Showing posts with label accommodation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accommodation. Show all posts

Monday, June 8, 2009

Food for thought


Food for Thought

'Me stomach thinks me throat's been cut' is just one of the entertaining ways an Irish person can let you know they're ready to eat! Good hearty fare can be as simple as a burger and beer enjoyed right here in the hostel every Friday and Saturday evening or try your hand at preparing a full Irish breakfast in our self catering kitchen.

On your visit to Dublin the more adventurous visitor will want to sample some of our more traditional dishes including coddle, Irish stew, colcannon and corned beef and cabbage which can all be found in the great selection of restaurants around the city. Try Gallaghers Boxty House in Temple Bar (http://www.boxtyhouse.ie/) or the Shack (http://www.shackrestaurant.ie/). Why not visit Hotel Isaacs Il Vignardo restaurant, where Italian food with an Irish slant is served in attractive surroundings which will make you feel you've entered a Tuscan vineyard. With early bird and lunch specials at €9.90, the value is hard to beat.

For the serious foodies among you a trip to the 'Taste of Dublin' festival (http://www.tastefestivals.ie/) will be just the ticket. Running from the 11th to 14th June and now in it's fouth year with over 30,000 visitors the idea behind this festival is to allow everyone to taste food prepared by the best Irish chefs. Prestigious restaurants such as L'Ecrivan, Diep Le Shaker Chapter One and King Sitric to name but a few prepare 3 signature dishes each. It all takes place is the beautiful surroundings of the Iveagh gardens off Stephens Green just a 15 minute walk from the hostel.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Blooming Marvellous


Blooming Marvellous!

Dublin's Phoenix Park is 1752 acres of beautiful unspoiled woodland locatedonly 2 kms from O'Connell Street in the city centre. In fact the PhoenixPark is the largest city enclosed park in Europe and is home to the zoological gardens which opened here in 1830.It's well worth a visit with fantastic walking, running, cycling and rollerblading paths. You'll probably see a herd of fallow deer wandering around in the wooded areas. The residence of Ireland's President Mary McAleese (Arasan Uachtarain) is located in the park as is the US Ambassador's residenceand a state of the art visitors centre with activites throughout the year.

This weekend sees the now annual Bloom festival taking place in the park running from 28th May to 1st June. With over 50,000 visitors last year the festival will feature the best of Irish plants and flowers and gardens designed especially for the occasion.

Access to the park from Jacobs Inn or Isaacs hostel couldn't be easier. Just hop on the Red Luas Line around the corner at Connelly Station. This weekend because the Bloom festival is on you can pick up free shuttle buses at Heuston Station which will take you to the centre of the action. Bring along a picnic and make the most of the wide open spaces.