Till Mueller
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Route: Germany → Hoek van Holland ferry → England → Isle of Man → Ireland (Wild Atlantic Way cycling). Includes location files, AI context, contributing guide, and README with ferry/logistics table.
3.1 KiB
Dublin, Ireland
Type: City destination + ferry arrival (alternative to Belfast) Recommended stay: 1–2 days Best for: Culture, literary history, pubs; southern starting point for Wild Atlantic Way
Why Via Dublin
If you take the Isle of Man → Dublin ferry, you arrive in the Republic's capital. From here you can drive/cycle north to start the Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal (long drive, ~4h), or travel it south-to-north starting in Kerry/Cork.
Note: The Wild Atlantic Way is usually more dramatic cycling south-to-north (prevailing wind at your back, progressively wilder landscapes). But north-to-south is the official direction.
Must-See
Trinity College & Book of Kells
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.
- Book ahead — it sells out; tcd.ie/visitors
- Allow: 1.5–2 hours
Temple Bar
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.
National Museum of Ireland — Archaeology
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.
Kilmainham Gaol
The prison where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. Essential to understanding modern Irish history. Guided tours only — book well ahead.
Phoenix Park
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.
Guinness Storehouse
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.
- Book ahead; busy in summer.
Practical Info
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Ferry from Isle of Man: Irish Ferries Dublin–Holyhead (but this goes to Wales first); or Stena Line Rosslare. Direct IoM–Dublin is seasonal via Steam Packet — verify availability.
- Driving: Left side
- Luas tram: Useful for getting around the city centre without parking stress
Onward: Wild Atlantic Way
From Dublin, the most practical cycling start is to take the coast road north to Donegal (if starting north-to-south) or drive south toward Kerry/Limerick (if doing south-to-north).
The most common cycling direction for prevailing westerly winds: south to north (Clare → Galway → Mayo → Donegal). See 08-wild-atlantic-way.md for the full route.