WHISKEY, LEPRECHAUNS, AND EYES THAT GLOW BLUE THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT
Day Two: Dublin, The Republic of Ireland- It’s St. Patrick’s Day, So Let’s Raise Our Pints of Guinness
It is St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Dublin, Ireland and our second day in the city. We had already seen a lot on our first day but needed to strategize our day in order to see as much as possible. There were many sites to see and we had to prioritize them in order to be efficient. After much thought, we agreed that there was no better way to start our second day than with a Guinness, but only after an Irish breakfast of course.
Stop 1: The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland
It was a bit windy so we bundled up and headed over to our first stop, the Guinness Storehouse at St James's Gate, Dublin 8, Ireland. If you want to pre-purchase your tickets online, make sure you chose the Dublin Storehouse. There is a new Guinness Storehouse in Maryland, so double check before you purchase to ensure you have chosen the correct location. The tickets at the counter are €18.50 and discounts are available online.
The inside of the Guinness Storehouse was absolutely astonishing. All I could say was, wow! My initial reaction was that I had entered the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, but with less chocolate and exceedingly more beer. The overall initial experience was breathtaking. The Guinness Storehouse has seven floors total with a glass atrium in the center shaped like a giant pint of Guinness. And each of the seven floors has a theme.
The ground floor tells the stout’s humble origin story beginning with water, barley, hops, and yeast. There are many visual aids filled with information to guide you along.
Next is the 2nd floor which is all about the smell. There is an actual Aroma room where you can smell and taste the roasted barley.
The 3rd floor explores the advertising and marketing history of Guinness. “The Tick, Followed Tock, Followed Tick” ad is prominently displayed. This ad was an award-winning commercial and ranked number one on a list for the 100 greatest TV ads of all time. The “Tick Followed Tock” ad is also known as “The Surfer versus Horses” commercial and was filmed on location with real-life surfers in Hawaii. The commercial was authentic and was shot as the surfers were just trying to catch the big wave.
The Guinness tour is also practical. You not only drink stout at Guinness, but you also learn how to enjoy your stout in the correct manner. The 4th floor is home to the Guinness Academy. The Guinness Academy is where you learn how to pour a proper Guinness and after your training, you receive your certificate proving that you are now a professional.
The 5th floor has three Restaurants with bars, of course. But the most captivating bar, the Gravity Bar, is on the 7th floor and provides an astonishing 360-degree view of Dublin. You also receive a drink voucher included in the cost of your ticket. You can redeem your drink voucher at the Gravity Bar while you enjoy the view.
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en
Stop 2: The Bull and Castle Restaurant
For our second stop, after the Guinness Storehouse tour, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at The Bull and Castle Restaurant which was a 2-minute walk from our hotel. The food was delicious and affordable. We ordered the Pre-theatre selection and received three courses for only €29.50 euro.
Stop 3: Teeling Distillery
With our bellies full we took a quick stroll over to the Teeling Distillery which was only about a 10-minute walk from the restaurant. Stop three is the new kid on the block in a neighborhood filled with veterans. Teeling is the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125years. The Teeling Distillery has a light and youthful vibe. All tastings are accompanied by a tour of the facility which is a nice touch. WE learned about the history of the Teeling family in addition to the whiskey distilling process. Before we left, we had a few Irish Coffees for the road to stay warm as we headed to Temple Bar.
https://teelingdistillery.com/
Bonus Stop: Marsh Library
The Marsh Library is the oldest library in Ireland and was opened in 1707. The Marsh Library contains 25,000 rare and fascinating books. We made a stop here during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities. The library is in close proximity to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and is a wonderful stop for those looking for a nonalcoholic experience.
Stop 4: Temple Bar
Here is an informative tip for our fourth stop, Temple Bar. Temple Bar is the name for an entire area and it is not just one bar. Many times, online, people have taken their pictures in front of the same restaurant, but that is just a good shot. There are many restaurants and bars in the area and the entire area is just called Temple Bar.
We visited Dublin during St. Patrick’s and Temple Bar was more than prepared. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest holidays in Ireland and the entire city was turned green. Green lights lite St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Christchurch Cathedral, and the government buildings. The restaurants and bars were very crowded. So, keep in mind if you are traveling with a large party, this could make your wait time longer when waiting for a table for meals.
As we walked from Temple bar back to our hotel, the music from the church’s bells filled the air. We were sent off with a pleasant goodnight from a St Patty’s Day leprechaun. But I knew to keep my three wishes to myself. I have heard that these magical trickster fairies could not be trusted.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoyed the article. The YouTube link is attached if you would to visually experience my second day in Dublin, Ireland. If you liked this YouTube video, please hit the thumbs up button on the video. If you LOVED the video, please subscribe, hit the notification bell and share this video.
Happy travels… Tani 😊
