Till Mueller
fd17e800d1
- Belfast: star Black Cab Tour as a highlight with stronger description - WAW overview: add east coast extension note (Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow) - Dublin: add Newgrange day trip option (County Meath, 45min from Dublin)
84 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
84 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
# Dublin, Ireland
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> **Type:** City destination + confirmed event anchor
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> **Confirmed dates:** August 30 (college football), August 31 (possible Bon Jovi concert)
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> **Recommended stay:** 2–3 days at end of trip
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> **Best for:** End-of-trip anchor; culture, pubs, events
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## Confirmed Events
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### College Football — Aviva Stadium, Saturday August 30
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The Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Notre Dame vs Navy at Aviva Stadium (capacity 51,700), Lansdowne Road.
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- **Book tickets early** — this sells out and is a major event drawing American visitors
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- Stadium is in Ballsbridge, 3km from city centre; Luas Red Line or taxi
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- Pre-match atmosphere in the pubs around Baggot Street and the city centre is excellent
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- [aerlinguscollegefootballclassic.com](https://www.aerlinguscollegefootballclassic.com)
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### Bon Jovi Concert — Sunday August 31 (possible)
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Verify venue and tickets — likely Aviva Stadium or a major outdoor venue. Check [ticketmaster.ie](https://www.ticketmaster.ie).
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---
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## Why Via Dublin (Arrival)
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Arriving from the Wild Atlantic Way (coming south from Donegal/Galway/Kerry), Dublin is the natural end point. The Wild Atlantic Way terminates near Cork/Kinsale; from there it's 3h north to Dublin for the Aug 30 fixture.
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**Timing:** Build your Wild Atlantic Way itinerary backward from August 29 in Dublin (day before the game). That gives you ~3 weeks of cycling/driving from a Belfast/Donegal start around August 7–10.
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---
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## Must-See
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### ⭐ Trinity College & Book of Kells
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Ireland's oldest university (1592). The Long Room of the Old Library is one of the most beautiful rooms in the world — barrel-vaulted ceiling, 200,000 ancient books, marble busts. The Book of Kells (9th-century illuminated manuscript) is displayed here.
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- **Book ahead** — it sells out; [tcd.ie/visitors](https://www.tcd.ie/visitors/)
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- **Allow:** 1.5–2 hours
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### Kilmainham Gaol
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The prison where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. Essential to understanding modern Irish history. Guided tours only — book well ahead.
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- [kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie](https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie)
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### National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology
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Free entry. Home to some of the finest prehistoric gold artefacts in the world and the famous Iron Age bog bodies. Worth 1–2 hours.
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### Temple Bar
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Dublin's cultural quarter on the south bank of the Liffey. Cobblestone streets, pubs, galleries, market on weekends. Touristy but genuinely lively. The Temple Bar pub is the famous one — it'll be packed and expensive; try Mulligan's or The Long Hall instead for a quieter pint.
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### Phoenix Park
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One of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital (1,750 acres). Herd of wild deer. The US Ambassador's residence and the Irish President's (Áras an Uachtaráin) are inside the park.
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### Guinness Storehouse
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The pilgrimage. Nine floors in a converted fermentation plant; the gravity bar at the top has panoramic city views and a complimentary pint. More enjoyable than it sounds.
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- Book ahead; busy in summer.
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---
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## EV Charging in Dublin
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Dublin has solid rapid charging infrastructure.
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- **ESB ecars** network is widespread across the city (app: eCars)
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- Rapid chargers at Merrion Road, Ballsbridge (near Aviva), and most major car parks
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- **Aviva Stadium area:** ESB chargers on Serpentine Avenue and Merrion Road
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---
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## Practical Info
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- **Workation:** Excellent — best on the whole trip. 3fe (Grand Canal St), Clement & Pekoe, and multiple coworking spaces. Plan any critical meetings or deadlines for the Dublin days.
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- **Currency:** Euro (EUR)
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- **Driving:** Left side
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- **Luas tram:** Useful for getting around the city centre without parking stress
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## Day Trip Option: Newgrange, County Meath
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45 min north of Dublin. A passage tomb older than the pyramids (3,200 BC) and older than Stonehenge — the chamber is aligned so sunlight floods it at the exact moment of winter solstice. Not a must-visit, but if you have a free morning on Aug 29 it's an easy detour and genuinely impressive in scale.
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- Access is via guided tour only from the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre; book ahead at [heritageireland.ie](https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/bru-na-boinne-visitor-centre/)
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- Allow half a day including the drive from Dublin
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## Onward: Return to Walldorf
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See `08-return-via-france.md` for the Dublin → ferry to France → Walldorf leg (target: home by Sep 2).
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## Links
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- [Visit Dublin](https://www.visitdublin.com)
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- [Aer Lingus College Football Classic](https://www.aerlinguscollegefootballclassic.com)
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- [Ticketmaster Ireland](https://www.ticketmaster.ie)
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- [ESB ecars charging](https://www.esb.ie/ecars)
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- [Trinity College Visitors](https://www.tcd.ie/visitors/)
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- [Kilmainham Gaol](https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie)
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