I am sure that many of you may have noticed a new feature of the Dublin skyline, namely the Dublin Wheel which is located on the northside of the River Liffey just beside the O2 by the East Link Bridge.

The Dublin Wheel is an observational wheel which opened on the 31^st of July last.  It consists of 42 enclosed capsules or pods, each of which can accommodate 8 persons. It’s a great way to get a bird’s eye view in all directions of the capital city.  The wheel is open from 10am to 10pm every day and costs €9 per adult (€7 for students).  A day time trip will help you understand the layout of the city but a dusk/evening trip would be perfect for a romantic date! 

The Dublin Wheel is located just beside Dublin’s premier concert venue, the O2 , which was previously known as The Point.  The original building dates from 1878 when it was a train depot for the port of Dublin.  It fell into disuse and lay derelict until it was bought by well known Dublin businessman and developer, Harry Crosbie.  Before it was renovated by Crosby, it was used by U2 who recorded a track for their Rattle and Hum album there in 1988.  It opened as a concert venue later than year.  Over the following decades it hosted many concerts and shows.  It was the venue for The Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, 1995 and 1997 and for the MTV Music Awards in 1999.  It was further renovated and extended and opened as the O2 Dublin in July 2008.

The Point Village which is located just behind the O2 is still being developed.  But currently there is a market held there every weekend.  The Point Village Market hosts

• Stalls – crafts, clothing and bric a brac.
• Farmers Market – jams, bakery and other food items… yummy!
• Pop Up Market – an area devoted to something different every week.

For more details visit their website here. 

The new Luas line takes you directly to the Point Village  or for something a bit special and different board the Liffey Voyager at Bachelors Walk (100m from O’Connell Bridge) and cruise down the river.  The Liffey Voyager runs daily until November.

Photo of The Dublin Wheel by Paul Sherwood, Sherwood Photography

Tip for the Weekend

For a unique and exciting sporting experience, you could head along to the GAA Hurling Final which takes place in Croke Park on the 5^th of September.  The stadium will be packed to the rafters, the atmosphere electric and the action on the pitch breath-taking!  Check here for tickets.

As I write this blog post for you dear students, there is a definite feel of autumn in the air.  Strong winds are blowing leaves all about and it is decidedly cooler today.  So in order to enjoy one of the last weekends of summer, I thought that this weekend you should get out and about and explore one of Dublin’s prettiest villages.

Howth lies about ten miles north of Dublin City on a peninsula that marks one side of Dublin Bay.  It is best reached by DART which will leave you down at the harbour.  Head out in the morning and spend your day exploring all this little town has to offer:

• Take a walk up Howth Head for stunning views over Dublin Bay.  Make sure you see the Bailey Lighthouse which dates from about 1814 and is a comforting sight for many Dubliners throughout winter nights.  Look out for the old tram tracks.  Take a picnic if the day is nice!
• Explore the 12^th century Abbey and graveyard located in the town.
• If you fancy a swim you can walk to the beaches either at Claremont of The Burrow.
• Take a boat trip out to Ireland’s Eye – the little island you can see from the harbour.
• Walk the piers and watch the fishermen at work or the yachting community at play. Also keep your eye out for some Dublin Bay Seals who will pop their dog like heads out of the water regularly.

Of course, being a fishing port, Howth is renowned for its fish restaurants.  So make an evening of it, have a bite to eat, a few drinks and take the late DART back to the city!  Whatever you do in Howth – enjoy!

 Photo of fishing trawler in Howth by Paul Sherwood. 

 Weekend Tip

One for the girls this week.  Ireland’s premier pampering, fashion and beauty event, called Girls Ultimate Day Out, takes place in the RDS (Ballsbridge) this weekend, 27^th – 29^th August.  Treat yourself to some girly madness.  All details are here

Students I thought it was time for a short history lesson on the blog this week.

This Sunday 22^nd of August marks the 88^th Anniversary of the death of one of Ireland’s most famous and certainly most colourful leaders, General Michael Collins.

Michael Collins was from Clonakilty in West Cork.  He first came to prominence during the Easter Rising of 1916 when he fought alongside Padraig Pearse in the GPO (General Post Office) on O’Connell Street. 

Along with many Irish Republican activists he was elected to the Westminister Parliament in the General Election of 1918.  However the elected Republicans refused to take their seats in the British Parliament and instead formed the first Irish Dail (government) which met in January 1919.  Collins was elected Ireland’s first Minister for Finance – a job at which he excelled.   He was also made Head of Intelligence in the IRA and as the first Dail met in Dublin, the first event of the War of Independence took place when a group of RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary – police force) officers were ambushed in County Tipperary.

Michael Collins is credited with being the mastermind behind Ireland’s guerrilla tactics which were eventually successful in gaining Ireland’s freedom.  During the War of Independence he was Britain’s most wanted man and evaded capture through a mixture of supreme confidence (he regularly rode a bicycle around Dublin), intuition and razor sharp intelligence.  By all accounts Michael Collins was a magnetic personality.  His good looks and broad build are apparent from the few photos we have of him.

He led the Irish delegation to London for the negotiation of the Treaty that ended centuries of occupation in Ireland.  However he knew that by agreeing to leaving the six countries of Ulster in British control, he was in fact signing his own death warrant. 

He was right.  Ireland was torn apart over the Treaty and Civil War ensued.  Michael Collins was killed in an ambush by Anti Treaty Forces in his native Cork on the 22^nd of August 1922 and Ireland lost one of it’s most charismatic leaders.

Take a visit up to the National Museum in Collins Barracks, on Benburb Street, Dublin 7 and visit the Soldiering exhibition for more information on both the War of Independence and Michael Collins.  The National Museum website is here and Collins Barracks is only a 30 minute walk from O Connell Street or take the Luas Red Line.

 Photo of Michael Collins in uniform. 

 Weekend Tip

If you want to look back a lot further into Irish History, wander over the The Civic Offices on Wood Quay and take part in the Dublin Viking Festival.  All information on their website here.