Dublin
In the wake of a remarkable economic boom, Dublin's landscape has changed
immeasurably over the past decade. These days Dublin ranks among the top
tourist destinations in Europe, and this vibrant city hums with a palpable
sense that it is creating a new cultural heritage.
Though most people don't schedule too much gallery time into the pub
crawl, Dublin museums offer a wealth of collectables. From the proverbial
pot of Irish gold to the artistic riches of the Book of Kells to a host of
quirky 'objets d'religious', it's a city of archives and artefacts.
Cork
The Irish Republic's second largest city is a surprisingly appealing
place - you'll find time passes effortlessly during the day, and by night
the pub scene is lively. The town centre is uniquely situated on an island
between two channels of the Lee River.
North of the river, in the Shandon area, is an interesting historic part
of the city, although it's a bit run down today. Sights to the south include
the Protestant St Finbarr's Cathedral, the Cork Museum (largely given over
to the nationalist struggle, in which Cork played an important role), the
19th century Cork Jail, the City Hall and numerous churches, breweries and
chapels.
Derry
The River Foyle curves picturesquely around the old walled town of Derry,
creating a cosy setting that jars horribly with the reality of this city's
recent troubled history. The old centre of Derry is the small walled city on
the west bank of the river, with Diamond Square at its heart.
Barbed-wire barriers mar the magnificence of the city walls while giving
resonance to their history. From the top there are good views of the Bogside
and its defiant murals ('No Surrender!') and the Free Derry monument. The
Tower Museum descibes Derry from the days of St Columcille to today. |
