Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [53]
The postcodes for central Dublin are Dublin 1 (immediately north of the river) and Dublin 2 (immediately south). The Dublin 4 postcode, covering the swanky neighbourhoods of Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount, is synonymous with affluence and often used as a descriptive term. A handy tip to remember is that even numbers apply to the southside and odd ones to the north.
Click here for information on transport to/from the airport and train stations.
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INFORMATION
Bookshops
Books Upstairs (Map; 679 6687; www.booksirish.com; 36 College Green) Top-notch independent bookshop with lots of Irish-interest titles.
Cathach Books (Map; 671 8676; www.rarebooks.ie; 10 Duke St) A rich and remarkable collection of second-hand Irish-interest books, including 1st editions.
Connolly Books (Map; 670 8707; www.communistpartyofireland.ie/cbooks; 43 East Essex St) Left-wing bookshop beloved of Marxists and radicals.
Dublin Writers Museum (Map; 872 2077; 18 North Parnell Sq) As you’d expect, a good range of Irish and Irish-interest titles.
Dubray Books (Map; 677 5568; www.dubraybooks.ie; 36 Grafton St) Excellent local shop with a good Irish-interest section.
Eason (Map; 873 3811; www.easons.ie; 40 Lower O’Connell St) Has one of the biggest magazine inventories in Ireland.
Hodges Figgis (Map; 677 4754; 56-58 Dawson St) Dublin’s largest bookshop, with the widest selection of titles.
Hughes & Hughes Dublin Airport (Map; 814 4034); St Stephen’s Green (Map; 478 3060; St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre) Magazines, bestsellers and new titles.
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA; Map; www.imma.ie; 612 9900; Royal Hospital Kilmainham) Contemporary art and Irish-interest books.
Library Book Shop (Map; 608 1171; Trinity College) Irish-interest books, including ones on the Book of Kells.
Murder Ink (Map; 677 7570; 15 Dawson St) Mystery titles.
National Gallery (Map; 678 5450; Merrion Sq West) Traditional art and Irish-interest books.
Sinn Féin Bookshop (Map; 872 7096; 44 West Parnell Sq) Main bookshop and information centre for the country’s Republican party (which once maintained close links with the IRA).
Stokes Books (Map; 671 3584; 19 George’s St Arcade) Irish historical books, old and new.
Waterstone’s Dawson St (Map; 679 1415; 7 Dawson St); Jervis St Centre (Map; 878 1311; Jervis St) The big British chain bookshop has two branches, north and south of the river.
Winding Stair (Map; 872 6576; www.winding-stair.com; 40 Lwr Ormond Quay) The most atmospheric of Dublin’s bookshops, with a fine selection of quirky titles and Irish books.
Cultural Centres
Alliance Française (Map; 676 1732; www.alliance-francaise.ie; 1 Kildare St)
British Council (Map; 676 4088; www.britishcouncil.org; Newmount House, 22-24 Lower Mount St)
Goethe Institute (Map; 661 1155; www.goethe.de; 37 North Merrion Sq)
Instituto Cervantes (Map; 631 1500; http://dublin.cervantes.es; Lincoln House, Lincoln Pl)
Italian Cultural Institute (Map; 662 0509; www.iicdublino.esteri.it; 11 Fitzwilliam Sq East)
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DUBLIN IN…
Two Days
Kick-start your day the right way with breakfast at Honest to Goodness Click here in the wonderful George’s St Arcade Click here – and when you’re done have a ramble through the arcade’s collection of stalls and funky stores. A stone’s throw away is Trinity College Click here, where the walking tour includes entry to the Book of Kells (see the boxed text, Click here). Head up to Grafton St to catch the buskers and splurge on Dublin’s most exclusive shopping street. Round it off with a cocktail, dinner and outdoor movie on the terrace at Eden Click here, one of Dublin’s trendiest restaurants, located in Temple Bar Click here, before falling into bed at the Irish Landmark Trust Click here, which you and six friends have made your home. The next day marvel at the art of the Chester Beatty Library