In his first piece on our blog, Indian Student Ambassador Prashant Singh tells us some of his favourite things to do in Dublin. From cliff walks to a picnic in the park, Prashant has covered a lot of ground! In his visual guide, we’re sure there is something for everyone!
Exploring new places has always been my passion. Ireland was on my list for a long time and my dream was made into reality when I got accepted into UCD. I had only heard about the scenic beauty of Ireland but from witnessing it for real, I realised that the true beauty of Ireland is beyond explanation. I have tried to explore as many places as possible and each experience has been memorable. Here are some of the places that I have visited in Ireland which made me fall in love with the country and I would highly recommend visiting.
St. Stephen’s Green Park
This is the perfect place to relax and have a walk amidst nature if you want to take a break from the always-busy Grafton street. The greenery and ponds create a perfect ambience to unwind which makes it a great picnic spot. The best part is that it is situated in the City Centre which makes it very accessible.
St. Stephen’s Green Park (photo: Prashant)
UCD Smurfit Campus
How can I talk about all my favourite places in Ireland without mentioning the very reason that brought me here! The UCD Smurfit Campus is a huge structure that includes lecture halls, libraries as well as the facility to book rooms for studying and conference rooms for projects and events. Even though the lectures have been online, the library facility can still be availed by students with proper social distancing procedures in place.
UCD Smufit Business School (photo: Prashant)
O’Connell Bridge
This beautiful view can be seen right from the middle of Dublin City Centre and the O’Connell Bridge is a popular place to hang out while enjoying the view of the River Liffey. The view is magnificent, even at night as the place is well lit which makes it a peaceful place to go amidst the noise of the city.
O’Connell Bridge (photo: Prashant)
Fitzgeralds bar
Fitzgerald bar is situated on Aston Quay, on the Southside of the Liffey. It’s a great place to hang out with friends while sipping Guinness and watching a football match especially when my favourite team is winning! So if you’re looking for a place to chill with good food and music, I would definitely recommend trying this one.
A pint of plain in Fitzgeralds (photo: Prashant)
Howth cliff walk
One adventure that is worth embarking on is the Howth cliff walk. It is a refreshing trek that takes around 2-3 hours with the added bonus of enjoying the amazing view of the sea. The cliff walk provides a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Ireland.
Views from Howth’s Cliff walk (photo: Prashant)
The Irish Museum of Modern Art
IMMA is located in Dublin 8 near Phoenix Park and is comprised of art by various Irish artists as well as international artists— a must-go place for art lovers. There are also a variety of amazing art pieces as well as books that one could buy.
IMMA (photo: Prashant)
Killiney Hill
Killiney Hill is an exotic place with a park overlooking the beautiful view of the beach, Bray and surrounding areas. It offers the adventure of a mini trek with the reward of relaxing in the park and enjoying the refreshing breeze. It is situated in South County Dublin and the hill walk takes just about 30 to 45 minutes which makes it a great adventurous trip that is less time-consuming.
Killiney Hill (photo: Prashant)
There are still many more places left that I am looking forward to exploring. Ireland has so many places worth visiting; I’m sure I would never run out of new places to check out and I hope to make the most of it by the end of my course!
Prashant in UCD at Halloween! (photo: Prashant)
Prashant is doing an MSc in Supply Chain Management at Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD.