconies, yet in conjunction with how it can never move too far away from it's historic roots owing to it being within the same ancient building as the Dining Hall The Atrium's interior design itself is deep-rooted and clearly influenced by Tudor beams, in fact upon first seeing inside it reminded me of a present-day Globe Theatre. A fun venue for work and play, this uniquely designed venue boasts a progressive charm whilst never losing touch with the enchanting Trinity times gone by that so many of the other grandiose buildings on site commemorate.