Nighttown - Dublin's Delicious Underbelly

Do you know your half crowns from you two and six or your plug from your chaw? What about your Dan Bergins from your James Rourkes?

 If so, or indeed if not, having a little knowledge about Ulysses, that incredibly big book written by James Joyce in the last century, can make Dublin a little more interesting and wondrous than many of you already know it to be…sure why else would you be coming?

When pushed, the local ladies denied all responsibility for the street graffiti

June the 16^th, this year a Sunday, is every year the day that Dublin celebrates Ulysses, by commemorating various events that happen to the characters on that day in 1904, most particularly Leopold Bloom. Folk dress up in character and follow in the footsteps of Leopold bloom and others to the breakfast rooms and bars of inner city Dublin and beyond.
Ulysses is essentially a day in the life of Leopold and we in Isaacs Hostel are proud to be doing our bit to help folk get, if not a better understanding of the thing at least a chance to take part in this celebration in advance of the day, by providing space for a reading of chapter 16 by The Bloomsday Survival Kit, a group that aims to bring Ulysses to the people.

On Tuesday evenings the 14^th and 21^st of May from 19:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs in Isaacs hostel there will be readings of this chapter (it’s a long one), the events of which occur all around our little hostel.

This will be a bit of craic (not, we must stress, the type that may have been freely available in this area a hundred years ago), and you may even get the opportunity to read out a smidgeon of the chapter too, in or out of character. Free coffee and dirty buns will be provided for everyone and all we ask is that you enjoy and learn a little about the book that you more than likely never read before…

For further information on this event visit www.bloomsdaysurvivalkit.com or follow them on Facebook (we do).

And for all things James Joyce go to www.jamesjoyce.ie  to keep up to date on what is happening throughout the year in celebration of the man and his many works.

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!