Tag Archive for 'ireland'

Walking in the Footsteps of Celtic Mythology Queen Maeve’s Tomb in Sligo, Ireland

April 26th, 2008 by travel

Queen Maeve’s Tomb sits high above the town of Sligo, Ireland on a low mountain named Knocknarea (”Mountain of the Moon”). Legend states that it is good luck to bring a stone up the mountain to place on the large cairn, but that it is bad luck to remove a stone. This would explain it’s formidable height.

From the center of town, the mountain looks anything but daunting. It looks like another one of those beautiful hills that Ireland’s Northwest is so well known for. Look a little closer however, and you’ll notice a bump on the top of this relatively flat-topped hill. This bump is of course, the tomb of Queen Maeve herself.

In Celtic mythology, Queen Maeve was known as the Warrior Queen of Connacht. Unfortunately, the queen had a reputation of being quite unkind, having murdered her own sister Eithne with the intent to covet Eithne’s husband. She also seems to have made her way through a number of husbands, disposing of each by murder. She figures prominently in “T

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Traditional Irish Pubs Dublin, Ireland

April 1st, 2008 by travel

While a trip to Dublin will leave you spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs, finding a traditional Irish pub in Dublin’s city centre is a bit more difficult. One of the most commonly asked questions by those who are planning a trip to Dublin is where can I find a traditional Irish pub that might also serve food and have live traditional Irish music performances. Here are some of the best options, some are well known traditional Irish pubs in Dublin and others are only really known to the locals.

Grogan’s - 15 South William St

This pub is still a great secret amongst local Dubliners and a place where you would rarely find a tourist. It is located only a few minutes walk from Grafton St and to this day it remains one of the best traditional Irish pubs in Dublin. Grogan’s certainly isn’t fancy nor is it spacious but it has a casual and relaxed atmosphere where you will find people having lively conversations while enjoying a drink. Grogan’s traditional Irish pub feel even carries over to its beer. The bar staff still take pride in pouring a good pint and here is one place where you will definitely find some of the best Guinness in Dublin.

Davy Byrnes - Duke St

Situated in the busy Grafton street area this Dublin pub is easy to find. Recent renovations have taken away some of Davy Byrnes traditional Irish pub charm, but not all of it. It is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin, primarily due to one of its most famous patrons, James Joyce. Joyce was a regular visitor to the pub and friendly with the original owner, Davy Byrnes. The pub was made famous by its mention in James Joyce’s book, Ulysses. So though Davy Byrnes has lost some of its old charm is it still a comfortable and popular traditional Irish pub in Dublin. In fact it is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin and the most well known of Dublin’s literary pubs. Another great quality about this Dublin pub is its food. Here you will find some of the best pub seafood in the city centre. Davy Byrnes is also host to regular live music performances, both modern and traditional Irish.

Peter’s Pub - on the corner of Johnson’s Place, at the end of South William Street.

This is another great local secret. Peter’s Pub has remained one of the most traditional Irish pubs in Dublin. It has not been tempted to revamp itself to fit in with all the sleek and trendy modern pubs surrounding it. This is definitely an authentic Dublin pub. It is only a short walk from Grafton St, at the upper end near the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Peter’s Pub is very small and cosy, creating a relaxed friendly atmosphere, perfect for a pint and a chat.

The Long Stone - Townsend St.

This is a great traditional Irish pub and one of the best overall pubs in Dublin. Inside you will find traditional surroundings with a twist. There is usually a good buzz in the pub with a friendly crowd. They serve tasty food and even include vegetarian options, which though not difficult to find in Dublin eateries, it is difficult to find on pub food menus. They have a wide selection of beers and have a late licence meaning you can enjoy yourself until 2:30am when the bar staff flick the lights announcing last orders. This is definitely a traditional Irish pub in Dublin that visitors will want to check out.

The Brazen Head - Bridge St, just of Merchants Quay.

In some ways this is perhaps the most traditional Irish pub in Dublin and it certainly deserves some attention. The Brazen Head is thought to be the oldest pub in Dublin and there has been a pub of some kind at the same location since the 12th century. The pubs d

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