A Day in Dublin: The People's Park Market, Dún Laoghaire

 

 

Sunday. It's one of those days when if you're not working (or lying in bed like a hungover sack of crap) then you don't really know what to do with yourself. Of course you could do the usual carvery/pub combo before returning home to deal with the Sunday night fear, but if you are looking for a different way to spend your day then the People's Park Market in Dún Laoghaire could be just the thing for you! The People's Park Market is a food and crafts market which takes place in the People's Park in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin every Sunday from 11am to 4pm. It's an outdoor market which hosts various stalls including food, books, flowers, art and lots more. Many independent retailers showcase their goods at the market and each stall offers something unique.

If you are a food lover then this market is the place for you as there are so many different types of food on offer and it's a great opportunity to try some new things. They have everything from burgers and chips to Thai food and each stall freshly prepares their food. Many stalls also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options so it's a win win for everyone. There is so much delicious food to choose from and it may take a lap of the park before you are able to make a final decision on what you want to eat. One of my personal favourites is the falafel wrap from Ali's Falafel. The queues can be pretty long as it's very popular but it's definitely worth the wait as the wraps are so tasty and filling!

As well as savoury foods, there are also lots of sweet options too including handmade fudge, truffles and ice-cream. One of the most popular stalls in the market is Arctic Stone who have created a storm on social media with their Instagram-worthy snaps of fabulous hand rolled ice-cream. Arctic Stone offer a range of flavours including Kinder Beuno, Reece's Peanut Butter and salted caramel. You then choose your toppings which can be anything from cookies to gummy bears (don't knock it 'til you try it!). The most interesting thing about Arctic Stone is watching how it's made and how it gets it's unique look.

I don't know the technical term but basically they mash up all the ingredients on a slab before cutting it into individual little rolls. I went for the Kinder Bueno ice-cream with white chocolate buttons on top. As well as looking super pretty, this ice-cream is delicious and is definitely worth a try. The only downside is that you will have to wait in line for quite a while as this ice-cream is extremely popular, especially on a sunny day.

If you'd like to pick up some food to take home with you there are stalls which sell fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, cheeses and much more. There is also a fantastic stall which sells different organic oils and tasty sauces which are perfect for taking home and adding to your own cooking. If you are interested in cooking then you are bound to be inspired to pick up some new ingredients and create your own dishes at home.

The market also hosts a great range of art and craft stalls which are great for browsing and also worth checking out if you're looking to pick up a unique gift. There is so much to choose from including fashion, pottery, art and even handmade beauty products.

Along with all the eating and shopping, the People's Park Market is a great place to chill out and spend time with friends and family. There is always such a great atmosphere in the park, especially on a sunny day, and it really is a great way of getting out and about and making the most of your Sunday. If you plan on bringing kids along with you then you'll be glad to hear that there's also a playground in the park as well as toilets and baby changing facilities. Dogs are also welcome at the park so you can bring your pets along to the market too! After you've finished browsing (and have eaten yourself into a food coma) you can take a stroll along Dún Laoghaire Pier and take in the beautiful sea views.

The People's Park Market is a fantastic day out and there really is something for everyone. There is always a great buzz around Dún Laoghaire town, especially when the weather is good and there's so much to see and do. There are regular trains to Dún Laoghaire or you can get the 46A bus which is about forty minutes from the city centre. There is no admission fee for the market so you are free to come and go as you please and you can stay in the park for as long as you want. If you're looking for something different to do with your Sunday then I would highly recommend the People's Park Market. It's such a fun day out and the event itself is extremely well organised. Although it can be quite busy, the atmosphere is still very relaxed and the park doesn't feel too overcrowded. So next time you're deliberating how to spend your Sunday, why not consider taking a trip down to Dún Laoghaire for a relaxing day beside the sea. For more information see www.dlrcoco.ie


Photos by Conor Heavey

A Day in Dublin: The Guinness Storehouse Tour

 

I suppose no matter where you live, you're not very inclined to visit tourist attractions. Whether it's an old dilapidated church in the middle of a field or the Empire State Building, the wonder and novelty begin to wear off when you're passing them every day on your daily commute. For ages, my boyfriend had been saying that he'd love to visit the Guinness Storehouse and I, in typical Irish fashion, thought 'Ah sure why would you want to go there? Sure that's only for American tourists!' I didn't think that I'd be that interested in it at all. (For one, I don't even drink Guinness!) However, when I finally got over my whinging, I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised.

