In the basement of the main post office, this is a wonderful small museum focused on the history of…read moreDublin and the postal service. There are lots of interactive screens which you can touch and read more info and see pictures. A lot of content if you actually go through everything. Really enjoyed seeing the objects and 'sets' of what some of these places used to look like.

Gayle, Fern, Don, and I really enjoyed the "Rebel Rising" tour at the GPO (General Post Office)…read more We took this tour in the afternoon, and on the same day were at the Kilmainham Gaol in the morning. Those 2 taken together really gave us a comprehensive looks at event leading up to the 1916 Easter Rising, Irish Independence, the Civil War and lots of context both before and after. Both tours were docent led which really adds depth over anything self-guided. The exhibits themselves were well curated and interactive. There's also a nice gift shop here, and a working post office in the same building and just through a side door. GPO property remains a magnet for political activism, which was evident when we stepped out the door into the street.

The Royal Irish Academy really looks like what universities and colleges should look like but…read moredon't. I mean dark wooden bookcases with rows and rows of books probably covered with dusk, chairs with green leather seats and solid dark wood desks. I've been to a few conferences here. They have a large room at the back - that you have to quietly walk through a library to get to - and a smaller room at the front. They probably have more rooms that I haven't been in. As well as they old style learned atmosphere they have all the modern equipment like LCD projectors and that. The large room as some benches that make your arse go numb after awhile but I still like it... possibly because it's the kind of place you could imagine yourself smoking a pipe in!

Swanky! Classic! And slightly intimidating! I attended a book launch here lately and oh, my, what…read morean wonderful bookish and intellectual atmosphere. We were in a room directly to the right of the entrance, which had dark wood tables, thousands of books on the shelves and the portraits of dead luminaries of the RIA glowering down at one and all. A really lovely spot for some serious hobnobbing.

The National Archives is in the old Jacob's Biscuit Factory, which was occupied by the rebel forces…read moreduring the Easter Rising in 1916. Unfortunately, a lot of records were destroyed in the Four Courts during 1922, but for all papers related to Governmental Departments, et al. They offer free Genealogical Services, which is great for people who don't know their way around the archives/ what exactly they're looking for. They've also put the Census of 1911 online, so now it can be accessed from anywhere in the world. The archives are quite disorganised when you're actually in there and I've gone in several times and located files that I wanted to look at and the files were nowhere to be found. Also the archives don't have their catalogue digitised so you have to search through different finding aids to locate the files that are of use. They do have a bit of a search engine on their website, but it is limited in the results it returns/ the search criteria you can set.

If you have never been here before you need a readers ticket just take along some photo ID and a…read morehouse bill and this can be sorted quite quickly. This is a great place for research and also genealogy. Although there is so much info here it can be difficult to find so go to the genealogy room first for advice first. Going to the NA is a little like going to a dress shop and telling them what you want and they bring one dress out at a time and ask if this is what you like! They could do with a few floating helpers as it would speed up your time for finding what you need. Some of the workers there are helpful some just point or refer you to someone else - which could be improved upon. I am one of these people who when given directions to find things can never find them - 'You cannot miss it' is a kiss of death to me! I am however a great map reader and there is no map in this place! Still it is all we have so I have to be a fan.

Q wanders in, you know casually, trying not to look like a criminal... this should be easy... I…read moremean, I'm not actually a criminal in any way that matters (though I have been known to steal the odd glance at a pretty girl.... Oh god, even I thought that was awful) My driving licence has been liberated from my back pocket by some crazed protester who thinks they should be returned to the wild... or just stolen, I'm not sure which. The nice Garda gave me forms to fill in, patted me on the head and tells me not to keep valuables in my back pocket. I immediately removed the antique grandfather clock I had been keeping there and put it somewhere safe. For the law-abiding among you this is a nice place to go when you have to, for those who treat the law like a movable feast it's probably less fun if you end up there.

This art-deco Garda Station would look unbelievable on a foggy night with the muffled sound of…read morescreaming coming from within. It is so atmospheric that it would put the fear a' jeebus into any 19th Century cape and monocle type villain. Check it out in my photo, it's amazing. Inside, it's tiny and far less interesting but it will serve to all your day-to-day law enforcement needs which, let's hope, aren't numerous.

I visited the Dublin Castle with a tour group, but we only had time to visit the grounds and didn't…read morego inside. From the outside, it's a beautiful, ornate building that has an impressive presence. The grounds are also nicely maintained and have a respectful feeling about them. Next time, I'm breaking off from the group and going in.

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

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.

I'm embarrassed to say I go to Ireland at least 2x a year for years and I never visited this gem…read more There's a necessary booking online and it's always pretty full. Something kept me away but this time I made the appointment and went. I only wish I'd gone sooner. The guide explained pieces of history that helped me understand the big picture of Ireland's struggle for freedom so much clearer. The building itself was shocking , the stories it held tragic to their core. It's an Irish story, struggle, courage and often death. Go. Book ahead. It's worth every Penny

Really amazing historic building and museum. Our guide did a great job telling and showing us about…read morethe place. I would have liked to be in a smaller group, but given how many people want to see it, it was understandable. The museum is fascinating as well, and there is a temporary exhibit through the end of October 2026 of photographs taken by a prisoner who had smuggled a couple cameras in...as well as somehow setting a darkroom to develop the film. The cafe is nice; reasonably priced with a good selection of sandwiches, hand pies, baked goods, etc. Gift shop packed with a lot of stuff, but much of it standard Irish Tourist things, and not a lot of things directly relating to this place. Although maybe there's not a lot of gaol-specific merch available, I guess. As mentioned by many other commenters, unless you purchased your tickets weeks in advance, it's a bit of a challenge to try to catch some online when the extras are released for the day.

Absolutely fantastic collection of Irish historical finds…read more The bogs of Ireland preserved things such as fish traps, textiles, lots of gold jewelry, and, most notably, some human beings. The acidic and anaerobic nature of the peat bog was so effective at preserving these bodies that we even knew what the men had been eating. And even more interesting - the methods that had been used to MURDER them so long ago. Because these men had not just randomly fallen into the bog, oh no; there are all sorts of things to learn including why the nipples were cut off! But I will refrain from going in to more detail. If you are interested, and are in Dublin, you MUST go there yourself. It is free so you have no excuse not to. Well, unless you are not interested in things such as I described here. Whatever. Note: there is not a cafe in the museum, and no storage lockers for your bag. Also, I thought the gift shop was pretty boring as it had very few things that were relevant to the museum displays. Which is disappointing as the museum artifacts themselves are very local and specific to Ireland and are extremely interesting.

Wonderful museum. It is in the smaller side and a bit dark but it feels cozy somehow…read more The exhibitions tell a story of the history of Ireland. I wanted to visit to view the big bodies and I was not disappointed. They also had hordes of gold in display which were surrounded by beautiful jewelry. The museum is free.