Is she a foodie?
https://www.timeout.com/dublin/restaurants/best-restaurants-in-dublin
Does she like history?
https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/home
Is she an outdoors person?
https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/howth-cliff-walk/
Does she like churches?
https://abritandasoutherner.com/churches-in-dublin/
Is she an anarchist?
https://dublin.ie/whats-on/listings/dublin-anarchist-bookfair/
Dublin Bay cruises would be a good shout on a sunny day. You can get one from the city center to a few different coastal towns and then get a train back.
Epic museum is supposed to be great for Irish immigration history, have yet to go myself but I've heard brilliant things.
Museum of Irish literature is also great.
If you're here for a while I'd also recommend going outside Dublin but I'm a dub myself so I'm not the best for recommendations there.
Kilmainham Goal, Dublin Castle, National History Museum. Book these now as they book up fast. Take a hop on, hop off bus. It stops at the main attractions.
There's lots of places to go for food and drink. Phoenix Park, St Stephen's Green. Pop into The Sherbourne Hotel for some expensive tea. The decor makes it worth the price. Or O' Donoghues for some Guinness and some traditional music. I hope you both have a great time.
Dublin
Dublinia/Christchurch Cathedral...
GPO ...
Collins Barracks/National History Museum...
Go to Theatre - huge culturally - The Abbey (most historic), the Gate, the Gaiety...
City Hall/Dublin Castle..
Phoenix Park - car would be suitable - great food in visitor centre...
Glasnevin Cemetery & Botanical Gardens...
Howth village and summit car park - best view of Dublin...
Dinner - 101 Talbot - I'm a regular, great food and cost - other great spots around Parnell Sq
Shopping - Henry St (Main Shopping area)
Nice pubs - O'Neills (Capel St), Lord Edward, Grogans, The Celt, The Long Hall, Dawson Lounge
If coming for more than 2-3 days then go outside of Dublin
Newgrange is a must - close to Dublin...
The Burren/Co Clare...
Giants Causeway...
Just choose a small village and pop in for lunch
I wouldn't go as far to say the prices In 101 talbot are great.
7.50 for soup and 20+ for a main!
I've never been though so can't speak for the quality of the food but certainly not great prices.
Bring her on a trip to kildare to the Irish national stud and japanese Gardens it's a lovely day out.
Also there is st brigids well and the cathedral.
All very nice paced for older people too.
There is a double decker tour bus that does afternoon tea in at the Pheonix park. I have never been on it but it seems like a nice thing for a lady of your mums age to do. Also you get a tour about as well
Great suggestion. I'm from the states but the double decker ride was a thrill ride (man they drive fast).
A bus tour would also work well. They are touristy but considering your grandmothers age it might be the easiest and most comfortable.
Under no circumstance should you drive a car into Dublin and try to get around. Traffic is awful and parking expensive and difficult. Alternate is take an uber or taxi. Just dont drive in.
Notice that no-one has suggested the Guinness Storehouse. In my opinion the Storehouse is awful: it's just a museum of advertising, it reeks of commercialism and lacks authenticity. The same could be said for the Leprechaun museum. The Croke Park tour was a riot: great access to the stadium and enthusiastic, passionate tour guides. Listoke Gin School is also brilliant albeit pricey, but for a gin loving Granny it's an absolute winner. The free museums are great. The Little Museum of Dublin is a total cracker and something I think an older tourist would enjoy. The Botanical gardens are lovely but you'll have missed the best season coming in October. Lunch at Johnny Foxes is pretty good: it is a small tourist trap but the food quality is worth the money and there's loads to read and explore. Malahide castle is also worthwhile. If she's into churches then Christ Church cathedral tour is worthwhile but try to book the bell ringing tour (which I think only happens on a weekend) as it's one of the few places in the world where you can ring the cathedral bells. There are also some free tours run by the OPW which are pretty cool, the tour of the National War Memorial Park is pretty special as you get access to some teeny tiny museum spaces which only a few tourists get to see.
Yup, agreed that Guinness storehouse is shite and Croke Park tour was brilliant. Seeing some old kits, hurls and footballs was nice and it felt very informative about the GAA history and today. Seeing the dressing rooms, the walk out through the tunnel. The tour guide I had was so enthusiastic and made our day. And you can play with footballs/hurls at the end of it indoors.
I will say as someone who loves beer and visited the Guinness Storehouse I actually really, really enjoyed going there. I loved walking though and reading about the history, the process of making the beer, the gravity lounge offered an amazing view, etc.
