Cead Mile Failte (a hundred thousand welcomes!)

Some ideas for a short visit….

• A visit to Trinity College to view the Book of Kells - a must for any visitor to Dublin
• Chester Beatty Library (near Dublin Castle) wonderful collection and recently deserved winner of European Museum of the Year.
• National Gallery on Merrion Square
• Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham
• The Dublin Tour bus - highly recommended, stops at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Gaol Museum and also Christ Church Cathedral (if you happen to be there for choir practice before 5pm you will really enjoy it) there is an exhibition across from Christ Church (the buildings are linked) called "Dublinia" - it is for adults and children but very very informative and only a few euro admittance fee (buy your ticket for Christ Church at the same time and you will get a discount!)
• The bus stops at the Guinness Brewery, great views, but (because of health & safety) they don't show you around anymore, they do however take you up to the roof-top bar and give you a half of Guinness. 
• If you have some spare time try instead The Jameson museum in Smithfield (you may need to get a taxi, it's not far (but not easy to find). This is more hands on and they pick people from the group to do a whiskey tasting, you can receive an official Whiskey Taster's Certificate!
• Another tour bus to try (especially if the weather is good) is the Coastal Tours bus.  They all leave from the centre of town, O'Connell Street, and it will say on the side which tour it is.  The Coastal Tour takes you along the coast to Clontarf, Howth and Malahide, with a trip into Malahide Castle.  The castle will definitely be mentioned in your guidebook and it is beautiful, fully furnished in its original state, well worth a visit.
• Take a look inside the GPO on O'Connell Street – most historic!
• Walk around St. Stephen’s Green

Shopping

Grafton Street is the main street

• The Kilkenny Design Centre (Nassau Street)
• Avoca (Suffolk Street
• Brown Thomas (Grafton St)
• The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (off Grafton St)

For Light Food

• Coffee is a must at Bewley's Grafton Street
• Dunne & Crescetzi - a delightful bistro for lunch or a light meal on South Frederick Street.
• Avoca and Kilkenny Design Cafés (daytime only)
• Fallon and Byrne (in an old telephone exchange) Exchequer Street

Pubs

Obviously, there are more than plenty to choose from and we are sure you will find your way into a few and possibly fall out of many…

• The Brazen Head – (the oldest inn in Ireland)
• Donahey & Nesbit’s, Merrion Row
• The Duke off St Anne St (off Grafton St) is good for a lunch time drink and also the Stag’s Head.
• Davy Byrne’s – Duke St (off Grafton St) 

Some useful links

• http://www.ireland-guide.com/  (general web site)
• http://www.ireland-guide.com/search/index.php?qlt_guide=211&county_id=1282&town_id=&web_price_band=
• (restaurants in Dublin)
• The Dublin Tourist Office is on St Andrew’s Street near Grafton Street (which is the main shopping street). http://www.visitdublin.com/seeanddo/touristoffices/dublin.aspx