TOP 10 things to see and do in Dublin this summer

 

Dublin is one of the best places to be this summer, with so many things to do! The city is extremely colorful when the sun is out and it is just as exciting on cloudy days too, whatever the weather Dublin won`t disappoint, with an event filled summer ahead.

On a sunny day in Dublin you have so many options to choose from, the best of which are outdoor activities where you can enjoy the sunshine, but don`t forget the sunscreen, as the sun can get really strong if we`re lucky!

1. Dublin Fringe Festival: this event takes place in the city between 5th and 20th September and is all about theatre, comedy, dancing, music and different kinds of spectacles all over Dublin city centre.
During these amazing 16 days we are bringing you some of the most interesting new and innovating artists from Ireland and from other countries too, who will surprise you with their great, fresh vision, besides the audience will also get involved in what is happening on stage, giving everyone a chance to participate in all the fun that the 2014 Dublin Fringe Festival has to offer.

2. Phoenix Park: one of many ways to appreciate Dublin outdoors is spending a few hours in the magnificent Phoenix Park, with its 707 hectares it is one of the biggest parks within a European city where you can spot some beautiful wild animals, like deer. This is the best place for a nice long walk followed by a hearty picnic sitting on a blanket in the grass, accompanied by a bottle of nice wine… how romantic! The park also houses the Dublin Zoo in case you are up to some more wildlife.

3. The seaside town of Bray: if the weather is on your side, then we suggest you to visit the beautiful seaside town of Bray in north County Wicklow, just 20 minutes away from Dublin City Centre. In this small and picturesque city you will be amazed by the Bray Beach, the Bray Head and the work of art Victorian townhouses lining the Bray Promenade. Besides all this beauty, the Bray Summerfest is on this summer with exciting programs every weekend between 4th July and 3rd August. And by the way, attendance is free!

4. Dublin Tour Bus: a comfortable option for a bright day when you just don`t feel like walking but you are keen to see as much of Dublin as possible in a single day, the Dublin Tour Bus is your best choice. Buses operate from 9 am every day and as you can hop on and hop off at any of the 33 stops located at the most popular Dublin sightseeing spots you can make sure not to miss any of the city`s big attractions!

5.The Dublin Horse Show: one of the year’s most spectacular social and sporting events, not only for horse lovers but also for people who would like to get a taste of the exciting arts and crafts exhibitions, shopping stalls, live music and restaurants & bars, apart from the jumping competitions. It takes place in the RDS between 6th and 10thAugust.

6. Airfield in Dundrum: this is a 38-acre urban-farm with a woodlands area that consists of more than 2000 native woodland trees, hedgerows and a farm with sheep, pigs and chicken that provide the eggs for the farms‘restaurant! You can get here easily with the green Luas line.

7. The Little Museum of Dublin: this is a relatively new exhibition located in Dublin City Centre, just five minutes from St Stephens Green. Their aim is to introduce their visitors to the 20th century Dublin, showing more than 5000 artifacts on exposition.

8. National Botanic Gardens: located just a five minutes’ drive from Dublin City Centre, this is the ideal place for a stroll on a sunny day where you will marvel at the most interesting species of exotic plants, apart from the National Herbarium and several glasshouses. And yes, the entry is free here as well!


9. Riverdance: see the icon of Irish Dancing, the famous Michael Flatley with his spectacular show, in Dublin`s Gaiety Theatre between 26th June and 2nd September. The first Riverdance was performed at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest as the 7-minutes intermission act and it had so much success that it got developed into the full show soon after, and still running!

10. Guinness Storehouse: you cannot leave Dublin without visiting the birthplace of the tasty Irish Stout! Located at St James`s Gate Brewery, in this seven-storey historical building you will be guided through how the most popular Irish beer is being produced, introducing you to the company`s rich history and giving you a chance to pour your own pint of the best Guinness in town. After this you can enjoy your brew in their Gravity Bar, with 360° views of Dublin!

George Frederic Handel Hotel is the perfect Dublin city center accommodation located in the heart of Temple Bar, the ideal spot to have your base while visiting all the exciting sights and events in Dublin this summer. Guests who book directly on the hotel`s website will receive a free bottle of wine!

Book your stay at the George Frederic Handel Hotel today!

IRISH FESTIVALS 2014

Festival season is fast approaching and we are very excited about this. Musical and cultural festivals have hit the island of Ireland by storm. Are you new on the festival scene or are you a yearly reveler? The only major festival in Ireland for so long was The Oxegen music festival held in Punchardstown but now there is such a variety of festivals to choose from that trying to decide what festival to attend this year is going to be a tough decision.

The Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann is the world’s largest traditional musical festival and is running from the 10th to the 17th of August 2014 in Sligo.  The Fleadh offers visitor the chance to experience music sessions on the street and music competitors giving it their all. This festival has daily musical sessions from national and international musicians. Visitors to the Fleadh Cheoil will get ingrossed in the traditional music of Ireland. A trip to Sligo for The Fleadh Cheoil is an event that you should definitely mark in your diary for summer 2014 in Ireland.

Longitude 2014 running from Friday the 18th to Sunday the 20th of July is a festival not to be missed. Held in Marley Park Rathfarnham Dublin this festival offers a variety of musical talent from all over. The line up this year is spectacular with artists ranging from Massive Attack, Bastille, Ben Howard to Roosevelt. Longitude 2014 is definitely a festival to mark in your diary.

Castle Palooza Music and Arts Festival is running from Friday the 1st to Sunday the 3rd of August and is being held on the grounds of Charlaville Castle in Tullamore Co Offaly. Spread out over 2,000 acres this festival offers something for everyone. The festival attracts a host of artists from acts like The Charlantans to The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra to Kenny Bogan and Katie Kim. While most festival goers will camp out in tents this year the festival is offering boutique camping. Boutique camping allows you to rent out 1 and 2 tier bell tents for the duration of the festival. These tents have an additional charge. The Castle Palooza Music and Arts Festival is a festival not to miss.

Body and Soul is a festival of surprise. The festival is held in Ballinlough Co Meath and is running from Friday the 20th to Tuesday the 24th of  June. The organisers of the festival say that is  “about atmospheric engineering rather than main attractions and hype. We want our festival-goers to enjoy an “experience” rather than just a gig – we’re sustainability conscious, without being too-in-your-face; unique rather than boutique. We’re an independent festival with a heart-shaped mind and a cutting-edge soul." What makes this festival very appealing is that it offers more than just music. You can dance under the stars, relax in the hot tub, treat yourself to a massage, listen to acoustic sounds or just soak up the atmosphere of the festival. Relatively new on the festival scene Body and Soul has gone from strength to strength and we tip this as one of the hottest festivals in Ireland for summer 2014.

Electric Picnic 2014 is shaping up to be one of the hottest festivals to hit Ireland this summer.  Now in its 10th year the festival located in Stradbally Co Laois is running from Friday the 29th to Sunday the 31st of August and it attracts festival goers from all walks of life. The line up this year is spectacular with artists from Lilly Allen to Paolo Nutini to The Pet Shop Boys. Rock out and dance along to your favourite songs and artists at Electric Picnic 2014.






All the staff at The George Fredric Handel Hotel are very excited for summer 2014.

Easter in Ireland 

Good Friday is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday proceeding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover.

Traditions and beliefs are changing and for many the tradition of attending mass and refraining from eating meat are no longer practiced. Extended mass services can be enough to put people off. When something is forbidden we desire it more.  Alcohol and Good Friday were always considered a sin but we seem to be a changing nation.

Easter Saturday or Bright Saturday, on the Christian calendar is the Saturday following the festival of Easter. Easter Saturday is the day preceding the Octave Day of Easter. What will you be doing this Easter Saturday? Will you be observing tradition and attending mass, spending it with family or attending local events in your area?

Easter Sunday is a Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. After a lengthy 40 day period on the run up to Easter what will you be doing to mark the resurrection of Christ?

Looking to relax and spend time with family and friends then why not book a stay here at The George Frederic Handel Hotel in the heart of Dublin

St. Patrick's Day Dublin Parade 2014

It’s a national holiday that’s celebrated in more countries than any other. It’s the day that gets the whole world to think green and go green. But if you really want to get a piece of the party, you’ve got to come to Ireland on the 17th of March. Ireland on St Patrick’s Day is unlike anywhere else in the world!

Ireland celebrates its patron saint St. Patrick on the 17th of March each year. Dublin stages the biggest and most extravagant St. Patrick's Day Parade outside New York. Literally half of Dublin's one million population plus more than a hundred thousand visitors from all over Ireland and from abroad line the parade and turn it into Ireland's largest street carnival. Traditionally, on St. Patrick's Day Dubliners wear something green, a t-shirt, sweatshirt or even an odd scarf will do, and watch the parade before drowning the shamrock, that is having a pint or two in one of the many pubs lining the route of the parade. More than 675,000 revellers watched the 2009 parade through Dublin's streets. Marching bands from Ireland, Europe and the USA partake in the parade. The music played at the parade ranges from Irish pipe and drum marches to current chart hits and bands compete with each other in costumes and dance routines. The award for Best Marching Band in 2009 went to a German carnival band from the Black Forest. A typical Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade also features a dozen or more floats and pageants, all extravagantly decorated. Every year, the Dublin parade is traditionally closed by the roar of engines of the city's motor bikers on their Harley Davidsons and Honda Gold Wings.

                  

Over the years, an ever increasing number of events have been launched to warm up Dubliners and tourists alike for the parade day. Comedy, theatre, music, arts and sports events now form part of the official St. Patrick's Day Festival which lasts for up to a week before the parade takes place on the 17th of March.

While 5.5 million pints of Guinness are consumed daily around the world, on St Patrick's Day that number rises to 13 million. This celebratory day actually evolved into a national holiday by chance. It was originally just like any other religious feast day, but it just happened to fall during Lent. Lent meant abstaining from many personal indulgences, and St Patrick’s Day in between gave everyone a little break. U2 front-man Bono explained it all during a televised St Patrick’s Day Special on Channel 4 a few years ago: “The whole thing about Lent – as any Irishman will tell you – is that it stops on St Patrick’s Day.”

