Dublin Things to Do

While there perhaps should be a day that is dedicated to people called Arthur for no other reason than that they are called Arthur, this is not it. This day, Thursday September 22nd, is dedicated to one very special man called Arthur, Arthur Guinness. Unfortunately he has no idea that since 2009 there has been a day in his honour because he died in 1803.

Springtime. The end of the long cold winter. Time to get back out onto the streets and into life, to enjoy walking through parks with spring flowers and blossom on the trees. In Dublin, spring is the driest time of the year, and May the sunniest month. But I’d still pack a coat, gloves and a scarf. Oh, and a hat. Ireland can be sunny yet cold, dry but raining an hour later.

That’s what the pubs are for: warming up with a Guinness and checking your photos of those spring bulbs blooming in the park half an hour earlier. But spring is a great time to go to Dublin for several reasons: the flowers are coming out and the parks are coming back to life. This is a great time for walking along the river and enjoying the smiling greetings of the locals – they are really as friendly as they’re reputed to be.

So you’ve always wanted to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records? Well, this is your chance. And what better city to do it in that Dublin, Ireland, home of Guinness the drink and the Guinness family. On December 4th 2011, many many people will be gathering on South King Street in the center of Dublin (near St Stephen’s Green) to attempt a world record in the most people wearing Christmas jumpers in one place. That’s right, Christmas jumpers.

A few years ago in a place that is the enemy of fitness – a London pub – discussion turned to running a marathon. Another Guinness later and the computer was online and bookings made. I appointed myself the non-running, bag-carrying tag-along because the marathon they chose to run was in Wales and I wanted to go to Wales. What began that night has ended up being an ongoing excuse for travelling to new places.