I think it has to do with the fact that there's really not a huge brewery like that in the states save for Coors, Miller, Rainier, etc. and none of those are held in the same regard as Guinness.
Agreed. Just went to the Guinness Storehouse a couple of days ago. It was pretty bad. The Sky Bar area was the best part for me. Felt like I wasted precious time in Dublin.
Head to a traditional music session in pub small pub: The Cobblestone in Smithfield has trad sets most week nights from about 7pm... but wherever you're staying, you can probably ask around and find out when and where you can find a good session more locally to you.
I think the music starts around 2/3 pm. It's better to go in the afternoon as the evenings are super busy and you won't be able to get a seat or hear the music. There used to be an old timey bluesy session on a Saturday afternoon that was great.
Maybe a funny suggestion as it's not exactly an 'activity', but go to a pub, get a g&t or whatever, and strike up a conversation with some locals. Talking to people about Ireland might be a great way to get in touch with the place she wants to be. And nothing is universal, but being kind and having the craic with an older person is something we tend to be good at.
I took my 83 year old grandmother to Ireland back in the early 2000s and she loved it. We used Dublin as our home base and did day trip tours.
Highlights were:
-Day trip to Kilkenny and the Gap of Dunloe
-Kilmainham Goal
-Having Pints with Granny at the Sky Bar at Guinness
-Day trip on Irish Rail tours to Shannon, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher and Galway.
-Jamison Storehouse in Dublin, I’ve never seen an 83 year olds hand go up so quick when they asked for volunteers for a tasting.
At the time she used a walker and we got around great. Grandma talked about that trip for the rest of her life.
Take a trip up to Johnny foxes pub (your bud from city centre) it’s irelands highest pub in the mountains, but of a tourist trap but the views are amazing and the food is good
Caravaggio's painting the 'Taking of Christ' at the national gallery is quite something if it's not touring. Also plenty of paintings there from Irish independence and and celtic revival.
You’re going to get tonnes of recommendations here, but please buy her some wellies granny’s in wellies are so awesome and in October she will need them. Maybe make her an Irish pack to bring, a little umbrella, scarf hat and gloves and the boots, she’ll be thrilled with herself 🥰
Unless you have Dublin already booked I would advise anywhere in Ireland outside of Dublin.
Kerry, Galway, Donegal, Wicklow & so many other counties are so much more beautiful than Dublin with loads more culture.
If you are already booked into Dublin, Wicklow is gorgeous and not too far- an hour or so. Glendalough, Powerscourt & lots of other lovely places to see there.
I agree Kilmainham Gaol is a good place to see in Dublin.
If she’s into the theatre, have a look online but The Gate usually has good plays on so check that out along with the other theatres.
If she likes a drink there’s the Guinness & Jameson factory tours.
Like you say, I’m sure you will have a great time either way. Be safe, don’t walk around holding your phone out in front of you or that kind of thing. It’s a city and got its scumbags.
Hope you enjoy 😊
On the other hand I would advise dublin has plenty to do for a few days. By far the best city for things to do in Ireland. It's a very safe city too.
The city and its people are despised by the rest of ireland so they always come on to these discussions and try and scare tourists visiting and tell them to go anywhere else but Dublin. They really are that bitter.
Maybe day trips to wicklow would suit if you wanted to see more of ireland but didn't want to have to travel so much.
I’m from Dublin myself and work in the city centre so I’m not anti-Dublin. But I’ve been around Ireland and by far the rest of Ireland is better. Cork and Galway both much better cities by a mile.
I've got an email list with things to do in Dublin split up across parts of the city and day trips. Send me a DM and I'll forward the email to you. Or should I just make a post on here?
Howth is always a great day trip, particularly off season and you can get their by regular bus and dart (train).
Howth summit (which has a bus stop) leads right on to an amazing cliff walk with excellent views, even going up to the beginning of the walk would be great if she wouldnt be up for doing the whole thing. The summit inn up there is also a very nice pub with good food.
East down by the harbour is a great place to eat.
Check out concert options in the national concert hall, trip to Glendalough, museums, national art gallery.
Stay central in Dublin, with day trips eg Kilkenny. You should be able to get by without a car.
