Things to do in Ratoath

At the centre of the Guinness Storehouse is the giant pint glass that rises through each of the building’s seven storeys. If full, the glass would hold 14.3 million pints of Guinness. Instead it holds the million visitors that pour through the Storehouse’s doors ever year.

Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College is widely recognised as the oldest university in Dublin. The campus’s magnificent Old Library is an 18th century building that houses the 9th century gospel manuscript the Book of Kells. The book portrays prolifically decorated versions of the four gospels on prepared calfskin and attracts half a million visitors every year.

Opened in 2010, the stadium was built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road Stadium, which was dismantled in 2007. When you arrive, you’ll see from its dauntless but delicate curves just what a modern architectural marvel this is – the Aviva Stadium has even won a prestigious British Construction Industry Award. With a capacity for a whopping 50,000 spectators, the stadium’s sheer size alone is a sight to behold.

The park dates back to 1670 but was opened in its present layout in 1880. It occupies 9 hectares of green space and offers 3.5 kilometres of pathways for visitors to stroll, run, cycle, play or just sit back and relax. St Stephen’s Green is an area of Dublin not to be missed, whatever the weather.

While most of the building dates to the 1800s, its ancient heritage is still evident in the ancient Record Tower. This sole surviving element of Dublin Castle’s medieval origins is a magnificent stone stalwart. It is the perfect complement to the adjoining 19th century Chapel Royal, built in the Gothic Revival style.

Malahide Castle itself has been in the Talbot family for over 800 years. An exhibition on the ground floor takes visitors on an interactive journey through the history of both the family and the castle itself. Malahide Castle’s landscaped gardens are another of its key features. Over 5,000 different species of plant grow here, making this one of the most varied and luxurious botanical gardens on offer in the Replublic of Ireland.

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.

Situated on the Grand Canal Dock, the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre complements its historic surrounds with a sleek and tastefully executed contemporary glass design. Seating over 2,000 people, the theatre has already played host to a number of prestigious sell-out productions, including a Russian State Ballet production of Swan Lake, the award-winning Jersey Boys and a range of operas, musicals, concerts and dramas.

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.