St Patrick’s Day Parade, Dublin
St Patrick’s Day will be with us before we know it and we’ve already seen how fabulous this day of celebration is. However, St Patrick’s Day goes on longer than for just one day. Celebrations can go on all week, and there plenty of things to see and do once the parade has completed its journey. Below are just three attractions on offer for visitors to take advantage of before, during and after St Patrick’s Day Parade.
Hairy Lemon
The Hairy Lemon pub is on Stephen Street which visitors will no doubt pass on their way through as they follow the parade. This is a popular pub with both locals and tourists, with an old fashioned feel, rustic décor and a warm welcome as you enter. It’s constantly busy with a bar and restaurant downstairs and a lounge upstairs. This is a nice old fashioned pub that has been unusually named after a local dog-catcher in the 1950s whose head apparently, looked like a lemon!
Buskers Bar
You’ll find the Buskers Bar in the Temple bar, on Fleet Street not far from O’Connells’ Bridge and Grafton Street, which is along the route the St Patrick’s Day Parade takes. Buskers Bar is quite different to the Hairy Lemon, in that it has a modern bar with less of a rustic feel and a more modern contemporary vibe. The slick, modern deco reflects the bar’s personality, it serves excellent cocktails and has an impressive wine list. There are cocktail lessons for those that want to learn and there’s an excellent menu serving good food. Buskers have live music 7 days a week, and like the Hairy Lemon are popular with both visitors and tourists alike.
Grafton Street
For those who don’t quite enjoy visiting Dublin’s famous bars, but still want to get their St Patrick’s Day festival fix, they can always take a walk down Grafton Street, a long shopping street with both old and modern buildings sitting side by side. This is one of the most unique shopping streets in Europe and is popular with visitors from all over the world.
There are plenty of historic buildings to admire for those interested in Ireland’s history, with a good mix of old and new. This is a busy, bustling city, but Dublin is friendly, with Grafton Street offering locals and tourists a fine shopping experience, with a variety of retail stores on offer. There’s a selection of high end and high street goods, and there’s plenty to choose from with an eclectic range of stores. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to rest tired feet, before continuing on. There are plenty of street performances which remind the visitor of Ireland’s cultural heritage with plenty to keep passers-by entertained.
History
Grafton Street has a fine history itself, being named after Henry Fitzroy, the 1st Duke of Grafton, the illegal son of Charles II. The street was established by the Dawson’s, a well-known family in Dublin. Grafton Street starts at Stephen’s Green and finishes not far from Trinity College.
Famous Statues
On the corner of Grafton Street is the famous statue of Molly Malone from the famous Irish ballad “Molly Malone.” It was erected back in 1988 and is a centre piece of this famous street along with another statue of Phil Lynott, frontman of Thin Lizzy, erected back in 2005.
Entertainment
Every year Bono, along with other street performers entertains crowds on Grafton Street, something that started back in 2009, starting out as an impromptu performance, but something which Bono has continued to do ever since. There are plenty of eclectic performances to keep people entertained on Grafton Street and there’s plenty of opportunity to be taken by surprise. Spending time in Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day Parade can be a spontaneous occasion with plenty going on, contributing towards some unforgettable memories.
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