St. Patrick's Day 2014 will again bring visitors from all over the globe to Ireland's shores. While there will be big events in all the major cities and town's, many will be drawn to Dublin for the 3 days festival, running from 14th to 17th, with the 17th being the official bank holiday in Ireland.

There are a glorious array of events this year. The suite of entertainment are based around the history of St. Patrick himself, live music and street entertainment, greening the city, beer festivals and of course the parades that are hosted all over Ireland on 17th of March. You can read in detail about all these events on the official St. Patricks Day festival website. There will be funfairs at 3 locations across Dublin - Merrion Square, Wolfe Tone Park and Custom House Quay.

The George Frederic Handel Hotel is an excellent place to base yourself for the St. Patrick's Day festivities in Dublin. Located in the heart of Temple Bar, you will be right in the middle of all the action! 

Book one of our exclusive Dublin Packages for St. Patrick's Day 2014

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!!!

Mothers Day in Dublin

Mothers Day Sunday 30th March 2014

Here in Ireland Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday) is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This custom started when hundreds of years ago, Christians used this mid-Lent Sunday to honour their “Mother Chruch” (the church in their hometown) and the Virgin Mary. Servants and apprentices would be getting this Sunday off to travel to their hometown to attend church there and afterwards they’d be visiting their mothers and bring gifts of food, flowers which were blessed in church first and they’d be taking on some of their mothers’ chores. Nowadays on Mother's Day here in Ireland, Mum's are being spoiled (we hope!) with flowers and presents and kids and husbands are showing Mum's just how much they are appreciated. 

At the George Frederic Handel Hotel, we are running an amazing competition, that gives you the perfect opportunity to spoil your Mum this Mother's Day! Just like our facebook page or our Handel Hotel Group facebook page and share the post to be in with a chance to win!
Just one entry per person is necessary. 

Garth Brooks Dublin Concerts

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has added a fifth Irish date – making him the first music act to play five nights in a row at the Croke Park!

Thousands queued overnight around the country in the hope of getting their hands on tickets for the fourth night of Garth's show when it went on sale at 9am this morning – it sold out in just 29 minutes.
However fans who were still in the queue when all the tickets were gone for July 28 were thrilled to hear Garth had announced a fifth date on July 29 and tickets were going on sale immediately – meaning their long wait was not in vain.

Ticketmaster Ireland once again reported a high demand for tickets today as it's expected to be Garth's last Irish date - but then again, you never know!!
Croke Park is the fourth largest stadium in Europe and has a capacity of 82,300. The five nights in Croke Park is equivalent to forty (yes forty!) nights in the O2 Dublin!

Book your accommodation for Garth Brooks Dublin Concert Today!

Croke Park is easily accessible from our The George Frederic Handel Hotel central location, either on foot, by bus or a short taxi ride.
Our reception team will be delighted to assist with any directions you require on the day.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping in Dublin

I really wish I was one of those organised people who have their Christmas shopping done weeks in advance, presents wrapped and under the tree, with ribbons and bows and looking like something straight out of a a Christmas movie. I really wish I was one of those people who have Christmas cards signed, sealed and delivered and sitting on the mantel piece of their loved ones well in advance. But I'm not - I am not one of those people, and I now accept that I never will be. Every year without fail, I tell myself this year will be different. I’m going to be sensible and organised. I’m going to order everything online weeks in advance. I’m totally on top of it.
And now, here we are, with 5 shopping days left until Christmas...and I'm in a panic. As usual.

So here's some tips if you are a last minute panic shopper like me...

1. Don't Panic!
Yes, there are only 5 days leet, but that doesn't mean you need to blow the budget. You don't want to end up with a financial hangover for the next month, so try to shop smart.

2. Avoid credit cards
Use cash or debit card only. It's so easy to lose the run of yourself with a credit card. It can often feel like free money...but the high interest rates mean you can be left paying the Christmas bill off for months to come.

3. Shop very early or very late
Much more can be achieved in a concentrated period at the (relatively) quieter times of the day as long as you have a plan. No one likes the crowds and queues that come with the busy Christmas period, so do whatever you can to avoid them.

4. Make a list
There is a great sense of satisfaction that comes with ticking off the items on a list, Plus it helps to keep you on track, when you start to gaze longingly at that handbag you can't afford. Start your list with the most crucial things and remember you're buying for them, not you!

5. Organise a Christkindl
If you have friends or relatives who are as disorganised as you, ask to do a Christkindl where you each draw one person to buy a gift for. This cuts out the nonsense of buying a gift for someone because you expect they might buy you one.

6. Don't waste food
Everyone loves a Christmas feast but there's no point in going nuts, with mountains of food ending up in the bin. The shops will reopen after Christmas - we need to remember this!

And when all that is done, you can sit back in front of the fire, with a glass of mulled wine, and experience what if feels like to be one of those organised people!

Book your stay at the George Frederic Handel Hotel if you are doing your Christmas shopping in Dublin or pop into Corks at the Handel for a tasty bite to eat!