St. Paddy's Day in Dublin

If you have some Luck O’ the Irish in you and happen to be on the Emerald Isle, don’t miss out on one of the biggest Irish celebrations in the world—the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin that runs March 12th – 17th.  Commemorating its 15th anniversary, the festival now encompasses 4,000 performers at myriad  free venues all over the city, and includes street theatre, music, comedy, dance and art. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Wednesday, March 17, at 12pm, starting at Parnell Square in City Centre and features inventive puppetry, theatre troupes and marching bands.

At some point, you’ll want to take a break from the festivities and throw back a pint or two. The infamous Temple Bar area, located on the south bank of the River Liffey, has plenty of pubs to choose from. Stroll the cobblestone streets that once led to brothels in the 18th century and you’ll discover a thriving area of colorful shops, restaurants and pubs. In the 1970s, crumbling warehouses became home to artists, alternative music and clothing stores. Soon thereafter, the area was earmarked for demolition, but thankfully, it became a designated arts zone instead.

A visit to the original 1840s Temple Bar, with its bright red façade, is a must. Traditional, yet cool and quirky, this popular pub pulses with tourists, artists and poets. Plus, the bar has live Irish music daily with no cover charge. So stop by and enjoy some craic agus ceoil (fun and music)!

When you’re ready to stumble into bed after a pub crawl, lay your head to rest on a signature “Heavenly Bed” at the Westin Dublin Hotel, formerly the Allied Irish Bank (located only steps away from Temple Bar). If, however, you can safely manage a short drive, don’t miss out on having a royal experience in a Palladian estate at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt. Take a swim in the Swarovski crystal-lit indoor pool, indulge in fabulous spa treatments or simply stroll through the enchanting Powerscourt Gardens, taking in Ireland’s natural beauty.

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Liz Laing

Liz has been a freelance travel writer for nearly a decade, writing for multiple outlets such as Mothering, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, CBS Los Angeles, MadeMan and wandermelon, to name a few. Growing up in New Mexico, Liz also traveled to Japan and Europe, including touring with a modern dance troupe throughout France. She’s now also added photography and web design to her talents, but her greatest accomplishment has been raising her four wonderful kids, who have already been bitten by the travel bug.

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