Ireland

It was a 9-day trip with 9 people in the summer of 2024. It is worth to travel in Ireland in the summer, because in this time the weather can be sunny and it rains not too much. We traveled by air plane to Dublin and we rented a car there for 6 days. The accommodations were in Dublin (4 nights), in Cashel (1 night), in Cork (1 night), in Dingle (1 night) and in Galway (2 nights). On this trip we got to know the irish capital city, Dublin, and the major cities of Ireland, but some nature wonders as well. We visited some of the significant works of Ireland’s most famous architecture offices: O’Donnel+Tuomey, Grafton, de Blacam+Meagher, Shay Cleary and McCullough Mulvin.

27.07.2024 – Arrive to Dublin

The tour starts at Zurich Airport, it is appr. 2.5 hours to reach the Irish capital by plane. From Dublin Airport you can take buses to go into the city. We stayed in a well-equiped hotel at the Temple Bar district. (Tip: if you prefer calm places in the night, do not stay at Temple Bar, because there is party in the whole day.) On the first day we had lunch and dinner and took a walk in the historic city centre of the city. (Tip: For dinner I can recommend The Vintage Kitchen.)

28.07.2024 – Dublin /// Trinity College Campus, Housing- and Cultural Projects

Make some architecture thematic tours in Dublin: 1. Tour – Trinity College Old Campus. The historic, wood claded Library and the Book of Kells are really worth to visit. In the Campus there are also some new building: the Samuel Beckett Theater by de Blacam+Meagher Architects, the Trinity Long Room and the Ussher Library by McCullough Mulvin Architects, the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing & Biomedical Engineering by Grafton Architects, the TRIARC Trinity Irish Art Research Centre by O’Donnel+Toumey Architects and the Berkeley Library by Ahrends, Burton and Koralek Architects. (Tip: not all of these building are open for the public, so it is worth to check out the opening hours or write an e-mail for the institutes.) Rent public bikes and continue the architecture tour. 2. Tour – Social- and non social housing in Dublin: York Street Social Housing by Seán Harrington Architects, Timberyard Social Housing by O’Donnel+Toumey Architects (photo), Reuben Street Housing by FKL Arch (Tip: you can also take a look at the North King St. Housing by Grafton Architects). After this you go into the famous historic prison – Kilmainham Gaol, which is really worth to visit. 3. Tour – In the end of the day visit some cultural projects in the Temple Bar: Temple Bar Square by Grafton Archtitects, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios by McCullough Mulvin Architects, Arthouse Multimedia Centre For The Arts and the Project Arts Centre by Shay Cleary, Cultural district around the Meeting House Square by O’Donnel+Toumey Architects. (Tip: To end the day with a scenic view to the city I can recommend to have dinner at the Sophie’s.)

29.07.2024 – Dublin /// The Harbour and the Mews

After a good breakfast (Tip: Bread 41 offers a lot of delicious bakery products.) rent a bike also on this day and continue the thematic tours: 1. Tour – The life of Dublin’s new harbour: The Malting Tower, the Alto Vetro Tower and the Exo Building by Shay Cleary and the Sean O’Casey Community Centre by O’Donnel+Tuomey Architects. 2. Tour – The mews of Dublin: Waterloo Lane Housing by Grafton Architects, the 3 Mews Houses by de Blacam+Meagher Architects (photo) and the Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School Age Childcare by O’Donnel+Toumey Architects. After these interesting buildings visit the Guiness Museum, which has also some architecture highlights in the exhibition.

30.07.2024 – On the way to the South

On this day rent a car and drive to Glendalough, but make some stops in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. (Tip: from the Lough Tay Panorama there is a scenic view on the lake and its surroundings.) In Glendalough visit the ruins of the old monastery and it is worth to take a walk around the small lake through the beautiful forest. Go further to the town of Carlow and you find modern art gallery with a theater (photo) claded worth glas panels by Terry Pawson. The next stop ist the nice town of Kilkenny with it medieval town centre with the castle and cathedral. I can also recommend to visit two small museum extensions: The Butler Gallery and the St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum by McCullogh Mulvin Architects. In the evening you reach the town of Cashel. (Tip: TJ Ryan Traditional Irish Pub is a good place to end the day.)

