Things to do in Kilmullin

Ireland's most prestigious university was founded by Elizabeth I in 1592 in the hope of offering Dublin’s sons a reason to pursue their studies at home, away from the infectious threat of popery on the continent.

Aviva Stadium is the national sports arena, where Ireland plays international rugby and soccer games. The structure has a futuristic design and stands in a picturesque area of fields and a canal. Experience the rhapsody and songs of the nation’s passionate fans in this stadium of 51,700 seats.

Follow the signs to “Faiche Stiabhna”, as the Irish call St. Stephen’s Green, for an inner-city oasis. Admire the Victorian buildings, play soccer, throw a frisbee, watch people, jog, feed the ducks, doze or have a picnic in this popular Dublin park. You could also bring a novel written by one of Dublin’s great authors and read it at the very spot where they found their inspiration!

Among the most exclusive spots in European retail, Grafton Street is a boulevard full of upscale boutiques and restaurants. It is one of the two main commercial parts of Dublin and has an international array of big names. Yet the street retains its local charm with well-known street performers and traditional pubs. Bring cash and credit cards for a trip through the street’s upscale boutiques.

The 18th-century Dublin Castle is among the city’s most iconic sites. A small park with pretty floral displays lies behind the castle, which replaced a 13th-century Viking military fortress. Learn its fascinating history as the seat of British and Irish governments over the centuries.

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is among Dublin’s most recognizable landmarks, with its ultramodern glass façade and jagged edges. In contrast to its futuristic exterior, many of the shows inside the theater tend to be of a more classical nature. Attend performances of iconic titles such as Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Lord of the Dance.

The Convention Centre Dublin is an award-winning structure of space-age design in the Docklands part of the city. It consists of a tilted cylinder of blue glass flanked by curved gray blocks. Look up at the ultramodern structure at night, when rows of lights illuminate it in myriad colors.