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10 free things to do in Dublin

Experiencing the capital needn't cost a packet as you can see everything from museums to the Howth coastal walk to the Aras an Uachtaráin.

We’ve come up with a guide to what to see and do in Dublin that won’t cost you anything at all.

1. Aras an Uachtaráin

The official residence of the President, located in the Phoenix Park, was built in 1751 for Nathaniel Clements and the original building was finished in 1754. The stately Georgian manor has been the home of both British and Irish politicians.

You can learn more about this magnificent home and its colourful history from the free guided walking tours that run from 10.15am to 4pm in summer and 10.30am to 3.30pm in winter. Free tickets and tours begin at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre. For more information, call 01 6770095.

2. North Bull Island

Located in Dublin Bay and situated roughly parallel to Clontarf, North Bull Island is said to be home to some 25,000 wading birds.

Home to the Royal Dublin Golf Course, the island was the location of an international rifle match between Ireland and America in 1880.

While many Dubliners have walked along Dollymount Strand, few have taken the time to experience the nature reserve and bird sanctuary on the island. The visitors' centre is open daily from 10am-4.30pm and of course admission is free, call 01 8338341.

3. Trinity College

Founded way back in 1592, the nation’s oldest University is indeed a sight to behold. Many of us may have passed by it on the way to or from Grafton Street, but a quick step inside the main entrance is something just about every tourist does and trust us when we say the buildings alone are worth a closer look.

The impressively large city campus is home to some top-class sporting pitches where you can see Ireland’s up and coming cricket and rugby stars honing their craft.

Not so free, but also worth it: For €9, you can also visit the world famous Book of Kells and the university’s magnificent library which regularly runs exhibitions on a wide range of topics. The university also runs guided tours of the main campus for €10. For more information, visit www.tcd.ie.

4. Chester Beatty Library

Winner of the European Museum of the Year in 2002, this art museum and library is home to a large collection of rare books and manuscripts, many of them containing intricate illustrations and designs.

The library’s vast resources include the Biblical Papyri, one of the oldest known copies of the four gospels and Acts of the Apostles, painted Japanese scrolls from the 17th and 18th centuries and the largest collection of Jade books from China’s Imperial Court held outside of China.

Admission is free and opening hours vary according to season.

Not so free, but also worth it: One-hour guided tours can be booked through the library’s website. Tours for Primary, post-primary school groups are free. All other tours attract a fee with adult groups charged €3 per person and evening tours attracting higher fees. For more information, visit cbl.ie or call 01 407 0750.

5. Irish Jewish Museum

Ireland’s Jewish community dates back a lot further than you’d think, right back to 1232 though historians say permanent settlement took place in the 15th century in Dublin. Located on the site of the former Walworth Road Synagogue, the museum offers a history of Jews in Ireland. There is a room dedicated to Leopold Bloom, of Ulysses fame, which offers a unique insight into the lives of Jews in Ireland in the early 1900s.

The museum is also home to the Ada Shillman birth register, which details the 1,800 births the Lithuanian Jewish midwife attended between 1896 and 1908. The register is an invaluable resource to family historians looking to trace their Jewish roots.

Admission is free and the museum is currently open on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays from 10.30am to 2.30pm. For more information, visit jewishireland.org or call 01 453 1797.

6. National Photographic Archive

Located in Temple Bar, there are 630,000 images kept at the National Photographic Archive that can be seen in exhibitions or viewed in the reading room.

There are also many historic images available for the public to see on the National Library’s website.

The archive in Temple Bar is currently running the 'Fragments from a Broken World' exhibition, which features the work of three artists who use newspapers, archives and advertising as source material for new work. It runs until 2 August. For more information call 01 6030370.

7. National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology

Find out everything you need to know about life in ancient Ireland through the archaeological collection which begins with artifacts from the Mesolithic period all the way through to the medieval era.

This includes examples of Celtic and medieval art such as the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, plus prehistoric gold and finds from the nation’s Viking past in the form of coins and silver ingots.

The Kingship and Sacrifice permanent exhibition is based around two Iron Age bodies found in bogs in Oldcroghan in Offaly and Clonycavan in Meath, which were discovered in 2003 and have been examined by an international team of experts. There are also some 3,000 items in the museum’s ancient Egypt collection which includes four mummies, jewellery, cosmetics and other artifacts which shine a light on the social, cultural and religious practices of this ancient civilization.

The museum is closed on Mondays. It is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and 2pm to 5pm on Sundays. Visit the museum’s website for more information on their current collections at museum.ie or call 016777444.

Not so free, but also worth it: You can take a guided tour of the museum’s collection at 3.30pm during the week and at 2.30pm on Sundays for €2 for adults, children under the age of 16 can attend tours for free.

8. Howth coastal path

There are few views of the capital that take your breath away, but a walk in Howth will remind you of Dublin’s natural beauty.

Beginning in the parking area at Balscadden Bay follow the path up around the Nose of Howth to the cliff tops and continue uphill where you will see an amazing view of Lambay Island. Continuing on uphill and detouring to the south, you will come across the Baily Lighthouse.

You will also come across the Ben of Howth, marked by an ancient burial cairn, said to be the grave of the last of Ireland’s giants. This is the highest point of the walk and a lovely place to catch your breath.

On a path running parallel to your upward descent, you will begin to slowly make your way back to Howth village. Dublin Tourism say the walk takes 2-3 hours and given the uneven terrain, sensible shoes are the order of the day.

9. Irish Museum of Modern Art

Located at the former Royal Hospital Kilmainham, the modern art museum houses some 4,500 individual art works. This includes works by Jack B. Yeats, Kathy Prendergast, Rebecca Horn and Corban Walker, Marina Abramovic, James Coleman, Willie Doherty and many more artists who work with a variety of materials from paint to sculpture and photography.

The museum is also home to the Madden Arnholz collection of 2,000 prints from old masters such as Dürer, Rembrandt, Hogarth and Goya.

These works from the permanent collection are displayed in rotation alongside the temporary themed exhibitions that are featured in the building’s west wing. Admission is free and the museum is open from 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and opens at 10.30am on Wednesdays.

The themed temporary exhibitions do attract entry fees. To plan your trip, visit the museum’s website, imma.ie.

10. Dublin Tourism iWalks

The capital’s tourist body has a range of podcasts for walks around town that are free to download from their website.

Walking podcast include tours of the Croke Park Museum, Georgian buildings in Dublin, Viking and Medieval Dublin, Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire, and Castles and Cathedrals in Dublin which covers everything from St Patrick’s to Dublin Castle.

While the podcasts are free and come in several languages, getting into some venues will attract entry fees. 

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