The Great Dublin Floods of 2011 at Isaacs Hostel

What a week we have had in Isaacs Hostel! Our basement flooded in the Great Dublin Floods of 2011. (Okay, okay, I made that name up. It was some epic flooding all over Dublin city, suburbs and parts of Ireland though)

We toiled through the night pumping water out of the basement and the crew here in Isaacs Hostel worked all day Tuesday cleaning up the mess. By Tuesday evening we were back in business, YAY! We were very happy with ourselves indeed; it seemed we were in the clear.

Unfortunately, one of our water pumps had malfunctioned and the knock-on effect of this was that a hot water pump gave up on us. When we discovered this it took some time to find a replacement. We found one and once again we were happy. A new pump was installed... we are good to go right?
Wrong, oh so wrong.

While trying to establish what the issue was with the pump, our boss (PHEW. It wasn't me) stood on the other pump and broke it in half. Bah! Back to the suppliers to source a new pump..... get the plumber out of bed once again....get the new pump from the manufacturers....have another ridiculously strong cup of coffee so that I stay awake..... get the new pump installed. And finally the job was done and we were back in business.

At each stage we were told that the pump was fixed and we'd tell all of you guys and then the bad news would filter through once again.

We're really sorry about any problems you had over the last week whilst staying with us. I promise that we were beavering away in the depths of the building fixing, then standing on and breaking and fixing the pumps again!

It's not a regular occurence and we are confident that the pumps won't malfunction again. And the boss is no longer allowed in the general basement area...just in case :)

Youtube video of the floods in Dublin http://bit.ly/uzUApZ

Best week in Dublin City!

Bring your drinking boots with you if you are visiting Dublin this weekend, you have picked a great week to sample a tipple or two in Ireland's capital.

First up is Arthur's Day which is happening on Thursday 22nd September. It's a night of music and celebrating Ireland's most famous export. Pretty much all of the pubs in Dublin will be packed with people and there are sold out gigs on in venues all over the city. Start your night in the Backpacker's Beer Garden in Isaacs Hostel where pints of stout are just €2.50 and then head up to Dame Court for a pint outside The Stags Head and The Dame Tavern (my favorite place to celebrate Arthur's Day. Trust me, it rocks!)





So, when you have wiped the stout foam from your lips it's time to head to Oktoberfest on Friday 23rd September. Just a couple of minute walk (or stumble on your way home!) from Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn, Oktoberfest is the celebration of all things German with German food, German music and of course litres and litres of German beer on offer. This is one of the best festivals of the year in my opinion. Good, clean, tipsy fun!
Oktoberfest runs from 22nd September to 09th October on George's Dock, Dublin Docklands in
the IFSC.



If you fancy a break from boozin' you can visit any museums, galleries, studios, historical buildings and all things cultural in Dublin on Friday for free as part of Dublin's Culture Night. Hundreds of Dublin's most famous landmarks are open to the public and there are free tours all over the city. For more information check out the website here.


Saturday is the hostel party of the year, the Backpacker's Ball. Run by the ten best hostels in Dublin the Backpacker's Ball is in The Village on the 24th September from 8.30pm 'til very, very late. There is a popcorn party, live music, DJ's, acrobats, drinks promotions, competitions, a giant pillow fight and much, much more. Entrance is by guest list only, if you are with us for the weekend just pop your name down at reception in Isaacs Hostel or Jacobs Inn.

Sunday...well, there are sausage or rasher sambo's in the deli and the Backpacker's Beer Garden opens in the evening for those who need a curer. You WILL be tired on Monday morning, guaranteed!

Free, weird and wonderful Dublin

Fancy doing something a little different, secret and something that most backpackers won’t have seen in Dublin? Here are three weird, wonderful and most importantly FREE places to visit on your trip to Dublin’s fair city.

1. The Hand
The hand is a sculpture located on Marlborough Street in the gardens of the Department of Education and Science just minutes from Jacobs Inn and Isaacs Hostel. Great photo op and free to access between 9 am – 5pm.
(Surprisingly The Hand doesn’t have a nickname unlike the ‘The Flue with the View’,’ The poker near Croker’, ‘The Hags with the Bags’ ...)