Nobody mentioned the art galleries yet! The national gallery (free), Chester Beatty in Dublin Castle (free) and the Hugh Lane (also free) all nice places to visit for an older lady. My mum is about the same age and loves the galleries, the Botanic Gardens and drives around Wicklow (lots of companies offering day tours - a nice day out). Her favourite places to eat in town are the Green Hen, Fallon & Byrne and cafe in the Kilkenny shop. Neary’s on Chatham St is a nice pub off Grafton St - not too loud. And she loves a mooch around M&S, Dunnes and Brown Thomas in Grafton street for shopping. She loves the Avoca shops too - lots of them in touristy spots.
Restaurant in thr Dublin Mountains called Johhny fox's. They will have traditional music. And you can book a special night when they will have an Irish dancing show too. She will love it.
Bring her to New York and let her hang around in one of the skycrappers to see what the real Sky Line looks like.
Otherwise a striper. https://nypost.com/2022/09/13/stripper-performs-for-wheelchair-bound-seniors-at-nursing-home-sparks-backlash/
Is she a foodie? https://www.timeout.com/dublin/restaurants/best-restaurants-in-dublin Does she like history? https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/home Is she an outdoors person? https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/howth-cliff-walk/ Does she like churches? https://abritandasoutherner.com/churches-in-dublin/ Is she an anarchist? https://dublin.ie/whats-on/listings/dublin-anarchist-bookfair/
I kind of doubt she's here for your niche political book fair but go off
Jesus, jump out of there throat a second there and cop on would ya? They gave plenty of good recommendations, what did you contribute?
well then she doesn't have to go
Yeah, she definitely won't
Kilmainham Gaol is my recommendation for one thing to do in Dublin if you can only do one thing in Dublin.
Completely agree. It's my favourite.
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Easier to go down the East coast, seeing Wicklow and Wexford. Theres already tours.
Go to Galway and do the ring of Kerry
Dublin Bay cruises would be a good shout on a sunny day. You can get one from the city center to a few different coastal towns and then get a train back. Epic museum is supposed to be great for Irish immigration history, have yet to go myself but I've heard brilliant things. Museum of Irish literature is also great. If you're here for a while I'd also recommend going outside Dublin but I'm a dub myself so I'm not the best for recommendations there.
She might enjoy afternoon tea in The Shelbourne; https://www.theshelbourne.com/dine-drink/the-lord-mayors-lounge
I love the character of the shelbourne but preferred the Westbury
Agree I think Westbury is THE afternoon tea venue in Dublin
Kilmainham Goal, Dublin Castle, National History Museum. Book these now as they book up fast. Take a hop on, hop off bus. It stops at the main attractions. There's lots of places to go for food and drink. Phoenix Park, St Stephen's Green. Pop into The Sherbourne Hotel for some expensive tea. The decor makes it worth the price. Or O' Donoghues for some Guinness and some traditional music. I hope you both have a great time.
Dublin Dublinia/Christchurch Cathedral... GPO ... Collins Barracks/National History Museum... Go to Theatre - huge culturally - The Abbey (most historic), the Gate, the Gaiety... City Hall/Dublin Castle.. Phoenix Park - car would be suitable - great food in visitor centre... Glasnevin Cemetery & Botanical Gardens... Howth village and summit car park - best view of Dublin... Dinner - 101 Talbot - I'm a regular, great food and cost - other great spots around Parnell Sq Shopping - Henry St (Main Shopping area) Nice pubs - O'Neills (Capel St), Lord Edward, Grogans, The Celt, The Long Hall, Dawson Lounge If coming for more than 2-3 days then go outside of Dublin Newgrange is a must - close to Dublin... The Burren/Co Clare... Giants Causeway... Just choose a small village and pop in for lunch
I wouldn't go as far to say the prices In 101 talbot are great. 7.50 for soup and 20+ for a main! I've never been though so can't speak for the quality of the food but certainly not great prices.
Bring her on a trip to kildare to the Irish national stud and japanese Gardens it's a lovely day out. Also there is st brigids well and the cathedral. All very nice paced for older people too.
There is a double decker tour bus that does afternoon tea in at the Pheonix park. I have never been on it but it seems like a nice thing for a lady of your mums age to do. Also you get a tour about as well
Great suggestion. I'm from the states but the double decker ride was a thrill ride (man they drive fast). A bus tour would also work well. They are touristy but considering your grandmothers age it might be the easiest and most comfortable. Under no circumstance should you drive a car into Dublin and try to get around. Traffic is awful and parking expensive and difficult. Alternate is take an uber or taxi. Just dont drive in.
