Travel to Dublin - Ireland - Europe - Culture

Dublin - Culture

FOOD & DRINK: Ireland is a farming country noted for its meat, bacon, poultry and dairy produce. The surrounding sea, inland lakes and rivers offer fresh fish including salmon, trout, lobster, Dublin Bay prawns, oysters (served with Guinness and wholemeal bread), mussels and periwinkles. Dublin has a wide selection of restaurants and eating places to suit every pocket, as do the other major towns. Table and self service are both common. The most typical Irish dishes will usually be found in a country restaurant, and include corned beef and carrots, boiled bacon and cabbage and Irish stew. Other local delicacies are crubeens (pigs trotters), colcannon (a mixture of potatoes and cabbage cooked together), soda bread and a soufflé made with carrageen (a variety of seaweed). Visitors should note that 'tea' is often almost a full meal with sandwiches and cakes.

Drink: Pubs, of which Ireland has plenty, are sometimes called 'lounges' or 'bars' and there is often a worded sign outside the premises rather than the traditional painted boards found in Britain. Pubs and bars have counter service. The measure used in Ireland for spirits is larger than that used in Britain – an Irish double is equal to a triple in Britain.

Irish coffee is popular (glass of strong black coffee, brown sugar and whiskey with cream). Almost any drink is imported but the two most internationally distinctive products are whiskey (spelt with an 'e') and stout. Irish whiskey has a uniquely characteristic flavour and is matured in a wooden barrel for a minimum of seven years. Amongst the most popular brands are Jamesons and John Powers Gold Label, but others include Paddy, Tullamore Dew, Old Bushmills, Middleton, Reserve and Hewitts. Certainly as popular as whiskey is stout which is bottled or served from the tap. Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, is found everywhere and Murphy's is almost as widely available. One of the most popular of lighter ales is Smithwick's or Harp Lager, also available everywhere. Liqueurs such as Irish Mist and Bailey's are both made from a base of Irish whiskey.

NIGHTLIFE: Most towns have discotheques or dancehalls and many bars and pubs have live music and folk-singing, with professional ballad singers and groups who are often highly accomplished. Medieval castle banquets (such as those at Bunratty Castle) are very popular with visitors and there is a good choice of theatres and cinemas.

SPORT: The national sports are Gaelic football and hurling. There are 200 golf courses run by the Golfing Union of Ireland, and many people come to Ireland specifically for a golfing holiday, where the course rates are relatively cheap compared with the UK. The courses are set both by the sea and inland – two-thirds are 18-hole. Ample hotel and guest-house accommodation is available adjacent to most courses. Many of the larger hotels have tennis courts. Equestrianism is one of the principal tourist attractions of Ireland and facilities for horse riding are found all over the country. A full list of stables and riding holidays is available from the Irish Tourist Board. Racecourses: The principal racecourses are at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse (Irish Grand National every year), The Curragh (Irish Sweeps Derby) and Punchestown (also an international cross-country and 3-day-event riding course). Football: Although club football in Ireland is not of the highest standard, the national team has prospered considerably in recent years. Fishing: Ireland has some of the best fishing of any country in the world, being blessed with uncounted miles of rivers and streams and over 5500km (3500 miles) of coastline. Freshwater angling: There is no closed season but March to October are the most suitable months for bream, rudd, roach, dace and perch. Coarse angling: There are new regulations regarding share certificates for coarse angling – consult the Irish Tourist Board for information. Game fishing: Generally the brown trout season is from mid-February or March until September 30. A licence is required for game fishing. Open salmon season is January 1 to September 7, according to district. A licence is essential, and generally a permit is also required. The best sea trout period is from June to September 30–October 12 in some areas. Salmon licences/permits also cover sea trout. Sea angling: There are new regulations regarding share certificates for sea angling – check with the Irish Tourist Board. A day's boat fishing excursion can be organised. A wide range of fishing exists, from piers, rocks, in the surf or from boats. The Atlantic is particularly challenging, offering its own rewards for the angler who wishes to explore.

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