TOP 10 things to see and do in Dublin this summer

 

Dublin is one of the best places to be this summer, with so many things to do! The city is extremely colorful when the sun is out and it is just as exciting on cloudy days too, whatever the weather Dublin won`t disappoint, with an event filled summer ahead.

On a sunny day in Dublin you have so many options to choose from, the best of which are outdoor activities where you can enjoy the sunshine, but don`t forget the sunscreen, as the sun can get really strong if we`re lucky!

1. Dublin Fringe Festival: this event takes place in the city between 5th and 20th September and is all about theatre, comedy, dancing, music and different kinds of spectacles all over Dublin city centre.
During these amazing 16 days we are bringing you some of the most interesting new and innovating artists from Ireland and from other countries too, who will surprise you with their great, fresh vision, besides the audience will also get involved in what is happening on stage, giving everyone a chance to participate in all the fun that the 2014 Dublin Fringe Festival has to offer.

2. Phoenix Park: one of many ways to appreciate Dublin outdoors is spending a few hours in the magnificent Phoenix Park, with its 707 hectares it is one of the biggest parks within a European city where you can spot some beautiful wild animals, like deer. This is the best place for a nice long walk followed by a hearty picnic sitting on a blanket in the grass, accompanied by a bottle of nice wine… how romantic! The park also houses the Dublin Zoo in case you are up to some more wildlife.

3. The seaside town of Bray: if the weather is on your side, then we suggest you to visit the beautiful seaside town of Bray in north County Wicklow, just 20 minutes away from Dublin City Centre. In this small and picturesque city you will be amazed by the Bray Beach, the Bray Head and the work of art Victorian townhouses lining the Bray Promenade. Besides all this beauty, the Bray Summerfest is on this summer with exciting programs every weekend between 4th July and 3rd August. And by the way, attendance is free!

4. Dublin Tour Bus: a comfortable option for a bright day when you just don`t feel like walking but you are keen to see as much of Dublin as possible in a single day, the Dublin Tour Bus is your best choice. Buses operate from 9 am every day and as you can hop on and hop off at any of the 33 stops located at the most popular Dublin sightseeing spots you can make sure not to miss any of the city`s big attractions!

5.The Dublin Horse Show: one of the year’s most spectacular social and sporting events, not only for horse lovers but also for people who would like to get a taste of the exciting arts and crafts exhibitions, shopping stalls, live music and restaurants & bars, apart from the jumping competitions. It takes place in the RDS between 6th and 10thAugust.

6. Airfield in Dundrum: this is a 38-acre urban-farm with a woodlands area that consists of more than 2000 native woodland trees, hedgerows and a farm with sheep, pigs and chicken that provide the eggs for the farms‘restaurant! You can get here easily with the green Luas line.

7. The Little Museum of Dublin: this is a relatively new exhibition located in Dublin City Centre, just five minutes from St Stephens Green. Their aim is to introduce their visitors to the 20th century Dublin, showing more than 5000 artifacts on exposition.

8. National Botanic Gardens: located just a five minutes’ drive from Dublin City Centre, this is the ideal place for a stroll on a sunny day where you will marvel at the most interesting species of exotic plants, apart from the National Herbarium and several glasshouses. And yes, the entry is free here as well!


9. Riverdance: see the icon of Irish Dancing, the famous Michael Flatley with his spectacular show, in Dublin`s Gaiety Theatre between 26th June and 2nd September. The first Riverdance was performed at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest as the 7-minutes intermission act and it had so much success that it got developed into the full show soon after, and still running!

10. Guinness Storehouse: you cannot leave Dublin without visiting the birthplace of the tasty Irish Stout! Located at St James`s Gate Brewery, in this seven-storey historical building you will be guided through how the most popular Irish beer is being produced, introducing you to the company`s rich history and giving you a chance to pour your own pint of the best Guinness in town. After this you can enjoy your brew in their Gravity Bar, with 360° views of Dublin!

Enjoy your summer break at the Bram Stoker Hotel Dublin, located right by the sea in the beautiful Clontarf, just a 10 minute drive to Dublin City Centre.

Book your stay at the Bram Stoker today!

Fast approaching is the 2014 Fifa World Cup. While it is heart breaking Ireland will not be taking part in the competition this year we are still interested to see which team will come out victorious in the end. There are 32 countries from around the globe taking part in the 2014 world cup. This year Brazil will host this spectacular event which is sure to bring a great economic boost to the country and thousands of international soccer fans. 

The first ever world cup took place in Uruguay in 1930 with only 13 teams participating. The teams were broken up into 4 groups and the winner from each group would compete in the semi finals. It was the host country that emerged victorious beating Argentina in the final 4-2. This marked the end of the first ever world cup and since then the world cup is played every four years with world class international soccer teams competing.