31.07.2024 – Cork and Kinsale

If you will have a special experience visit the Rock of Cashel early in the morning. The castle the cathedral ruin is dramatic in the foggy weather. Drive to the South and an interesting cultural project is waiting for you if you have luck: the Passage House by O’Donnel Toumey Architects is on the plot of the Joseph Walsh Studio. (Tip: you should contact the place before visit, otherwise they will not let you in – unfortunatelly we have this experience…) Go to the harbour town of Kinsale, where you can take a walk in the old town I you can definitely eat some wondersfull sea food. (Tip: Try some oysters and lobster in the famous Fishy Fishy Café.) Drive to the busy city of Cork, here you can find some contemporary architecture high lights: the UCC Glucksman Gallery, the Cavanagh Bridge, The Hub – University College by O’Donnel+Tuomey Architects (photo). (Tip: The St Angela’s College by O’Donnel+Tuomey is also worth to visit, but you should contact the school before visit.)

01.08.2024 – The Ring of Kerry

To start day I recommend to have breakfast in the English Market in Cork. After that drive further to the Cork Istitute of Technology by de Balcam+Meagher Architects, which is placed in the outskirts of city. Go further to the little, but busy town of Kenmare, where all of the tourist take a break before the roadtrip of the famous Ring of Kerry. On the Ring of Kerry make some stops: Staigue Stone Fort (photo), Derrynane Beach, Com an Chiste Ring of Kerry Lookout and Car Park, Kerry Cliffs. (Tip: it could be a very long day, because the roads are narrow and you can not drive to fast as the GPS say… so it is worth to stay in the night somewhere around the Kerry Cliffs.) Drive further to reach the Dingle Bay and the town of Dingle.

02.08.2024 – West Coast

After a breakfast (tip: the Bean in Dingle bakery can be a good choice) you can stay for a while yet in the Dingle Peninsula: the Gallarus Oratory is nice example of an early christian church. If the weather is good, you can have a stop at the Ballybunion Beach on the West coast. If it is rainy I suggest to go further Tarbert, where you can take the ferry to Killimer (you can save time with the ferrry – otherwise you have to go in the direction of Limerick). Take a break in the small town of Kilrush. (Tip: a good place to eat is the Beag Café). Drive further to the famous Cliffs of Moher (photo) – take enough time for hiking, maybe appr. 2 hours. The cliffs are really amasing. Make a road trip through the Burren National Park, a scenic karst landsape in the direction of Galway. You can reach the city of Galway in the evening.

03.08.2024 – Galway and Inish Mor

In the morning you can take a walk through the second biggest city in Ireland. The tidal area with the green seaweed in the harbour has a really beautiful colour. Take a bus to the harbour of Rossaveel and sail over the biggest island of the Aran Islands – Inish Mor. (Tip: the ship is to small for the ocean and it can be very wavy. You should do this program if you have no problem with sailing.) Inish Mor is a rarely lived island with many natural beauties and I recommend to hire a bike, because it is the fastest and best way to get to know the island in a half day. The main attractions are: Seal Colony Viewpoint, Kilmurvey Beach, Dún Aonghasa (photo) and there are also some church ruins on the island. Go back to Galway (Tip: you can book the ship with the shuttle bus from Galway.) and have a good dinner there (Tip: McSwiggans Steak+Seafood Restaurant.)

04.08.2024 – Neolithic Wonders

Leave Galway and do to the East. Brú na Bóinne is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of Europe’s most important neolithic monuments. You can visit Knowth and Newgrange (photo) – in the tomb of Newgrange you will have a special light experience. Drive to Dublin and fly back to home.

And here is the map: