5 Hidden Gems in Dublin

It's my first normal day off in a few weeks. The house hasn't had a good cleaning since before we left for Ireland, the cats nails desperately need to be trimmed, and we have a bag of spinach in the refrigerator that is very nearly about to implode and ruin the whole crisper drawer. For real though, why do bagged greens turn into that soggy slush? It's wholly the reason I rarely buy them, the thought of that slimy green sludge makes me shudder. I suppose I could eat the greens before they wilt, but let's be honest, those superfood smoothies I envision whenever I buy spinach or kale rarely make it to the blender.

I'm taking a break from my laundry list of tasks to write a post about our trip. Mainly because I need a distraction after I clipped Munch's nails and got her left hind paw so close that she's currently trailing blood wherever she goes. I plied her with treats and belly rubs, and she doesn't seem to be in any distress, so there's that at least. I thought the phrase "licking her wounds" would come into play, but she's pretty nonchalant about the whole thing, which is much better than I'm handling it.

On a more positive note, our trip to Ireland was awesome. The people were friendly, the sights were scenic, and the weather cooperated; I even got a little sunburned, because sunscreen wasn't on my packing list after reading that it's cloudy and rainy 90% of the time. We only got caught in the rain once or twice and the crisp sunny days were reminiscent of fall in New England.

If you're planning a trip to Dublin, you're sure to stumble upon the obligatory list: Guinness, Jameson, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, St. Patrick's Cathedral, etc. Those are all well worth the time (although in full disclosure, we walked around Trinity College campus but didn't pony up the 14 euro to see the Book of Kells since we saw a replica in one of the museums we visited and thought that sufficed). It can be hard to pare down the list between all the museums, churches and bars, so I put together a small list of some of the lesser known sights/eateries that we really enjoyed.

Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship

Step aboard this replica ship to learn what it was like for the thousands of immigrants who set off for America in search of a better life. It's a great tour for anyone who enjoys history, as the guide talks about the potato famine and life in Ireland at the time. You can see the ship by guided tour only, and tours run every hour on the hour, at least when we were there in May. 

Little Museum of Dublin

The sign outside the museum promises you'll learn the history of Ireland in 29 minutes. The tour was probably closer to an hour, but well worth it. The museum is in an old mansion across from St. Stephen's Green, where you'll probably find yourself at some point on your trip, so do yourself a favor and go here. It won't eat into your whole day like a lot of museums do and you'll learn a lot about the history of Ireland. Another sight where entrance is by guided tour only. 

Christ Church Cathedral

About a ten minute walk from St. Patrick's cathedral is Christ Church, which is just as impressive. If you have the time, I'd definitely recommend seeing this church. Beneath the church is the medieval crypt, the earliest surviving structure in the city. 

The Church

Brent and I stumbled on this while looking for dinner and drinks one night. Menus included a brief history of the church, where we learned it was indeed an actual church and you could take a self-guided tour which included the baptismal font, the organ, and a bust of Arthur Guinness (yes, that Guinness), who was married here. Besides the cool history, the food is really good, as they take pride in working with local farms and using fresh ingredients. We were there on a Monday and they had live music and Irish dancing, which was pretty cool.

Darkey Kelly's 

We got this recommendation from a nice local we chatted with our first night in Dublin, and it was exactly what we were looking for. We went on a Sunday night and it was packed with locals and tourists alike, rapt with attention for the live music that was authentic and lively. It's in the Temple Bar area, but isn't the tourist trap a lot of those places are, and is definitely worth a visit. 

Brent and I bought the Dublin Pass, which we purchased in advance after loving all the perks it gave us in London. The first three attractions I listed are free with the Dublin Pass, along with the more well known Guinness Storehouse Tour, Jameson Distillery and St. Patrick's Cathedral.

I should probably go check on Munchie and see how her paw is healing. The life of a travel blogger and cat mom is as glamorous as you'd imagine.