-
St Mary's Church
Designed by William Robinson in 1697, this is the most important church to survive from that period (although it's no longer in use and is closed to the public). John Wesley, founder of Methodism, delivered his first Irish sermon here in 1747 and it was the preferred church of Dublin's 18th-century social elite. Many famous Dubliners were baptised in its font, and Arthur Guinness was married here in 1793.
-
St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
Dublin's most important Catholic church is not quite the showcase you'd expect. It's in the wrong place for starters. This large neoclassical building, constructed from 1816 to 1825, was supposed to be on O'Connell St where the GPO now stands, but the local Protestant community - who pretty much ran the show back then - went nuts about the idea of it having such a prominent position.
-
St Michan's Church
Macabre remains are the main attraction at this church, which was founded by the Danes in 1096 and named after one of their saints. The oldest architectural feature is the 15th-century battlement tower; otherwise the church was rebuilt in the late 17th century, considerably restored in the early 19th century and again after the Civil War.
-
St Patrick's Cathedral
Situated on the very spot St Paddy himself rolled up his sleeves and dunked the heathen Irish into a well, this is one of Dublin's earliest Christian sites and hallowed ground. Although a church stood on the site from the 5th century, the present building dates from 1191, and several major alterations have been made since then.
-
St Patrick's Tower
The 40m-tall St Patrick's Tower, built around 1757, is the tallest surviving windmill tower outside the Netherlands.
-
St Stephen's 'Peppercanister' Church
Built in 1825 in Greek Revival style and commonly known as the 'pepper-canister' on account of its appearance, St Stephen's is one of Dublin's most attractive and distinctive churches, and looks particularly fetching at twilight when its exterior lights have just come on. It occasionally hosts classical concerts, but don't go out of your way to see the interior. It's only open during services, usually held at Sunday and Wednesday, with an extra one at Friday July and August.
-
St Stephen's Green
As you watch the assorted groups of friends, lovers and individuals escaping the confines of the office, splaying themselves across the nine elegantly landscaped hectares of St Stephen's Green and looking to catch a few rays of precious sun, consider that those same hectares once formed a common for public whippings, burnings and hanging. These days, the harshest treatment you'll get in Dublin's favourite lunchtime escape is the warden chucking you off the green for playing football or Frisbee.
-
St Werburgh's Church
Lying west of Dublin Castle, St Werburgh's Church stands upon ancient foundations (probably from the 12th century), but was rebuilt several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The church's tall spire was dismantled after Robert Emmet's rising in 1803, for fear that future rebels might use it as a vantage point for snipers.
-
Strawberry Beds
Running alongside the northern banks of the Liffey between the villages of Chapelizod and Lucan, roughly along the western edge of the Phoenix Park, is the Strawberry Beds, so-called on account of the fruits once grown here and sold along the side of the road. Before the days of flight, it was a popular honeymoon destination for Dubliners; the Chapelizod end was Joyce's favourite spot for contemplating the Liffey.
-
Temple Bar Gallery & Studios
This huge gallery showcases the works of dozens of up-and-coming Irish artists at a time, and is the best place to see cutting-edge Irish art across a range of media. Artist's studios are also part of the complex, but these are off-limits to casual visitors.
-
Advertisement
-
Trinity College
Don your gown and dust off that tome on elocution, for this calm and cordial retreat from the bustle of contemporary Dublin is not just Ireland's most prestigious university (and the home of the blockbuster hit that is the Book of Kells ) but a throwback to those far-off days when a university education was the preserve of a very small elite who spoke passionately of the importance of philosophy and the need for empire.
-
Unitarian Church
Across the road from the western side of St Stephen's Green is the 1863 Unitarian Church and the early-19th-century Royal College of Surgeons, which has one of the finest façades on St Stephen's Green. During the 1916 Easter Rising, the building was occupied by rebel forces led by Countess Markievicz (1868-1927). The columns are scarred from the bullet holes.
-
War Memorial Gardens
Hardly anyone ever ventures this far west, but they're missing a lovely bit of landscaping in the shape of the War Memorial Gardens, by our reckoning as pleasant a patch of greenery as any you'll find in the heart of the Georgian centre. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the memorial commemorates the 49,400 Irish soldiers who died during WWI - their names are inscribed in the two huge, granite bookrooms that stand at one end. A beautiful spot and a bit of history to boot.
-
Waterways Visitor Centre
If you absolutely must know about the construction and operation of Ireland's canals, then you'll dig a visit to this interpretive centre upstream from the Grand Canal Docks, which explores the history and personality of Ireland's canals and waterways through models (if they're working), audiovisual displays and panels. Otherwise, admiring the 'box on the docks' - as this modern building is nicknamed - is plenty good enough for the average enthusiast of artificial waterways.
-
Whitefriars Street Carmelite Church
If you find yourself mulling over the timing of a certain proposal - or know someone who needs some prompting - walk through the automated glass doors of this church and head for the remains of none other than St Valentine, donated by Pope Gregory XVI in 1835. The Carmelites returned to this site in 1827, when they re-established their former church, which had been seized from them by Henry VIII in the 16th century.