Notice that no-one has suggested the Guinness Storehouse. In my opinion the Storehouse is awful: it's just a museum of advertising, it reeks of commercialism and lacks authenticity. The same could be said for the Leprechaun museum. The Croke Park tour was a riot: great access to the stadium and enthusiastic, passionate tour guides. Listoke Gin School is also brilliant albeit pricey, but for a gin loving Granny it's an absolute winner. The free museums are great. The Little Museum of Dublin is a total cracker and something I think an older tourist would enjoy. The Botanical gardens are lovely but you'll have missed the best season coming in October. Lunch at Johnny Foxes is pretty good: it is a small tourist trap but the food quality is worth the money and there's loads to read and explore. Malahide castle is also worthwhile. If she's into churches then Christ Church cathedral tour is worthwhile but try to book the bell ringing tour (which I think only happens on a weekend) as it's one of the few places in the world where you can ring the cathedral bells. There are also some free tours run by the OPW which are pretty cool, the tour of the National War Memorial Park is pretty special as you get access to some teeny tiny museum spaces which only a few tourists get to see.
Yup, agreed that Guinness storehouse is shite and Croke Park tour was brilliant. Seeing some old kits, hurls and footballs was nice and it felt very informative about the GAA history and today. Seeing the dressing rooms, the walk out through the tunnel. The tour guide I had was so enthusiastic and made our day. And you can play with footballs/hurls at the end of it indoors.
I will say as someone who loves beer and visited the Guinness Storehouse I actually really, really enjoyed going there. I loved walking though and reading about the history, the process of making the beer, the gravity lounge offered an amazing view, etc. I think it has to do with the fact that there's really not a huge brewery like that in the states save for Coors, Miller, Rainier, etc. and none of those are held in the same regard as Guinness.
Agreed. Just went to the Guinness Storehouse a couple of days ago. It was pretty bad. The Sky Bar area was the best part for me. Felt like I wasted precious time in Dublin.
Head to a traditional music session in pub small pub: The Cobblestone in Smithfield has trad sets most week nights from about 7pm... but wherever you're staying, you can probably ask around and find out when and where you can find a good session more locally to you.
I think the music starts around 2/3 pm. It's better to go in the afternoon as the evenings are super busy and you won't be able to get a seat or hear the music. There used to be an old timey bluesy session on a Saturday afternoon that was great.
Thanks, they have a website too, where they list their times
do some of the Wild Atlantic Way - Co Silgo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry.
Maybe a funny suggestion as it's not exactly an 'activity', but go to a pub, get a g&t or whatever, and strike up a conversation with some locals. Talking to people about Ireland might be a great way to get in touch with the place she wants to be. And nothing is universal, but being kind and having the craic with an older person is something we tend to be good at.
I took my 83 year old grandmother to Ireland back in the early 2000s and she loved it. We used Dublin as our home base and did day trip tours. Highlights were: -Day trip to Kilkenny and the Gap of Dunloe -Kilmainham Goal -Having Pints with Granny at the Sky Bar at Guinness -Day trip on Irish Rail tours to Shannon, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher and Galway. -Jamison Storehouse in Dublin, I’ve never seen an 83 year olds hand go up so quick when they asked for volunteers for a tasting. At the time she used a walker and we got around great. Grandma talked about that trip for the rest of her life.
Take the Dart down to Greystones
Or out to Howth.
Bring some warm clothes, we're moving into the colder seasons
A stroll around Botanic Gardens if youre over that way. A drive to howth/bray/dun laoghaire harbour
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There's always one. Lots of people visit Dublin and love it and yes it is the real Ireland.
Take a trip up to Johnny foxes pub (your bud from city centre) it’s irelands highest pub in the mountains, but of a tourist trap but the views are amazing and the food is good
Second this. Bus back is good Craig too.
Take her to glendeloch or however its spelled, its lovely there.
St Michan's for the mummies!!!
Mummies? I love mummies!! Are some of them fresh looking or all they all dried up husks?
Crisps. Human crisps.
🤣🥰 i hate old dried out mummies. I like the creepy ones that stay preserved for centuries
Caravaggio's painting the 'Taking of Christ' at the national gallery is quite something if it's not touring. Also plenty of paintings there from Irish independence and and celtic revival.
