http://www.irishcentral.com/topics/Dublin+visitor+attractions IrishCentral Dublin visitor attractions en-us http://www.irishcentral.com/story/travel/irelands-hidden-gems/the-old-jamesons-distillery---home-to-irelands-favourite-whiskey-128186838.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/travel/irelands-hidden-gems/the-old-jamesons-distillery---home-to-irelands-favourite-whiskey-128186838.html Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:20:07 PDT
I have to say I prefer the Old Jameson's Distillery as a visitor attraction to the Guinness Storehouse for the simple reason that the tour here is guided whereas in Guinness’s you are left to your own devices Which can be very pleasant, especially above in the Gravity Bar with a view of the city and a pint in your hand, but for me I want something more?I like to leave a place a little bit wiser and in Jameson's case (a little bit tipsy) having learned something Properly guided tours will do that for you and at Jameson's it’s very well done, just the right length of time and information to hold your attention, finishing up with a genuinely, convivial tasting session in the Jameson's BarPerhaps, when you understand how something is made you appreciate it more? It’s quite amazing how three simple ingredients, barley, water and yeast can be turned into ‘uisce beatha’ or the water of life? And interesting too, how each of the processes, whether it was the malting of the barley, the marrying of the whiskey in casks or the vatting into bottles, shaped the lives and social history of such a small part of Dublin READ MORE ]]> http://www.irishcentral.com/story/travel/irelands-hidden-gems/dublin-castle-a-once-forbidden-visitor-attraction--105169449.html http://www.irishcentral.com/story/travel/irelands-hidden-gems/dublin-castle-a-once-forbidden-visitor-attraction--105169449.html Mon, 18 Oct 2010 06:05:05 PDT Dublin Castle is quite the fairytale inside and out Massive medieval fortress walls protect an inner sanctum of majestic staterooms, filled with enough fabulous artwork, furniture and crystal to please any King or Queen ?The only thing is we Irish don’t do royalty, we even managed to mislay the crown jewels! The nearest we got to a truly noble figurehead was Michael Collins who received the keys of the castle in 1922 ending some 800 years of British rule and tenancy The question then was, what would we do with it?Apart from being used as a centre of intelligence, Garda headquarters is still there it is now mainly used for elaborate state occasions The last visiting dignitary to stay there was Dame Margaret Thatcher, who incidentally turned 85 last week just as the Chilean miners emerged from their incarceration READ MORE ]]>