Dublin's Fair City-Hidden Gems and Free Activities

The Dublin Summer never fails to disappoint....

Ok so maybe the lack of sunny weather in Ireland during the summer months does sometimes let us down but the one positive we can take from the rain during the summer is that we will always have something to talk about! And remember that!...if you need an ice breaker when in a conversation with an Irish person, the weather will never let you down.

Whatever the weather there is always something going on in Dublin's Fair City and this year some of the most exciting events budget friendly or free of charge!

Why not take in the stunning surroundings of Dublin's (somewhat hidden) Iveagh gardens and enjoy some of Shakespeare's finest work. This free event promises to bring culture and art to Dublin. It runs right through August and people are encouraged to pack picnic's and really make the most of it!

For those of you who remember the Tall Ships Festival back in 1998 you will understand why the Tall Ships Festival 2012 is something not to be missed. For those of you who were not there-take our word you won't want to miss this! Dublin will be the final host port for the Tall Ships race this year and in light of that there is a full schedule in place of free live music, parades and the opportunity to jump onboard and see what the it feels like to be a captain! The festival will run from 23rd to 26th of August.

If all that isn't enough for you the Vodaphone Comedy Festival will take place during the 26th and 29th of July in the Iveagh Gardens and the Street Performers World Championship will take place in Merrion Square from the 19th to 22nd of July.

If you prefer to take things at a slower pace or need a bed to rest your head or just need somewhere to store your bags while you party the night away Temple Bar Hotel have packages to suit everyone this summer. Click here to check out the Summer Wine Down Promotion running in July and August.

June Bank Holiday in Dublin

Dublin is the place to be this weekend (if not every weekend!)

From Thursday to Monday you can enjoy the sunshine and relaxing atmosphere of the Phoenix Park. While there why not visit the Bloom 2012, Ireland's largest gardening food and family event. There will be plenty going on and something for everyone to enjoy with cookery and craft demonstrations, free gardening advice from the experts, Irish food produce, live entertainment and gardening workshops. And the best part is kids attend Bloom for free!

Then kicking off on Saturday the 2nd of June is the Forbidden Fruits Festival in the grounds of Kilmainham Hospital. This festival promises a fusion of great music, comedy and arts. There will also be plenty of healthy food stalls set up around the grounds along with craft stalls and other festival regulars! This year's line-up rivals anything else taking place in Ireland this year, with New Order, Death Cab For Cutie, Beirut, Friendly Fires, Leftfield, Grimes and many more all confirmed to appear!

And if that is not enough for you, Bavaria are hosting Dublin's first Formula 1 demostration through the streets of Dublin City. More than 100,000 spectators are expected to gather for an adrenaline-fuelled afternoon with Superbikes, Super cars, Touring cars, Formula 2, WRC, Drifters, and the star attraction; demonstrations from internationally celebrated F1 cars and drivers. You can also expect to see and appearance from the lovely Jenson Button!!

On Monday June 3rd, the lovely ladies of Ireland will be taking to the streets to do their bit for charity in teh Womans Mini Marathon. This is always a great day out for all as the ladies (and a few men!) tend to bring the craic to Dublin whatever the weather.

With all this going on, expect to experience some road closures and minor distruptions to transport. Keep an eye on our website http://www.templebarhotel.com/  and facebook and twitter for up to date information.

Ireland's National Music Day, 21st June - Love:live music

love: live music 2012 will take place on Thursday, 21st June 2012.

It is a day long event and it aims to celebrate all forms of Irish music through hosting a selection of free music events throughout the country. Ireland is known far and wide for our love of music and not just traditional Irish music. love: live music gives people an opportunity to partake and enjoy our love our music.

Temple Bar's Meeting House Square will host 'La Ceoil' from 6pm to 10pm. There will be performances from Buffalo in the Castle, We Banjo 3, The Unwanted, Tarab, Mick O’Brien, members of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and DIT Traditional Music Ensemble, and special guest Seán Mac Erlaine along with the world première of an exclusive commission by RTÉ lyric fm composer in residence Linda Buckley.



For more information on the event click here.

