Attractions in Southside suburbs (Dublin)

Rathfarnham Castle

The exact date of the foundation of Rathfarnham Castle is still something of a mystery, although experts put it at about 1583. Built by the Yorkshire man Adam Loftus, the castle has a colorful and interesting history and was declared a national monument in the mid 1980s. The castle contains some of the finest 18th century interiors to be seen in any property in Ireland.

Irish City Tours

Some innovative Irish folk have realized that not everyone is fluent with the Irish accent, so Irish city tours have introduced amongst others, the Dublin Language Tours. This sensitive step enables visitors to sit back and enjoy the ride. The tour is offered in  7 languages, some of which are Japanese, German, French and Spanish. You can also use your language tour ticket on the Dublin sightseeing tour, which enables you to have unlimited rides on the Hop-on Hop-off tour. The multi-lingual tours depart every 30 minutes in summer. The tickets can be interchanged with the English Commentary Dublin City Tour, which departs every 6 to 8 minutes in summer. All day and half-day long tours are also operated, departing from Dublin city. These go up to to Powerscourt Gardens and Glendalough in Wicklow County, Malahide Castle and the tomb at Newgrange.

Fernhill Gardens

This secluded garden is the perfect place for a picnic if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The garden features a cathedral-like aisle of giant Wellington trees and a large collection of shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants: all in a tranquil woodland setting. Many of the trees on the estate date back 200 years and the work of William Darley (who collected plants from all over the world) has been continued by the garden's present owners, the Walker family. A modest admission fee is charged to help with the garden's upkeep.

Drimnagh Castle

This spectacular feudal stronghold is the only remaining castle in Ireland to be surrounded by a flooded moat, which is now teeming with fish. The castle consists of a restored Great Hall, a battlement tower commanding impressive views of the area, look-out posts, a stable, a coach house and folly tower. Visitors may also find the castle's 17th century formal gardens of interest, they feature mop head laurels, box hedges and yew trees.

Pearse Museum

Situated in the leafy suburb of Rathfarnham, this building was formerly a school run by the leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, Padraig Pearse. Located in the beautiful grounds of St. Enda's Park, the museum now features a wide range of exhibits, a nature study room with Irish flora and fauna displays and an audio-visual presentation on the life of Pearse called This Man Kept a School. The fine park features riverside walks, a walled garden and a waterfall.

Gray Line Tours

If you're considering taking a day trip out of Dublin, Gray Line Tours is certainly worth considering. Gray Line is the only privately-owned sightseeing company offering scheduled daily departures from Dublin. Popular tours include trips to Newgrange Glendalough and Malahide Castle. The company also run hop-on/hop-off guided tours of Dublin City which operate every ten to fifteen minutes.

Sandymount Strand

Close to the city centre, and accessible on the DART (Dublin's light rail system), Sandymount Strand is a long expanse of fine sand. The tide goes out almost two miles at its lowest point and so this is a favourite spot for those seeking space and freedom from the city. Not great for swimming or bathing because of quickly changing tides, it remains an excellent location for walking or running. The strand even has a literary claim to fame: it was a favourite haunt of James Joyce, featuring in the opening chapter of Ulysses.

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is undoubtedly the better preserved of Dublin's two canals, and a stroll along its banks is like taking a wander through the essence of Dublin. The lush canal banks pass through working-class apartments, nouveau and not so nouveau-riche areas, business districts and red-light areas and culminates at the Grand Canal Basin. On one side of the basin you will find Misery Hill, so called because of the utter poverty it once witnessed, and on the other side you will find one of Dublin's newest and most exclusive penthouse apartment complexes. For those interested in angling, coarse fishing for roach, hybrids, perch, pike, tench and eels is free all year round.

River Dodder

While arguably still in the shadow of the famous Liffey, the Dodder happens to be the largest of Dublin's hidden rivers. The Dodder snakes through the southern part of the city, opening up at Dodder Valley Park and reaching the sea at Merrion Strand. There are pleasant walks along the river in Milltown and you can appreciate a waterfall from the comfort of the Dropping Well pub on Milltown Road. For those interested in fishing, the best spots can be found between Firhouse and Ballsbridge; access to the river is best from public parks. Sea trout and brown trout are plentiful here and membership cards can be obtained from most fishing tackle shops in the city centre.

Bushy Park

Bushy Park (in the suburb of Rathfarnham) is a natural oasis worth visiting if you want to escape the city streets for a while. The river Dodder skirts the park and a delightful duck pond has been made with the diverted flow. The naturalised planting area attracts squirrels, foxes and birds. It's a good spot to kick a football around in and the large children's playground should keep all the family occupied for an afternoon. Open on all days from 6.30pm.

Dublin Garden Group

The Dublin Garden Group lets you get a glimpse of the incredible private gardens in Dublin. On this excursion you will see the amazing Irish gardens that are not open to the public. You can almost imagine yourself in Eden, amidst luscious fruits, trees and flowers. So, tour the Dillon Garden, Mouth Usher Gardens and many more to get a feeling of paradise. Visit the website for timings and schedules.