Dublin Zoo is part of a worldwide network of zoos working together to breed endangered species. Studbooks are used to manage this captive breeding. Dublin Zoo holds the European studbooks for species including the Moluccan Cockatoo and the Golden Lion Tamarin. Dublin Zoo also sponsors field researchers to study a group of tamarins that have been released back into protected habitats.

Opening Times:
   9.30 - 18.00 Monday to Saturday
    10.30 - 18.00 Sundays

www.dublinzoo.ie

On an elevated coastline the 18th century Castle commands magnificent views. The gardens comprise a Rose Garden with large Victorian Glasshouse, Walled Garden sub-divided into five sections, each having a specific theme, including a herb section, fruit and vegetable potager, Irish plants, semi-tender plants and formal garden leading to a Robinsonian styled woodland walk. This hidden treasure also boasts a state of the art playground to keep your little monkey?s happy. A sight not to be missed.
http://www.iol.ie/~cybmanmc/

With a company history spanning from 1759 - where else would you come to learn about the history of GUINNESS® - other than the home of the black stuff. This complex is Dublin?s ode to Guinness. The storehouse is museum built over the site of the old brewery and it unfurls the tale of Guinness form beginning to end. If you are a lover of the dark frothy brew, a highlight for you will be a gallery holding a back catalogue of award-winning Guinness advertising campaigns. And the best part is the free pint of Guinness at the end. Open daily except on national holiday days.
www.guinness-storehouse.com

Just two years before Charles Darwin published his famous work on The Origin of Species, the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street was opened to the public for the first time, in 1857.
The National Museum of Ireland - Natural History has approximately ten thousand animals on display which have been drawn from the museum's collections of over two million specimens. These collections have been accumulating for over two centuries. Today this zoological museum encompasses outstanding examples of wildlife from Ireland and the far corners of the globe, some still to be seen today and others long extinct.
www.museum.ie

One of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, covering some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s. Attractions include a major exhibition detailing the political and penal history of the prison and its restoration. The tour of the prison includes an audio-visual show. Tours may be arranged for visitors with special needs by prior arrangement.
www.heritageireland.ie

The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later. The Gallery has an extensive, representative collection of Irish painting and is also notable for its Italian Baroque and Dutch masters painting. The current director of the gallery is Raymond Keaveney. Entry to the gallery is free.
www.nationalgallery.ie

NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS

These colourful gardens cover a total area of 19.5 hectares, part of which is the natural flood plain of the river Tolka. The gardens contain a large plant collection which includes approximately 20,000 species and cultivars. There are four ranges of glasshouses including the recently restored Curvilinear Range. Notable features include herbaceous displays, rose garden, rockery, vegetable garden, arboretum, extensive shrub borders and wall plants. Gardens are accessible for people with disabilities but there are some steep gradients.
The new Education & Visitor Centre, due to open in September 2000, is fully accessible for people with disabilities.www.botanicgardens.ie

Fashion,food and literature in Dublin?s Cultural Quarter is a maze of cobbled streets that are said to contain the beating pulse of all that is utterly hip in Dublin.
Crowds pack the public spaces of Dublin?s Cultural Quarter every weekend for delights on offer at three of the best outdoor markets around. Temple Bar is host to the Food Market, Book Market and Fashion and Design Market. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?www.templebar.ie

Castletown is the largest and grandest Palladian country house in Ireland. It was built for William Conolly (1662-1729), the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. He was a lawyer from Ballyshannon, County Donegal, a native born Irishman of humble origins who made an enormous fortune out of land transactions in the unsettled period after the Williamite wars. By the 1720s he was acknowledged to be the wealthiest man in Ireland and he built Castletown as a symbol of his importance and as a patriotic gesture. Open to the public daily, for details, visit the website.www.heritageireland.ie

The University of Dublin, Trinity College, founded in 1592, is the oldest university in Ireland. Trinity College is the sole constituent college of the University. At present there are over 12,000 students and 1,200 staff members working on the College campus. Trinity College is one of Irelands leading historical sites, attracting in excess of half a million visitors every year. Heritage attractions available to visitors include The Book of Kells and Walking Tours of the Campus.
www.tcd.ie

