Guinness Brewery and Storehouse
It is easy to see why Guinness (perhaps the world's most recognized beer) is celebrating 250 years of business. Simply taste ONE Guinness at the company's sprawling, world famous Dublin brewery (the Guiness Storehouse) and you'll know why. Rising above its Dublin surroundings, the Storehouse is modeled upon a giant pint glass, stretching up from reception area on the ground floor to The Gravity Bar in the sky. Even those who are well acquainted with a pint of the dark ruby beverage will find new information about their favorite brew, and another adventure awaiting them, as they make their way through the Storehouse. And yes, you may even become certified in the art of pulling the perfect pint of Guinness. The friendly Guinness "punters" will gladly demonstrate the proper technique. Be sure to take time out to sup at the Storehouse restaurant, which provides a wonderful array of Guinness dishes by the awesome Chef "Jock." Then finish your tour properly at the Gravity bar high atop the "Pint" glass, with an amazing view of beautiful Dublin town. The Guinness Storehouse is an Absolute MUST for any traveler that spends even a second in Ireland.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Traveling across Ireland, searching for the country's BEST cultural, historical and fun activities, we found Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. What a delightful piece of Irish history, culture and beauty! The centerpiece is Bunratty Castle, a 14th Century castle that was painstakingly renovated to its former splendor in the late 1950's and early 60's. Climb any of the four circular staircases up to the ramparts and your efforts are rewarded with a great view that reveals the castle's strategic location between two rivers. Inside the great hall you are surrounded by 500 year-old tapestries and other period pieces. Displays within the kitchen, bedrooms, chapel and various other chambers provide a good feel for how the castle's occupants must have lived throughout the remote past. This feeling is enhanced by the medieval feast in the dining hall, which you absolutely MUST attend! From your first cup of mead through the final notes of the madrigal singers, you are whisked back to ancient times and treated like royalty. The cast of musicians/servers in period garb provide an excellent evening of noble entertainment that should not be missed! A 25 acre Folk Park surrounds the castle and accurately portrays a "working" mid-1800's Irish rural village. Characters dressed in period costumes ply their trades throughout the village as they were practiced back then. We had the privilege to watch Miss Mary make flat bread from scratch in the kitchen of an "upscale" farmhouse. The peat fire griddle was a wonderful reminder of the history of this magical country. Just a "light stretch of the legs" from Bunratty Manor, the Bunratty Castle and Folk Pak is a one - two memory maker you CANNOT miss.

The Jameson Distillery
The Irish have been known to sip a whiskey or two now and then, and having been to the Jameson distillery and experienced the world's finest whiskey (in my humble opinion) I know why this custom exists! Jameson's triple-distilled whiskey is as smooth, warm and inviting as its Dublin distillery. The distillery is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility that "blends" the best of the company's history with the latest in technology, media and fine dining for their guests. As with so many other attractions in Ireland, Jameson provides a first class tour with REALLY nice people and leaves you wanting MORE. You must take the tour and live the Jameson experience!

Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is perhaps the most famous landmark in all of Ireland: home to the famous Blarney Stone! The story goes that anyone kissing this stone is bestowed with the "gift of gab." Although some may question whether the Fat Man ever needed to kiss the Blarney Stone, I eagerly embraced it, nonetheless. (I'll let you decide if the stone's charms have enhanced my eloquence.) Blarney Castle is, indeed, a magical place drenched in history and folklore. The castle's beautiful manicured grounds include ancient Druid remnants and a geographic oddity - a stream diverted over a bridge to flow across the River Martin - as well as a living lord's manor, all on one magnificent site. Take the castle tour, climb all 109 stairs to the battlements and join the hundreds of thousands of "smoochers" in quest of the "gift". Blarney Castle truly is a MUST for anyone fortunate enough to tour this amazing land.

The Brooks Hotel
This wonderful hotel is centrally located in the heart of Dublin and is another example of excellent accommodations and superb location. Although we did not spend more than 8 hours at the Brooks (as we had an early departure) we had enough time to recognize the benefits and appreciation one could have at the Brooks. The experience and the room was very good. The bar managers were friendly and engaging as were everyone on the staff we encountered. A very desirable address for your touring pleasure, well appointed rooms and a very courteous staff makes the Brooks an excellent choice for your Dublin stay.

Leo Burdock's Fish and Chips

This shrine of a restaurant has been serving Fish and Chips to Dubliners and toursists fourtunate enough to find it over 96 years. It is probably the easiest landmark you can get directions to by ANYONE on the street. I spent the better part of four days in search of the best fish and chips in Dublin. From the very beginning to a person Leo Burdock's was the choice however, I tried a number of other places and YES, LB's is the PLACE baby! Easy to get to and oh, by the way - there is no place to sit down and eat. It is strictly take and go! A true culinary MUST for lovers of all things fried!

Kilmainham Gaol (Jail)

Among many reasons for visiting Ireland, I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of the country's history. An important, and deeply painful, part of Ireland's history is the centuries-old struggle for a FREE IRELAND. To really appreciate the suffering of the Irish, plan a tour of Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. Built in 1796 and in use until 1924, the jail is a national symbol of Ireland's repression under British rule. Kilmainham's thick limestone walls held commonplace criminals as well as political prisoners, including some of the most famous patriots for Irish freedom. Conditions in the damp, horrifically overcrowded jail were often brutal and unsanitary. By the early 20th century more than seven thousand inmates lived throughout Kilmainham’s corridors, having overflowed cells designed to hold mere hundreds. Narrow, barred windows brought in some light but lacked glass panes. Inmates were consequently exposed to the elements. Living in unheated quarters, they were poorly clothed and supplied only with thin woolen blankets as insulation against winter's chill and the cold stone floors. They ate mostly bread and water. Time served at Kilmainham was physically and mentally demanding for even the hardiest adults but especially so for younger "criminals." More than a few inmates were small children sentenced to years of imprisonment (just like their elders) for stealing food during hard times. Many did not survive the jail's harsh conditions. Several leaders of the 1916 Easter Uprising were executed within Kilmainham's walls. At first inmates convicted of capital offenses were hung from the landing above the jail's main entrance - a "hanging day" spectacle that entertained crowds over the years before surging Irish nationalism forced British authorities to conduct lethal punishment indoors. One of many exhibits within the jail's museum provides a silent, and moving, tribute to the deceased patriots. It displays their final writings, which range from personal notes meant for loved ones to political justifications of their actions that the authors hoped would reach the Irish public. Kilmainham is slowly being renovated to its former operational condition, largely through the efforts of dedicated volunteers. The tour through Kilmainham's deserted, yet still forbidding, passages and courtyards was a sobering experience. Stepping, even momentarily, into one of the dank, confined cells was equally disturbing. While hardly a "fun" tour, our knowledgeable and personable guide made this incredible journey through a grim period of Irish history well worth the time. Be forewarned; many of the guides' stories are extremely moving. Consider Kilmainham Gaol a "must do" if you truly want to "know" the Irish people.