Lots to do see in Dublin

The busy season in Dublin is just beginning to kick off and the city is buzzing! The Bealtaine festival has got under way and coming up in the next few weeks we can look forward to the Dublin Dance Festival (11-26 May), the Dublin City Soul Festival (24-27 May) and the always popular Bloom in the Park at the end of the month.

Many of these festivals offer free events right throughout the city.
If you like soul music or enjoy soaking up the atmosphere - the Soul Picnic is not to be missed. This is happening in Dublin's Merrion Square on the 26th and 27th of May. Entry is free and you can expect to enjoy great music and tasty BBQ food (and rumour has it there will be a few special guests announced soon)

Just a short walk from Merrion Square is Dublin's Temple Bar Hotel and we have just launched our Summer Saver - offering a super rate of €89 for 2 nights B&B per person sharing. So why not treat yourselves to a nice break away!! 

Great Thai Food in the Heart of Dublin

If you're looking for great Thai food at a reasonable price I would really recommend Saba on Clarendon Street. The food is gorgeous and the staff are really friendly. Sunday to Wednesday they offer a fixed price menu - 3 courses for €23.95 which is great value (but prepare to be stuffed!)

If you fancy something hot and spicy (which I did after last weeks miserable weather) I would go for the Bangkok noodles. They are delicious - really tasty beef and fresh vegetables.

It's only a short walk from Temple Bar Hotel and if you're really looking to make a night of it you could pop into the Clarendon for a cocktail afterwards!

Pint a' Guinness

If you're looking for something special to do during your stay in Dublin city centre, then look no further than the Guinness Storehouse. On a recent visit to the storehouse I didn't quite fall in love with the taste of the reknowned 'black stuff' but I did fall a little bit more in love with Dublin and our Irish history. I was proud to be Irish when I saw the large number of tourists flocking into the building in anticipation of the great story that was about to unfold about Arthur Guinness.

The seven floors bring to life the rich heritage of Guinness, telling the story from it's origins at St. James' Gate to it's growth as a global brand, known all around the world. The panoramic views at the top of the building in the 'Gravity Bar' made the steep ascend all worth while. The day was very bright and clear which made the city a beautiful landscape. The atmosphere was energetic and the crowd perky after the informative climb up. The bar stopped serving at 6.00pm; this was followed by a quiet lull as the last remains of the stout was sipped by all.

The price for this adventure is only €12.96 for an adult when bought online or €10.60 for a student. As this includes a complimentary pint of Guinness plus a few tasters on the way up, I definitely think it is well worth a visit. Temple Bar Hotel offer some great Guinness Storehouse stayover packages. Click here to view now.

First Thursdays Dublin

If you are planning a trip to Dublin it might be an idea to plan it around the first Thursday in the month so you can take advantage of the 'First Thursdays Dublin'. This initiative sees a number of the city's cultural spaces and venues open their doors after hours (6-8pm).

Click here for a list of participating venues.

Most of the venues are walking distance to Temple Bar Hotel.

Sweet Deal

If you crave something sweet and love hotel breaks in Dublin
city centre, then we've got the perfect deal for you! Temple Bar Hotel is extending their Sweet Deal offer for February for just €70 room only!! This includes a midweek stay and hot chocolate for two during your stay.

Located in Temple Bar, this hotel is smack bang in the middle of all what Dublin city centre has to offer. It's just a stones through away from all the major shopping streets, pubs, restaurants and cultural spots.

This offer is valid for all of February and is selling out fast so book now by calling 01-6773333 or by emailing reservations@tbh.ie

January Wintere Sale Offer

The ice and snow may have come and gone but the great rates at Temple Bar Hotel just keep on coming!

Our Winter Sale offer starts from just €76pps for a two night stay with breakfast(on both mornings) and a bottle of wine to enjoy during your stay. Being Dublin's most centrally located hotel means you are just a hop, skip and a jump away from Dublin's greatest restaurants, pubs, shops, galleries and much more. Out hotel also boasts its busy bar Buskers and its classy club and venue Alchemy. Why not pop into one or both of these venues during your stay or enjoy a nice meal in our Terrace restaurant?

Call us now to book YOUR getaway or treat someone else to a nice break after the long, cold winter!

Tel: 01-6773333 Email: reservations@tbh.ie