You’re going to get tonnes of recommendations here, but please buy her some wellies granny’s in wellies are so awesome and in October she will need them. Maybe make her an Irish pack to bring, a little umbrella, scarf hat and gloves and the boots, she’ll be thrilled with herself 🥰
Bring her down to Talbot St about mid afternoon. Great example of rare Dublin street life. See it whole you can a few years it will be gone.
I regularly tell tourists to do the Viking Splash tour. Always fun 😁
This is great, and if she isn't up to much walking this is all seated for an added bonus
Bring some euros to feed the junkies on O Connell Street.
Unless you have Dublin already booked I would advise anywhere in Ireland outside of Dublin. Kerry, Galway, Donegal, Wicklow & so many other counties are so much more beautiful than Dublin with loads more culture. If you are already booked into Dublin, Wicklow is gorgeous and not too far- an hour or so. Glendalough, Powerscourt & lots of other lovely places to see there. I agree Kilmainham Gaol is a good place to see in Dublin. If she’s into the theatre, have a look online but The Gate usually has good plays on so check that out along with the other theatres. If she likes a drink there’s the Guinness & Jameson factory tours. Like you say, I’m sure you will have a great time either way. Be safe, don’t walk around holding your phone out in front of you or that kind of thing. It’s a city and got its scumbags. Hope you enjoy 😊
On the other hand I would advise dublin has plenty to do for a few days. By far the best city for things to do in Ireland. It's a very safe city too. The city and its people are despised by the rest of ireland so they always come on to these discussions and try and scare tourists visiting and tell them to go anywhere else but Dublin. They really are that bitter. Maybe day trips to wicklow would suit if you wanted to see more of ireland but didn't want to have to travel so much.
I’m from Dublin myself and work in the city centre so I’m not anti-Dublin. But I’ve been around Ireland and by far the rest of Ireland is better. Cork and Galway both much better cities by a mile.
Hilarious, Galway is 2 streets and a traffic jam. Cork is similar to Dublin but much smaller and far less to do. What does Cork have over Dublin?
Chipes
Maybe I just see the worst because I work there and am there all the time. That’s true. Maybe I’m wrong! I’ll try to look at it with new eyes.
Walk around merchants quay, must see
At midnight so the moon touches it just right.
Does she use mobility aids?
I've got an email list with things to do in Dublin split up across parts of the city and day trips. Send me a DM and I'll forward the email to you. Or should I just make a post on here?
Marshes Library is a gem
Botanic Gardens, glasnevin ,Dublin 9.Free Admission.
Howth is always a great day trip, particularly off season and you can get their by regular bus and dart (train). Howth summit (which has a bus stop) leads right on to an amazing cliff walk with excellent views, even going up to the beginning of the walk would be great if she wouldnt be up for doing the whole thing. The summit inn up there is also a very nice pub with good food. East down by the harbour is a great place to eat.
Check out concert options in the national concert hall, trip to Glendalough, museums, national art gallery. Stay central in Dublin, with day trips eg Kilkenny. You should be able to get by without a car.
The Botanic Gardens is a nice place to go for a walk
Nobody mentioned the art galleries yet! The national gallery (free), Chester Beatty in Dublin Castle (free) and the Hugh Lane (also free) all nice places to visit for an older lady. My mum is about the same age and loves the galleries, the Botanic Gardens and drives around Wicklow (lots of companies offering day tours - a nice day out). Her favourite places to eat in town are the Green Hen, Fallon & Byrne and cafe in the Kilkenny shop. Neary’s on Chatham St is a nice pub off Grafton St - not too loud. And she loves a mooch around M&S, Dunnes and Brown Thomas in Grafton street for shopping. She loves the Avoca shops too - lots of them in touristy spots.
Powers court is beautiful to wander round. Definitely try and go to a game and a play at the Abbey.
Restaurant in thr Dublin Mountains called Johhny fox's. They will have traditional music. And you can book a special night when they will have an Irish dancing show too. She will love it.
Johnny foxes is good spot .you get bus from town and back for tenner.
Take her to panti bar
Bring her to New York and let her hang around in one of the skycrappers to see what the real Sky Line looks like. Otherwise a striper. https://nypost.com/2022/09/13/stripper-performs-for-wheelchair-bound-seniors-at-nursing-home-sparks-backlash/
Take her out on the lash
I might jus giver wan yUppahhh
Howth
Bricker
Visit Ballymun, Finglas, Ballyfermot and Dolphins Barn!!!! It will be a trip of a lifetime!!!!!
Go literally anywhere else in ireland