2. The Tenements of Dublin
Dublin was a very different place at the beginning of the 19th Century, a place where abject poverty, poor housing conditions and disease permeated the lives of thousands.
The city was too densely populated for the amount of housing available and often as many as 100 people would live in an eight roomed building in what was known as the Tenements. (Records show that an incredible 835 people lived between 15 houses on Henrietta Street!)

The Iveagh Trust Museum Flat is a three roomed Dublin tenement in near original condition which is open to the public on Saturdays between 10am and 1pm.

If you don’t manage to get to the museum flat you can view the outside of the old tenements in their original condition at Henrietta Street which is on the same side of the city as Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn close to the Four Courts. Ask at reception for directions. Totally free and completely worth a visit.


3. The Mummies of St Michan’s Church, Church Street, Dublin 7.
Dating from 1685, it is believed that George F. Handel played the organ in St Michan’s when he was composing The Messiah. But the really interesting part of the church happens in the vaults below the church. Descend the steep stone staircase into a limestone tunnel filled with ancient coffins, some of which appear to be bursting at the seams. At the very back are three open caskets exposing perfectly preserved, leathery skinned corpses- The nun, the Crusader and the thief. If you are feeling particularly brave they say that lightly touching the finger of the Crusader will bring great fortune.


It’s a creepy, dusty and surprisingly peaceful place. Not a tour for the faint hearted!


Tours from Monday – Friday 01st November to 17th March @ 12.30 and 15.30
17 March – 31st October @10.00, 12.30, 14.00 and 16.30.
Saturday all year round 10.00 & 12.30


Not open on Sundays due to religious ceremonies.

Oh for the love of Spuds in Ireland!

It’s National Potato Day in Ireland today so to celebrate the humble spud here’s a hostel kitchen friendly but tasty potato recipe.

The kitchens in Isaacs Hostel Dublin and Jacobs Inn Dublin are fully equipped but I still thought I’d go with a nice easy recipe!

Enjoy :)

Potato Latkes

1 potato, shredded or grated
1 medium onion, peeled
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

1. Heat a good glug of oil in a large pan over medium to medium high heat. To test the oil, add a piece of bread to the pan. It should turn golden brown in about ten seconds. Adjust heat, as necessary.

2. Grate the potatoes into a large bowl.

3. Finely dice the onion and add to the bowl.

4. Then add the egg.

5. Add salt and baking powder, then sprinkle in the flour and mix

6. Drop mixture into oil in small mounds, press down gently with spatula to form patties. Fry in batches so that each pattie is 1-inch apart until golden, about 3 minutes on each side.

7. Drain latkes on paper towels and enjoy!

Giggidy Giggidy!

Heading to The O2 or Croke Park for a gig?

You've bought the tickets already so we know that you've spent a fortune but what do you do for a bed for the night?

We've got it licked for ya! Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn are THE closest hostels to The O2 and Croker. Both are within easy walking distance and beds are priced from €12.50 in a dorm with private rooms from €42 including breakfast. Bargain!

To make things even cheaper you can avail of the Isaacs BBQ before the gig - just €5 for a burger and a beer. If you fancy eating on the move there are always plenty of hotdog and burger vans lining the walk to both venues. You can grab a Hotdog or burger for €5 from one of these.

When you come back from the gig you can hit the Backpackers Beer Garden at Isaacs Hostel serving pints for just €2.50 into the wee hours.

So make the most of your hard earned cash and stay with Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn after the gig.

Why would you sleep with anyone else? :)


Directions to The O2 Dublin:
You have two options. It is a lovely ten minute stroll along the banks of the River Liffey through the Dublin Docklands or you can hop on a Luas Tram right beside Isaacs and Jacobs and be at the DOOR of the O2 in literally 2 minutes.

Directions to Croke Park Dublin:
Head straight up Gardiner Street to Mountjoy Square and turn right. You will see Croke Park Straight ahead of you. Just continue straight and follow the crowds. This is a 15 minute walk but you won't feel the time pass as the buzz on the walk to Croker is always electric both for Gaelic matches and gigs.


Check out where else we are close to here....