Though best known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, the Hill of Tara has been an important site since the late Stone Age when a passage-tomb was constructed there. Tara was at the height of its power as a political and religious centre in the early centuries after Christ. Attractions include an audio-visual show and guided tours of the site.
As much of the tour is outdoors, visitors are advised to wear protective clothing and shoes suitable for walking over uneven terrain. Restricted access for people with disabilities.
www.heritageireland.ie

Established in 1946, the Irish National Stud combines an active role in the development and promotion of Irish bloodstock with its role as one of the country's major tourist attractions. Irish National Stud - Home to some of Ireland's finest thoroughbreds.
Japanese Gardens - The finest Japanese Gardens in Europe.
Saint Fiachra's Garden - Woodland and lakeside walks.
Horse Museum - a state of the art modern exhibition where the Sport of Kings comes to life.www.irish-national-stud.ie

Newgrange is one of the best examples in Ireland and in Western Europe, of a type of monument known to archaeologists as a passage-grave or passage-tomb.
All visitors wishing to visit Newgrange and Knowth must begin their visit at the Visitor Centre. There is no direct access to these monuments.
All admission tickets are issued at Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
* Last tour of monuments 1hour 30mins. before closing time of the Centre. 
* All groups of 15 or more must book in advance.
www.heritageireland.ie

Emo Court was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington and is a magnificent example of this neo-classical style. During the middle of this century it was owned by the Jesuits, it was then acquired and extensively restored by Mr. Cholmeley-Harrison in the 1960s. The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland which were first laid out in the 18th century and contain formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks with many very fine trees and shrubs. The house and gardens were taken into State ownership in 1994.
www.heritageireland.ie

Castleblayney and it's famous Lake have a rich and intriguing history. Home to some of the most spectacular lake views in the Country, Castleblayney has adopted the title of "The Killarney of the North
www.castleblayney.ie

Powerscourt is one of Europe's great treasures and Ireland?s most famous House & Gardens. Gracing the Wicklow mountains, 20km from Dublin city centre, Powerscourt is a heritage property with a surprising difference.
Powerscourt Waterfall is Ireland's highest at 121m (398ft.) and is surrounded by woods and specimen trees. Visitors have been coming to Powerscourt Waterfall for over 200 years, attracted by the beautiful cascade flowing down into the Dargle river. It is a favourite area for family picnics, with woodland walks, a playground and masses of space. The 7th Viscount Powerscourt established a deer park here and in 1858 successfully introduced the Japanese Sikka deer to Ireland.
www.powerscourt.ie

This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. The Visitor Centre has an interesting exhibition and an audio-visual show. French, German, Spanish and Swedish guided tours are available all year by advance booking. Visitor Centre is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. Access to the graveyard is very difficult for wheelchair users.
www.heritageireland.ie

The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre is located in the original 1897 Bonded warehouse. Start your tour with an Audio-visual presentation, (different languages available). Wander through the recreated working stations of the old distillery, such as the malting, boiling or cooperage areas. Throughout the tour, opportunities are there to interact with the artefacts. Indeed, not only can you learn about the whiskey making process, by experiencing how to shovel or grind the barley the old way, but also, you will find out why the distilling business was so important in Tullamore. At the end of the tour enjoy a complimentary tasting of Tullamore Dew Whiskey/Irish Mist Liqueur.
www.tullamore-dew.org

An oasis of beauty in the Midlands is there to be enjoyed. Belvedere House Gardens & Park can be discovered on the shores of Lough Ennell, 4 miles from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath and just an hours drive from Dublin. The Estate comprises of 160 acres of parkland with 6kms of magnificent woodland and lakeshore walks. Several follies adorn the landscape including Ireland's largest folly - The Jealous Wall. Adjacent to the Visitor Centre is the Animal Sanctuary and Children's Play Area. There is also a delightful tram which provides guided tours around a section of the parkland on selected days throughout the year. Belvedere is open to the public 7 days a week all year round.
www.belvedere-house.ie

The Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre is a traditional Irish Musical Centre dedicated to the memory of Séamus Ennis and is situated in Naul, Fingal, North County Dublin. The Centre has a year round programme of music, traditional, bluegrass, folk, classical etc. (see events), Irish language, Irish Music and Irish Dancing classes.
www.seamusenniscentre.com