Upon arrival in Dublin, we were met by Will, our tour guide, and Illy, our driver, who would be with us for the next 48 hours. We also had the pleasure of being joined by two Globus hosts, Jayne and Ryan.
We set off from the airport aboard our Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coach, which was air-conditioned, clean, and spacious, complete with a toilet and USB charging points. As our flight had arrived earlier than hotel check-in, we were taken to Malahide Castle - about a 40- to 50-minute drive. We spent a lovely hour meandering through the gardens of this historic landmark, made even more beautiful by the glorious sunshine. We learnt about the castle’s long history, having been owned by the Talbot family from 1175 to 1975. After enjoying the greenery, we treated ourselves to iced lattes from the onsite café and, naturally, couldn’t resist a wander through the gift shop.
From there, we made our way to the Hilton Garden Inn to store our luggage before heading to lunch. The hotel, which overlooks the River Liffey and is about a 15-20 minute walk from the city centre, gave a good first impression. The lobby was spacious with plenty of seating, a small café and shop, several check-in desks, three lifts, lobby-level lavatories, and a restaurant. Staff were friendly and helpful - even though the luggage store was full, they kindly offered to keep our bags in their secure staff lockers, which saved us from having to bring everything along to our next stop: dinner at the Guinness Brewery.
Before that, though, we stopped for lunch at the Harbour Master Bar & Grill - a quaint and traditional pub just across from the River Liffey.
Back on the coach, Will shared stories about Dublin’s rich history, its population of 1.5 million, and fun facts beyond the city, including the Titanic Museum in Belfast, which is one of Northern Ireland’s most visited attractions. We learnt that Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe, and that Dublin’s history predates the pyramids by over 500 years. Still, the Guinness Brewery remains the city’s most popular tourist attraction.
On arrival, we were each given a headset for a self-guided tour of the brewery, where we discovered a host of fascinating facts. For example, did you know there are 3.4 quadrillion yeast cells in every brew? Or that Guinness stores its yeast in liquid nitrogen? And, perhaps most surprisingly, that Guinness is actually red, not black? The whole experience was incredibly immersive. From the smell of the hops to the feel of the barley and the mesmerising sound of the water fountain, every sense was engaged.
After dinner, we continued our coach tour, taking in sights such as the Harp Bridge, O’Connell Street (home to the striking Millennium Spire), and the bridge that holds the title of the widest to span the Liffey, opened in 1882. Will shared more about Daniel O’Connell, a pivotal figure in Irish history who fought against anti-Catholic laws and became the first Catholic MP in 1824, ultimately helping secure Catholic emancipation in 1829.
We passed the Customs House, the Garden of Remembrance (opened in 1966), the haunting Children of the Lir sculpture, and the famous “eye” linking Dublin and New York. We also saw the Hugh Lane Gallery - named after the influential art dealer who tragically died aboard the Lusitania in 1915, with some of his priceless collection still believed to be aboard the ship.
We stopped briefly at Merrion Row, where Oscar Wilde was born, and took photos of his statue before returning to the hotel to relax for the evening.
We began the day with breakfast at the hotel, which offered a great selection, from fruit and cereal to waffles, pastries and cooked options. We then met Will for a walking tour around the city. Once again, the weather was on our side.
We learnt about the famous Jeanie Johnston ship, renowned for never losing a soul at sea, unlike many other famine-era vessels. We passed the evocative famine memorial statues, a sobering reminder of the hardship faced by so many in 1847.
Our walk continued at a leisurely pace, with plenty of stops for photos and stories. We visited the Customs House, built in 1791 and once Dublin’s trade administration hub, until it was set on fire in 1922. We admired the Rosie Hackett Memorial Bridge and the grand old parliament building, which is now home to Trinity College. The college houses the world-famous Book of Kells and the stunning Long Room Library - both of which require advance booking to view.
We also passed the Mayor’s House, Dawson Lounge (reputedly Dublin’s smallest pub), the Thin Lizzy statue, and made our way to Temple Bar - Dublin’s cultural quarter.
Lunch was enjoyed at The Quays Restaurant, tucked away in the heart of Temple Bar. Afterwards, we had some free time to explore at our own pace and get ready for the evening.
We departed at 5:30 pm for dinner and a show at Taylor’s Irish Cabaret, set in a building that dates back to the 1600s.
This evening was easily the highlight of the tour for me. We made our way upstairs to a large dining room lined with long tables and a bar, all centred around a stage. Our meals were served quickly, and before long, the entertainment began. The room came alive with traditional Irish singing, music, and dancing - it felt like a slice of the West End in Dublin.
To my surprise, I was invited on stage to try my hand at playing the spoons - not something I’d ever imagined doing. The performers were incredibly talented, and at one point we all quietened down to listen to a riddle about a pheasant plucker.
After the show, we headed into the city for a final night of drinks and dancing at a traditional Irish pub before returning to the hotel.
