I messed up my Dublin visit :(

[banivani]

Going to Dublin with my 12-yo week after next. Had planned to do a lot of historical stuff incl Kilmainham gaol, since he's showing an interest in history. When I booked the tickets it all seemed ages off so I didn't book the gaol, and now it's sold out. Bloody hell, so typical, the one thing I was sure of wanting to do! Help me plan something different! We can do a Trinity visit for sure but after that I'm a bit stumped.

Hi banivani,

I'd ring them and explain your predicament, they may be able to help. You can get cancellation tickets daily for the gaol.
Have to be honest, going to Trinity will be good to see the book of Kells and the library however it is a university not a Gaol. Kilmainham is brilliant.

You could do the Glasnevin Cemetery tour, very interesting as the majority of those who died in Kilmainham are buried there. I'ts a great tour, going through the famine graves to republican graves. Walk through to the botanic gardens from the cemetery.
www.glasnevinmuseum.ie/daily_public_tours/

Also The dead Zoo museum and Collins barracks are great for a visit.
All the museums in Dublin are free, there are some really good ones.

Have a great weekend!

Tazzy.

Thanks for replying Tazzy! I'd need to time a cemetery visit really well I'd say though - first we'd have to learn about all the people (I'm half Irish and my knowledge is scant to say the least, and my son's is scanter), and not until then would he care about the graves I think... he has the imagination of someone raised on bloody Fortnite ie not much. but you're saying the guided tour is good then?

I thought about sending Kilmainham an email but they sounded so firm on the website "cancellations released at 9 o'clock" and that's it. Maybe if I ring and blubber.

Making notes of the rest!

What about Dublinia or a Viking Splash tour? There's also the Epic (emigration) museum in the IFSC.
The national museums on Kildare street or Colins Barracks are both excellent as well and free.

They do release cancellations that morning so good chance you'll be able to book then.

I love the Jeanie Johnson (famine boat, near the IFSC), great tour.

The Gravedigger Bus tour is great too, history + a laugh. Your dc a bit young for it but there are kids ghost buses too.

The waxworks is a bit of fun too, lots of interactive stuff at the start.

These are all quite close together so you could fit a lot in.

Guinness Storehouse is interesting too and has a good view over the city from the top.

Dublin Castle tour.

Bring him to st michans church to do the tour of the crypt.

this is lovely OP

Email Kilmainham. They are doing kids tours now which are free at at 3 pm a couple of days a week. It’s a good tour, I did it during the summer with my 3.

Depending on timing of your visit they may have them on as last week of October is mid term here and kids are off.

Not history as such but the Leprechaun museum is great for Irish folklore.

The little museum of Dublin is great. My kids loved it at that age. Very entertaining and they'll learn a lot in a short time

Collins barracks is brilliant and free and my favourite dublin visit. It's on a Luas stop (towards heuston) and it has the outfit Michael Collins was wearing when he was shot, life sized tanks and proper rifles that you can pick up and it will trigger a video indicating the life of the soldier who would have held it (plus a demonstration of the damage the bullet would have on flesh ☹).

Airfield is a working farm in the city centre (beside Dundrum Shopping Centre) where you can see cows being milked and then go to the cafe and eat the food grown there (including chicken 😮). Not so exciting but an easy destination.

Dun Laoghaire is lovely for a walk along the pier and lunch, my kids (country living) are happy riding the Luas at the front, or the Dart out to Malahide. The Ark sometimes has interesting child-cented exhibitions on and the Jeannie Johnson Famine ship is worth a look.

I noticed the Post Office on O'Connell Street has a visitors centre (on the street, outside). That could be an interesting visit for him is he's into history.

if!

Thank you so much!!! We have three full days and have to see some family too, so I'm not going to be too greedy. Briefly stumbled on a thread yesterday on how boring Dublin was so am determined to prove them wrong! Also there's a thread further down I noticed on "things to do with teens" - should have read that more carefully first perhaps, sorry ...

We've been on the Dunbrody famine ship in Waterford - I thought it was very interesting, Junior said he couldn't remember it (it was a very Father Ted moment "you wore a green jumper!"). I have to say, Irish guides are IME all fantastic, have never come across a bad one and that's including the Dutch woman in Dingle. But anyway, I think I'll skip the famine ship in Dublin. I need to focus on guns to keep him interested the little fecker so he'll let me into a few shops as well. And I'm very keen on the Georgian townhouse myself!

Will compile a list and show my cousin who is taking us around. Just have to crack the leap card system now (the website makes me cry).

I'm going to email Kilmainham for sure, and look up Collins barracks.

Thanks!

Well, after all my bitching I got tickets to Kilmainham today! I went on to find the email and ask about the release of tickets process, and lo! they had tickets available on a few times. So pleased, I've heard so many good things about it! Filling my list now with the other suggestions. Thank you all!

That's great news banivani.

You will have a ball!

Someone mentioned up above about the Viking splash tour. I forgot about this. I brought my DD and her buddies to this. It's very good,fun and interesting.
citysplashtours.com/dublin/

Have a great time.

Tazzy.

There's a tour of a former tenement house restored at 14 Henrietta Street that is apparently very interesting.
Henrietta Street had very grand houses but the area declined and the houses were turned into tenements.
Check out the website.
Enjoy your trip.

Im not sure the tour of the Georgian house RueCambon suggested is available at the moment. The company that owns the building is doing lots of refurbishment/ rebuilding next door to it and it MAY be closed for the duration.

Oh no, i hope it is open again soon. I alwsys bring visitors there.

Don't listen to the people on the other thread slagging Dublin off, there are loads of great things to do especially if you research and plan in advance which it sounds like you are doing! Most of my suggestions have been made already - definitely recommend the 1916 exhibition in the GPO on O'Connell Street and there are loads of historical walking tours you can do as well.

Girls i have not at all been planning as much gas I’d hoped but sure it’ll work out I hope. Am currently in the stage of being slight panicked and suppressing it haha - stupid really when I’m visiting family!

Am not swayed by a mumsnet thread on Dublin being shite! I’ve been before but never had a proper chance to do the tourist thing. In my youth it was just shopping really for the odd day. Looking forward to seeing the sights. Thank you for your help and ideas! Just have to figure out the leap card and I’ll be sorted.

I have to thank you for your help and wanted to update you (albeit a little late ...). We had a great time! Sadly my 12-yo has no stamina, so wasn't up for all the walking around Dublin I wanted to do. But we saw the 1916 exhibit at Collins Barracks, popped into the café at IMMA (he wouldn't have coped with the museum sadly but I'm saving that for next visit), did a splash tour, did Kilmainham, saw the Long Library, popped into the Castle courtyard, saw the wall and most importantly (according to my son) ate Brazilian churros. I loved it and look forward to going back again. So lucky with the weather, cold but clear is great for being a tourist!

Great glad you had a good time!

So glad you enjoyed it Banivani.
I love your updates on Scandi royals on that other thread.

Ah thank you Bean! ❤️