On Your Bike

Ireland's 1st National Bike Week starts today and runs till 21st June 2009 (http://www.bikeweek.ie/). Cycling is a wonderful way to see Dublin city and to travel all over the country. Whether you want to explore the Capital's main tourist spots or enjoy quiet trips on country lanes Ireland has tonnes to offer the amateur or avid cyclist. As part of the week on Wednesday evening there is a Dublin City cycle which starts at Merrion Square at 7.00pm.The route will travel across the River Liffey, up O'Connell Street to Parnell Square and back to Merrion Square again.You can also take advantage of the free bike checkups on offer.

For visitors with bikes who are arriving at Isaacs Hostel or Jacobs Inn we have free parking at the hostel. To download cycle maps of the Dublin area visit www.dto.ie/ctbl. Otherwise you can rent bikes from Neills Wheels Rent A Bike & Bicycle Tours. You can have a bike delivered to the hostel from EUR 20.00 per day or EUR 80.00 per week. Phone (085) 1530648 or http://www.goireland.com/ and search 'bike rentals'. Neills also organise a tour which meets at Essex St. Bridge in Temple Bar each evening at 18.30.

Phoenix Park Bike hire has a great selection of bikes for all the family including tandems. Prices start at EUR 5.00 per hour or EUR 20.00 for a whole day. (http://www.phoenixparkbikehire.com/) One of their most famous customers was Beyonce Knowles who was seen cycling in the Phoenix Park while enjoying some 'down' time on her recent world tour.

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.

Party time in Dublin

2nd June 2009
Dublin city is famous for it's live music venues and there's nothing we like more than a good hooley (party)! So whether you're here for one of the big Summer concerts or to enjoy some more low key shindigs then you'll be perfectly placed in Isaacs Hostel or Jacobs Inn.

Our Irish Dance Parties take place right here in the hostels so learn a few steps to impress your friends with. The 'Live @' series features some of the best Irish music around with regular gigs in both hostels. If you're a musician and would like to perform your stay could be free!

U2 are performing 3 already sold out concerts in Croke Park on July 24, 25 and 27th. If you'd like to see the band on their home ground then enter our competition. Visit www.isaacs.ie for a chance to win. Also performing in Croke Park on the 13th of this month is Take That.

Dublin's O2 arena is hosting a series of concerts over the summer including Beyonce 3/6 & 4/6, Britney Spears 18/6 and 19/6 (www.theO2.ie) and Ireland's internationally renowned music and dance spectacular Riverdance is on in one of our oldest theatres from 22/6 to 29/8 (www.gaietytheatre.com).

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.

Summer in Dublin

Welcome to Summer in Dublin. Not noticably different from Spring or Autumn and sightly warmer than Winter, but let's face it you're not coming for the weather!

Dublin is one of Europe's most vibrant capital cities and when you come to stay then Jacobs Inn and Isaacs Hostel are the perfect locations for a terrific Dublin experience. Right in the heart of the city you'll be close to everything you need for a good time. With free Wifi and continental breakfast, not to mention the sauna and in house entertainment you won't have to go outside the door to find the hospitality and good times that the Irish are famed for. Unless you want to..........

If you're in town why not catch some of the 3rd annual Dublin City Soul Festival, running from 21st to 24th May. With events celebrating peace and unity taking place throughout the city streets Ceol, (music) caint (chat) agus craic (and good times) will be the order of the day. The festivities culminate in the Soul Picnic which takes place in the picturesque surroundings of Merrion Square on Sunday 24th so get out and enjoy some serious Irish entertainment.

Free U2 tickets

We here at Jacobs Inn are giving away 2 tickets and accommodation to see U2 in Dublin!

Have you ever wanted to see U2 play live in their hometown? Well this is your chance. On the July 25th, U2 will playing to packed 80,000 fans in the historic Croke Park Stadium in Dublin as part of their innovative new 360 degrees tour.

We are giving away 2 tickets to see the guys, as well as 3 nights free accommodation in one of our private rooms, for you and a friend.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is just answer one simple question. ave a look at our competition page here: http://bit.ly/1aeL6P

Good Luck!

Videos

Hello again everyone.

We are now putting together a number of videos to try and demonstrate to people how great the locations of our hostels really are. Both Isaacs Hostel and Jacobs Inn are located right beside the Central Bus Station, Connolly train (DART) station, Connolly tram (LUAS) station and the Aiport Express 747 bus stop. Making us the perfect stop for any traveller. As well as this we are only a short walk from all the main attractions in Dublin such as Trinity College, O'Connell Street and Temple Bar.

Why not have a look at the videos on our youtube site here to see for yourself! Click on the 'How to get to the hostel' playlist. Why not check out some of our 'Live @ Jacobs' acts under that playlist section also while you are there.