City Hall

The City Hall of Dublin, originally the Royal Exchange, was built in the 1770s and is a notable example of 18th-century architecture. It's located at the top of Parliament Street, next to Dublin Castle. 

Nowadays most Dublin City Council staff and activities take place in the Civic Offices on Wood Quay, which does not have the charm of the old City Hall.

The City Hall is not always open to the public, however it's usually open for exhibitions and cultural events like Heritage Week or Saint Patrick's. 

Watch out next time you read or see the City Hall is open to the public!

Dublin city hall at night in Ireland.

Sand Sculpture Exhibition at Dublin Castle

The sand sculpture exhibition at Dublin Castle has gained a reputation as one of the summer attractions in Dublin.

In its 15th year, the sand sculptures will be on display from August 3rd to 27th. The entrance to see the sand sculptures is Free and the grounds are open during daytime (until 7pm aprox.).

Here are some pics from this year's exhibition. Enjoy!

The 'Wake' - Irish Funerals

Today's post is not intended to make anyone feel depressed, but to show another Irish tradition that, hopefully, many of you won't get to see while in Ireland.

The 'Wake' means when a friend or relative dies, and it is normally a great loss both for the family and also for the circle of friends we make during our lifetime.

In Ireland, the funeral can sometimes take place three or four days after death. During those days, the deceased is usually held by the undertakers until the funeral, although many people still prefer to have their loved one in their house. This means there's a room dedicated to that purpose, with candles and a statue of a Virgin or Christ.

The day before the funeral, the coffin is taken to church, sometimes on the shoulders of relatives and friends. This is known as the removal. 

The funeral takes place the following morning and after the ceremony, the body is removed to a cemetary or crematorium (there is only one in Ireland at present in Dublin's northside suburb Glasnevin).

After the cemetary, all the guests will go to a pub and generally spend the rest of the day there, and in some cases the night too. This tradition may sound shocking for non-Irish, however the idea behind this is to help the family through their difficult day by drink and distraction. The deceased is fondly remembered throughout the day, toasted many times, and anecdotes and good words are said about him or her.

Magnum Experience

For those with a sweet tooth!

For the duration of this summer, Arnotts shopping centre in Henry Street will host the Magnum Experience.

In this small store you will be able to create your own Magnum ice-cream choosing between milk and white chocolate coatings and among several toppings, such as chilli, rose petals and smarshmallows, among others.

This type of Magnum store has previously succeeded in cities like New York and Paris, and it's the first time it lands in Ireland.

Enjoy your Magnums this summer!