The Guinness Storehouse is located at St James's Gate in Dublin's inner city. It's easily accessible by bus or Luas or, if you're in the mood for a stroll, you can walk to it from the city centre. (Although it may be difficult to navigate your way back after a few pints!) Standard admission for adults is €20 and students is €18. I thought this was a bit pricey but it is a really enjoyable tour and if you're interested in brewing then you'll definitely get you're moneys worth.

 

 

The Guinness Storehouse has seven floors so there's plenty to see and do during the tour. There is no official tour guide leading the group so you're free to walk around at your own pace and look at whatever you want. The beginning of the tour focuses on the brewing process and the ingredients that go into creating Guinness. There is also lots of information on the history of Guinness and the man behind it all, Arthur Guinness. This may sound a bit boring but the layout and visual aspects of this section made it really interesting and easy to follow.

Throughout the tour there are some really cool art pieces and historical artefacts which really liven up the whole experience. One of my favourite pieces was a large sculpture of a Guinness glass which was beautifully decorated with carvings and designs representing Irish culture and the history of Guinness. There was also a seating area and information video that you could watch to learn how the sculpture was created.

 

 

My favourite part of the tour was the area which focused on advertising and branding. Guinness are well known for their advertising and the storehouse has an entire floor dedicated to advertisements, both past and present. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Mad Men but I love looking at old advertisements so I found this incredibly interesting. There was a whole section designed to look like a zoo which was dedicated to the work of John Gilroy, the man who came up with the idea of using animals in the Guinness ads. This included lots of Guinness memorabilia and the iconic 'My Goodness My Guinness' ads.

At one point, while walking through this part of the tour, I heard a really strange whistling sound which led me to a small stage where a mechanical oyster was whistling the tune 'Whistle While You Work' from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. I have no idea what this was about but I still loved it and I would have probably spent the whole day looking at it if I could have!

Some of my favourite features on this floor were the tablets which allowed you to look at all the Guinness advertisements from the 1930s onwards. There was an option to select video or print advertisements and you could easily scroll through and see the different advertising techniques and how the brand has changed and progressed over the years.

Ok, so you're probably wishing I would stop rambling on about art and whistling oysters and get to the good part. Drinking pints. The tasting experience is definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of the tour. The tasting room is like something out of a sci-fi film. From the outside it looks like you're walking into a brothel in the red-light district but the inside is like a space ship. Its all white and there's big steaming vats which release scents of the different ingredients used to make Guinness. The only way I can describe the smell is like a mixture of an old man pub, coffee and chocolate. In the tasting room, they explain the whole process of how Guinness is made and how it gets it's unique taste.

Everyone is given a sample of fresh Guinness in a super cute mini pint glass. For the actual tasting part, we were brought into a room which is designed to look like a replica of Arthur Guinness's home. There the tour guide explained the technique of tasting Guinness in order to release all the flavours etc. Of course, my thirsty ass had already downed my mini pint at this stage and it was definitely the most refreshing beer I'd ever tasted! I'd only ever had a sip of Guinness once before and I thought that it tasted like licking the ground on O'Connell Street but this one was delish!

Tickets to the Guinness Storehouse also come with a token which can be exchanged for one pint of Guinness. You have the option to either pull your own pint or buy one from the bar so we opted for the latter. (I wasn't wasting my twenty quid on some self-created foamy mess!) Of course, one of the biggest attractions of the tour is the Gravity Bar which offers panoramic views over Dublin city. We got our pints in the bar and headed upstairs to the Gravity Bar to take some photos but the weather was very dull and overcast so it was hard to get any decent ones. (The only photo that I got makes Dublin look like some grey, industrial city from a Charles Dickens novel.)

 

 

The Gravity Bar is a great opportunity to get a great view of Dublin and I'm sure it would be a lot better on a nice clear day. The bar was really packed when we were there and we couldn't get a seat so we didn't stay for too long but it was a nice way to end the tour.

 

 

Overall, I really enjoyed the tour of the Guinness Storehouse. The tour is incredibly interesting and there's so much to see and do while you're there. Even if you don't drink Guinness I would still recommend this tour because there is something for everyone. I've only ever been to one other tour like this before which was the Heineken experience in Amsterdam and, not being biased because I'm Irish, I ended up enjoying this a lot more. Whether you're visiting from abroad or being a tourist in your own country, the Guinness storehouse is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon in Dublin. For more information visit www.guinness-storehouse.com


Photos by Conor Heavey