Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland, is more than lively pubs and literary crawls, Guinness tours and traditional Irish music. The city offers a treasure trove of experiences for families to discover. The city is pedestrian-friendly and offers colorful sights in every direction. Not to mention the stories from a place known for its love of literature and wit. It only takes a bit of planning (and a little luck) for you and your kids to write your own memorable story in Dublin.
Step into a Living Library
In the heart of Dublin lies Trinity College, a historic haven where ancient knowledge meets modern wonder. The Trinity Trails campus tour is good fun, but the star attractions are Trinity Library’s Long Room and the Book of Kells.
In the Long Room, towering bookshelves span two high stories filled with about 200,000 antique books. Your kids may think they’re visiting the wizardly library at Hogwarts! The Brian Boru harp can be found here, featured on Ireland’s coat of arms and the Guinness logo. At the end of the Long Room hovers the Gaia installation—a projection of planet Earth using NASA imagery that rotates mid-air. Seeing a planet spinning in the middle of the library will wow the kids.
The Book of Kells is a ninth century illuminated manuscript filled with vibrant colors, intricate calligraphy and stunning illustrations that depict biblical stories. This is Ireland’s
national treasure.
To truly unlock the magic of the Book of Kells, embark on the new Book of Kells Experience, which just opened in January. This interactive journey brings the manuscript to life with immersive storytelling. The illustrations literally float off the page and onto the walls around you as you walk through the exhibit. Busts of Swift and Shakespeare talk about the past, as well as their current fate as busts in an exhibit, while a 360-degree movie shows you the history of the book and how it came to settle at Trinity College. The “Long Room Reimagined” exhibit brings the library to life with projections that look real enough to touch—from “Gulliver’s Travels” and the Irish revolution to books on botany and sea life.
Rock Out at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum
Get your groove on at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum, where the whole family can learn about legendary Irish musicians like U2, The Cranberries and Sinéad O’Connor. Check out album covers, platinum and gold records and memorabilia—even a pair of Michael Jackson’s pajamas with a story about his connection to Ireland.
A short film brings Irish music history—from traditional to modern—to life, and the kids can try their own skills on a drum set in one of the studios.
Travel Through Time at The Little Museum of Dublin
Whimsy awaits at The Little Museum of Dublin, where charming guides use theatrical flair to take visitors on a fun and interactive voyage through Dublin’s history via countless artifacts donated by Dubliners.
On our family’s visit, our guide was Claire, an actress who shared with us everything from busts and masks to figurines and stuffed mascots. Posters and photos from movies and kids’ shows cover the walls, along with commemorative milk bottles, toys and original Tayto potato crisp packages.
The guided tour is interactive, engaging children and adults alike. You and the kids can even crack a few jokes yourselves.
Lock Yourself Up in Kilmainham Gaol
Take a step back in time at Kilmainham Gaol, a prison turned museum. Our guide recounted tales of famous revolutionary inmates like Éamon de Valera, who later became president of Ireland and played a part in the jail’s conservation.
Prison was a life of choice by some during difficult periods like the potato famine. This educational experience will spark important conversations about freedom and justice. And what kid doesn’t get a kick out of visiting an old prison?
Collect EPIC Passport Stamps
Get ready for an interactive adventure at EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum. Kids will love exploring this museum with their own personalized passports, stamping them at different exhibits as they learn about the millions of Irish people who emigrated throughout history.
More than a museum, EPIC is an interactive journey where the kids can sit in a recreated Irish pub, watch Irish dancing, explore touchscreen exhibits and movies on walls and even take a mugshot of themselves or anyone in the family. There are more than 20 exhibits to explore—and visitors can stamp their EPIC passports at each one.
GPO is a Museum to Write Home About
History buffs will be enthralled by the GPO Museum, housed in the very General Post Office building where the Easter Rising of 1916 began. Immerse yourselves in the events leading up to and during the rebellion through interactive exhibits and original artifacts.
Families may be amazed to realize that Ireland’s fight for independence doesn’t date back centuries like America’s. It’s recent enough that people living today can remember their parents telling personal stories about the experience.
Seek Solace in Sacred Spaces
Take a break from the bustling city and experience the serene beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral. Both offer tours and boast fascinating stories. At Christ Church, keep an eye out for Strongbow and his son, as well as the mummified cat and mouse found in an organ pipe, and ask your guide about the saint’s heart that was stolen, recovered and currently resides at the cathedral.
For a truly unique experience, dine at The Church restaurant, set in a former 1800s church, where the stained glass, stone etchings and enormous pipe organ add ambiance to your meal.
Breathe in the Fresh Air
There are a number of companies that offer free walking tours, which tend to last between two and three hours and are good fun, full of history and stories.
For more fresh air, check out St. Stephen’s Green, where kids can pose for selfies alongside Oscar Wilde’s statue, and Phoenix Park, an enormous park system that includes Dublin Zoo.
Explore Dublin’s Museums
National Gallery of Ireland: Admire Irish paintings alongside masterpieces from around the world, including works by El Greco and Monet.
The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology: Marvel at ancient bog bodies, bronze age collections and the ‘Tara’ Brooch.
The National Museum of Ireland – Natural History: Discover the animals of Ireland, including the enormous prehistoric Irish elk.
The National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History: Immerse yourselves in a diverse collection of furniture, samurai armor, Asian and European art and military history exhibits.
The Chester Beatty: Explore illuminated manuscripts, scrolls and texts from around the ancient world in this library museum.
National Library of Ireland: For W.B. Yeats lovers; delve into the poet’s letters, manuscripts, edits and books.
Each museum offers a unique window into different aspects of Irish history and culture.
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
The best part about visiting Dublin for our family was the people—the guides, taxi drivers, hotel workers and people we met at restaurants or on the streets. Ireland is known as a country that reveres its writers, and that is especially evident in Dublin, with more bookstores than your average city, museums devoted to books and monuments honoring James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker. Ireland boasts more Nobel Prizes in Literature per capita than anywhere in the world. Likewise, Dublin is a city of stories, and you and your family are sure to hear your share during your travels.
The family will appreciate the stories and witticisms, the clever puns—and even the dad jokes. As our taxi driver said to us upon leaving, “May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind always be at your back.”
Eric D. Goodman is author of seven books. His most recent is “Faraway Tables,” a collection of poems focused on travel and a longing for other places. Learn more about Goodman and his writing at EricDGoodman.com.
