When you think of a student
holiday, then the likes of Kavos and Ibiza spring to mind. Think again. For those of you who are not stereotyped caricatures, Dublin is a great place to explore. Situated on roughly the same latitude as Liverpool and Manchester, Dublin is not a place to visit for the weather, but it is worth making the trip for the people, nightlife and scenery. With the Guinness factory, Trinity College and a thriving nightlife boasting a great mix of locals and tourists, Dublin is certainly well worth a visit.
Guinness is ubiquitous. It is not too far off the mark to say that it is the blood coursing through Dublin. Doctors for many, many years prescribed Guinness for ailments such as influenza, insomnia and lethargy. It’s from this that the advertisement campaign, Guinness it’s “Good for You”, arises. However, it is nothing like the porridge sludge we drink here. It’s smooth, the colour a sort of reddish black and it goes down easier than Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s moreish nature perhaps explains the gaiety and jolliness of the Irish, who are a friendly people, as long as you resist the impulse to imitate an Irish accent.
With this in mind, no trip to Dublin can be complete without a trip to the church that is the Guinness factory. Costing a mere £13 for students, and situated within an easy, short walk of the city centre, there is no excuse not to visit. For £13 you not only get to see the evolution of the brewing of Guinness, but also you get a free pint of it in the Gravity Bar. The Gravity Bar hosts the best views of Dublin, with sights that include Croke Park, Trinity College and the rest of Dublin. What better way can there be to sit back, relax and take in the best views Dublin has to offer, than with a pint of the best Guinness in hand.
However, once the free pint had been emptied, I would suggest moving on to other bars, since the pints of Guinness in the Gravity Bar are quite expensive. For this there is Temple Bar. This area is one of the prime hot spots for a night out. Although again, pre-drinks is a must in Dublin as most drinks are quite pricey, with a pint of Guinness ranging from five to seven pounds, and a spirit and mixer around seven to nine. Temple Bar is a great place to have a few drinks though, before you move onto the nightclubs. Most bars are pretty good, and there are plenty of sale reps on the street dishing out deals.
Once you are suitably steaming, the place to move onto is Harcourt Street, which contains the best nightclubs. I recommend Copper Jacks, although all seem pretty good. Do not be put off by the entrance prices, despite costing roughly a tenner, it is well worth the money. In spite of the generic club music, which you have to expect in nightclubs, there is a great atmosphere inside, with the Irish really knowing how to party. One of the particular Irish quirks is the extent to which the partying continues beyond those who are in their twenties, with there being nightclubs dedicated to only those aged thirty and over. Ireland really does offer it all for those of varying tastes.
Hungover, and with little money left, I would suggest visiting Trinity College campus, situated near the centre of Dublin. It’s like falling into the set of a Harry Potter movie, since there are magnificent buildings of great architectural beauty. There’s nothing quite like gawping at beauty to banish the remnants of the previous night’s excursions. If you are feeling really sick I would not suggest going however, since they take the maintenance of their lawns very seriously…
So, when looking at student holiday destinations, do not be a sheep and choose the obvious places. Dublin is the place to go.