There are so many other awards up for grabs during the world cup from the adidas golden boot which

awards the top scorer during the tournament, the adidas golden glove which awards the top goalkeeper who has conceded the least amount of goals during the tournament, the adidas golden ball which is given to the player who was deemed the best player during the tournament, the fair play award which is given to the team who are deemed to have had the best disciplinary record during the tournament and finally the Hyundai young player award. 

The opening match of this year’s tournament sees host country Brazil take on Croatia and this is set to be a thrilling match marking the start of the 2014 fifa world cup. What team will emerge victorious on Sunday 13th of July it is hard to predict but what is guaranteed is that there will be surprises along the way, with some underdog teams doing better than anticipated.

Here at The Bram Stoker Hotel we are very excited for the Fifa 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Bram Stoker Hotel located in picturesque surroundings of Clontarf is a family run hotel and is only a short drive from Dublin City Centre making it one of the best hotels to stay in when visiting Dublin. This quaint hotel overlooking the Dublin Mountains is located on the seafront in Clontarf. The hotel has 25 well appointed guestrooms which have all been tastefully decorated to cater for guests needs. 

One of the main attraction in the hotel is Peppers Brasserie and Grill located on the second floor of the hotel. The restaurant which has been recently refurbished overlooks the seafront in Clontarf. The restaurant now attracts diners from all over Dublin and one of the main reasons for the restaurant success could be attributed to the appointment of the new head chef Peter Clifford. Peter has been described by the Irish Independent as being “a young chef with the twitter handle of Pistol Pete.”  He first gained recognition for his talents in 2006 when he won the Tesco Young Chef of the Year Award and since then he has gone on to work with international chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Tom Aikens. Peppers Brasserie and Grill were delighted to announce that they have been short listed as a finalist in the 2014 Irish Restaurant Awards sponsored by the Irish Independent Life Magazine. They are up against some stiff competition in the category for best gastro pub in Dublin. This is a great achievement for a restaurant that is located outside Dublin City Centre. Judging for the award will take place between April and May and comprises of three categories. While it would be a great achievement for the restaurant to win this prestigious award, just being nominated is an achievement in itself. 

The restaurant now offer different menus that are suitable for private functions,  parties, family gatherings and other events. Diners can choose from an early bird menu served daily between 5.30pm and 6.30pm and Sundays between 12 o’clock and 4pm an a la carte menu and a children’s menu. There is also a large selection of cocktails, spirits, beers and wines to choose from. Whether it’s lobster bisque or roasted fillet of cod Peppers Brasserie and Grill will have something that takes your fancy. 

If it’s fine dining in Dublin you are looking for then come and taste our delicious food prepared by award winning head chef peter Clifford in one of Dublin’s top ten gastro pubs. Peppers Brasserie and Grill look forward to seeing you in the restaurant soon. 

Contact Peppers Brassarie and Grill directly on 00353 (01) 8532000 to book a table or discuss holding a function.

The Flora Women’s Mini Marathon will take place on the 2nd of June 2014.  The first mini marathon took place in 1983 attracting around 9,000 participants and 30 years later the marathon has grown in popularity attracting more than 40,000 participants last year. The Flora Women's Mini Marathon is one of the world’s biggest women’s events and participants see it as a great way to raise money for charity. The mini marathon is one of the most successful charity events held in Ireland. While it is optional if you  raise money for charity the vast majority of participants will choose to raise money for a charity of their choice. Last year it was estimated that over €14 million was raise by participants which brought total amount raised since the first  marathon in 1983 to over €137 million. 

Is this you’re first time partaking in the Dublin marathon or will you be returning this June in the hope that you can beat your previous finish time? The marathon will start at 2pm on Monday the 2nd of June just off St Stephens Green and will see runners cross the finish line just off Fitzwilliam Square. Participants will run a distance of 10km and they will run past some famous tourist attractions in Dublin. Preparation is key to partaking in the marathon and there are a some key points to note. Whether you are planning on walking, jogging or running the marathon ensuring that you are both physically and mentally ready is vital. There are numerous sports groups and organistaions offering advice to women taking part in the marathon so be sure to check out your local sports facility to see if they can offer you some advice. Along with being fit for the marathon it is vital to have a healthy diet and keep your body hydrated. There are great recipe ideas and dietary tips available on The Flora Women's Mini Marathon  website so be sure to check it out.  

As previously discussed it is not necessary to raise money for charity but most of the marathons participants will choose to individually or as part of a group raise money for a selected charity of their choice. Charities will greatly benefit from this event and they are grateful for all the money that is raised. Runners can be assured that all the money they raise will go directly to their chosen charity. 

The Flora Mini Marathon is a great social event attracting women from every county in Ireland. Each participant has a common goal which is to cross that finish line at Fitzwilliam Square. Looking for accommodation in Dublin then The Bram Stoker Hotel is only a 10 minute drive to Dublin City Centre.  Best of luck from The Bram Stoker Hotel to everybody walking, jogging or running this years Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. 

Book your stay now at The Bram Stoker Hotel in Dublin!