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....

Christmas Day in Jacobs Inn

We know it might be a little bit soon to be talking about Christmas but if you are planning on backpacking to Ireland in December, now is the time to book your accommodation.

Jacobs Inn is one of the only hostels in Dublin to open over the Christmas season. Not only are we open for Christmas and New Years, we are hosting our annual Christmas Feast on Christmas day for those of you who are missing some home cooked Christmas food.
The feast starts at 1pm and we will be serving succulent roast turkey and ham with all the trimmings (and wine of course!) followed by delicious rich Christmas pudding...Mmmm. Santa Claus will be popping in on his way back to the North Pole with gifts for everyone at the feast. There will be plenty of Christmas cheer all day long with what promises to be the BEST Christmas away from home ever!

Prices
3 nights in 6/8/10 bed dorm + 3 course Christmas dinner + pressie from Santa = €65 per person
3 nights in Triple/ Quad + dinner+ pressie from Santa = €81 per person
3 nights in Twin/ Double + dinner + pressie from Santa = €95 per person

Guests who do not want to take us up on our Christmas special offer can buy a ticket to the Christmas Feast for just €20 per person. Room only available for the Christmas also.

To book your place at the Christmas feast email Renata at Jacobs@isaacs.ie

Day and night out in Dublin for just €24!

You’ve arrived in Dublin with a small budget and big expectations so where do you start? Obviously you want to fit as much into your few days here as you can and partake in a couple of pints of Guinness in its home city. Well I love a challenge so I’ve come up with a full day and night’s activities that won’t break the budget but will show you the best of what Dublin has to offer.

Day out in Dublin for €24 (Yes really €24 for a full day and nights entertainment WITH PINTS!)

Here’s an example of a really, really full day and night out in Dublin which will leave you satisfied and tired and all for less than €30 (€24 to be exact!).

9am Wake up in Jacobs Inn or Isaacs Hostel FREE!

09.15 Continental Breakfast FREE!

10.15 3 Hour Walking tour of Dublin* FREE!

14.15 Soup and a sandwich @ Café Isaacs €4.00

16.00 Leprechaun Museum** €10.00

19.00 Dinner and a pint @ Jacobs Inn or Isaacs Hostel €5.00

Late.. Ceol, Craic agus Rula Bula FREE!

(That’s music, fun and chaos to you!)

Later... Another TWO pints for the road €5.00

Bed :)

About the Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn free walking tour of Dublin.

Run by the best guides in the city, the free walking tour of Dublin is a great way to see the city. On this three hour walk you will see:

• Dublin Castle
• Dubh Linn
• Dublin’s Medieval Walls
• Viking Remains
• Norman Dublin
• Georgian Dublin
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Adam and Eve Church
• The National Library
• Famous Writers
• Temple Bar
• U2- Origins of the rock legend
• Ha’Penny Bridge
• Spire of Dublin
• City Hall
• Trinity College
• Leinster House
• Chester Beatty Library
• St. Stephen’s Green
• 1916 Easter Rising

Be sure to wear comfy shoes and prepare to have lots of fun! Come hail, rain, sleet, snow or cracking sunshine this tour will take place. Depending on the time of year bring rain gear, warm or cool clothes and sunscreen!

About The National Leprechaun Museum.

Believe it or not the National Leprechaun Museum opened for the first time this year. Dedicated to Irish mythology the museum is a fun way to spend a few hours and learn some of the stories that the Irish are fabled for. Y’never know, you might come away with the gift of the gab yourself! Entry is €10 and buys you a piece of leprechaun gold to take home and show your friends.

Previously loved in Dublin

Poor old Dublin has a bit of a bad rep for being expensive. We can proudly reveal that if you have just a few Euro burning a hole in your pocket there are ways to do some serious shopping at discount prices. There are hidden shopping gems all over the city where you can get your hands on some top notch gear for less money than you would expect.

Previously loved!
A super nice way of saying second hand but if you have a keen eye for fashion, art and bric-a–brac you can bag yourself a bargain in Dublin. I’ve listed some of the coolest places outside of the high street to get your shopping on in the city.

Dublin Flea Market
Held on the last Sunday of every month in Newmarket, off Cork Street the Dublin Flea Market is
a bizarre bazaar of vintage clothing and bric-a-brac.

Merrion Square Art
Every Saturday the railings around Merrion Square are filled with the most beautiful, diverse and sometimes weird ‘n wonderful art by artists all over the city. There are pieces to suit every pocket so you can grab yourself an arty memento of Dublin. Go for a wander around the park after you have had your fill of art.

Toejam Car boot Sale
This funky car boot sale is located in the car park of the Bernard Shaw Pub in Portobello. These sales go on every six weeks or so at the moment and the next one is on Saturday October 23rd. The car park is filled with vintage clothes, computers, music, bikes, cup cakes, sushi, Buckfast* Ice Cream, Big Blue Bus double Decker pizzas, crepes and much more. The market runs until 7pm with the after party in the Bernard Shaw pub ‘til 1am.
*Buckfast or Bucky is a potent tonic wine brewed by monks and drunk by punks. Buckfast ice cream is a more palatable way of tasting it!

Swapshop
Head to Crow Street in Temple Bar to Dublin’s only fashion exchange where you can upgrade your wardrobe. Bring along the clothes that you are finished with and once they are clean and in good condition you can swap them for new items. There is a service charge for swaps but you will save €€€€’s.

Moore Street Market
The Moore Street fruit, vegetable, fish and flower market is as Dublin as you get. Filled with fresh produce and lively locals it is as much a cultural experience as a market. Don’t expect anything quaint, this is noisy and bustling.


Point Village Market
This new market based beside The O2 runs every Saturday and Sunday. Live bands and DJ’s keep you entertained as you have a nosey around the stalls. As well as an eclectic collection of food stalls there is a farmers market and plenty of original art, photography, clothing and craft stalls. There are events and pop up markets throughout the year. (Check out the Halloween pop up market for apple bobbing and pumpkin carving workshops for a really fun, cheap day out to compliment your shopping!)

Cheapest beer in Dublin

At Isaacs Hostel we pride ourselves in doing things First - We were the First Independent hostel in Dublin (possibly even Ireland)celebrating our 25th Birthday this year. We were First hostel to be computerised, First hostel to provide a sauna, internet access etc.... the list goes on and on but now we have another fantastic FIRST - perhaps the best FIRST ever - we are the first hostel in Dublin to have a Beer Garden AND WE HAVE THE CHEAPEST PINT IN THE WHOLE OF IRELAND.

Just to put things into perspective for you, our dear readers. A Pint is 0.568 261 25 litre - just in case you didn't know! The average price of a pint of beer is €4.50 (and the price depends on where you are drinking - the posh places and the tourist places charge more!). Nowhere charges €2.50 a pint - BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ISAACS BACKPACKER BEER GARDEN IS NOW OPEN AND SELLING A PINT OF LAGER OR STOUT FOR ONLY €2.50 to the residents of Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn. If you are not booked into one of our hostels - sorry but you have to go elsewhere for your pint.

So get on that plane, train or automobile and come to stay with us! It's probably chepaer than staying at home.

Bumper to Bumper disco is back

The bumper to bumper disco Headphone disco is back.

The headphone disco is presented by Dublin Dance Festival in association with Temple Bar Cultural Trust and Phantom 105.2 with the station’s Jim Carroll and Michelle Doherty on the decks spinning all the best tracks, from the latest indie floor fillers to classic tunes from the 80s and 90s.

The headphone disco will start at 9 pm with gates opening at 8.30 pm. All you have to do is bring your headphone and have your radio tuned to 105.2 FM.

Tickets to this event are free but must be picked up from the Dublin Dance Festival Box office on 12 East Essex Street.

For More information click here

And don't forget when staying in Dublin, stay with us at Jacobs Inn or Isaacs Hostel