[PDF version of this itinerary: 
Trip to Ireland 15.pdf (11.85 MB)]
(From 22nd to 26th April, 2015)
By Cecilia Pérez Matilla, English teacher
As we greatly enjoyed our trip to London last year, we want to repeat the awesome experience of travelling and globetrotting this year too, this time to Ireland.
But before starting our lesson plan in Ireland, it would be useful and productive to watch these two videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhBACiTRt-k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLACdPtyX-s
Below is our scheduled plan:
Wednesday, April 22nd 2015
We´ll leave early in the morning (between 4 -5 a.m), as our plane takes off at 10.30 a.m.
We intend to arrive in Dublin in the afternoon of of April 22nd. Soon after we arrive and settle into our hostel rooms , we will visit the nearest supermarket to get supplies. We will then start our first leisurely walk in this ‘fair’ city.
http://www.jacobsinn.com/?gclid=CILwk9m1zcMCFQPHtAodCWUAtQ
Our first destination is Usher´s Quay and Victoria Quay to reach PHOENIX PARK, which is located in the East side of the city. http://www.phoenixpark.ie/about/
After walking through the park, we will pass through Wolfe Tone Quay, Ellis Quay and Ormond Quay to have a look at The Millenium Bridge and the HA´PENNY BRIDGE. (Unil 1919, pedestrians had to pay one and a half pence to cross this bridge)
We will return to our hostel.
(After such a long and eventful day, some of you will no doubt look forward to going to bed early while others may prefer to stay up for a while in your rooms and talk about your experiences.)
Thursday April 23rd
On Thursday April 23rd morning, we will have breakfast at about 8 a. m. And by 9.30 a.m., we will begin the day by walking towards Bridge Street, and Cornmarket. After around 30-40 minutes, we will reach GUINNESS STOREHOUSE, where, besides getting to know the process of making beer, you can enjoy the amazing views of the city from the Gravity Bar on the seventh floor. http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Inside.aspx
By 12 p.m., we are scheduled to visit the Viking Medieval Area (DUBLINIA). Here, you will learn a lot about Vikings and their legacy; you can even become a Viking yourself during this challenging visit. Here you can see three exhibitions: Viking Dublin, Medieval Dublin, and History Hunters exhibition. You can also climb up St. Michael´s Tower. http://www.dublinia.ie/index.html
We will have lunch in the big and colourful gardens of ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL (depending on the weather, of course).
In the afternoon, we will have a look at DUBLIN CASTLE and its surroundings.
http://www.dublincastle.ie/visitorfacilities/
Then we will visit TRINITY COLLEGE, where we can examine the BOOK OF KELLS and walk through The LARGE ROOM, one of the most important Medieval libraries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRGQPJIO5CM
After this, we can wander around Grafton Street to ‘meet’ the famous Molly Malone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgXTZ8clbJA
As this is a pedestrian area, you can see and hear lots of street artists and musicians while you stoll down it.
We will then return to the hostel for dinner.
Friday April 24th
On Friday April 24th morning, an excursion to WICKLOW has been scheduled. It´s one of the nearest counties to Dublin. It is also called the Garden of Ireland, or the Garden County. It has amazing scenery and views. The trip will take almost two hours. We´ll have to take one bus, or DART and the bus. The first one, from Dublin to Bray. The second one, from Bray to Powerscourt.
Finally, we will visit the most popular tourist attraction in this county: POWERSCOURT GARDENS. Powerscourt Estate is famous for its house and huge gardens. They occupy 19 hectares. The house was originally a castle, in the 13th century, but it was rebuilt by a German architect in the 19th century. Part of the house was destroyed in 1974, but it has been recently renovated (1996).
http://www.powerscourt.ie/powerscourt-gardens
In the evening, as we are walking along, we will pass through Temple Bar towards Hard Rock Café, where we will have a soft drink or dinner. Here we can have a look at their collection of memorabilia. The Hard Rock Café closes at 10 p.m for us.
Another option can be just hang around the area and then have dinner at our hostel.
On Saturday 25 th
On Saturday 25 th we will start our morning walk towards MERRION SQUARE to see the OSCAR WILDE MEMORIAL and the Georgian Quarter. As we walk along Merrion Square, we can look at the terraces of Georgian houses along the south side of the street till we reach Mount street, which ends at the church of ST. Stephen´s. We will stop at the gates of Government Buildings, where there is a courtyard with its fountain. After that we are scheduled to visit the NATIONAL MUSEUM , NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AND the NATIONAL LIBRARY ( http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx ).
Close to the museum area is ST. STEPHEN´S GREEN, the ideal place in the area to have lunch.
If we have time enough, we might take the DART (there is no underground in Dublin) to visit some beautiful villages in the Atlantic Coast, such as Howth, Dun Laoghaire, or Bray.
Sunday 26th
On Sunday 26th we will pack our luggage early in the morning, but we still have time for visiting the city and going shopping. We will start with a walk towards CUSTOM´S HOUSE, an important building related to the recent history of Ireland and its relation to the British Government. Next to it, we can view the FAMINE MEMORIAL monument, which no doubt will be an experience.
Soon after, we will go to O´Connell Street and Henry Street to enjoy some free time in the many shops there.
By one o´clock, we will take the bus to the airport (Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath). Our plane leaves at 4.25 p.m., and we are expected to arrive in Madrid about 8 p.m. on April. 26th
* Changes to this tentative itinerary might be made, if and when required.
[PDF version of this itinerary: Trip to Ireland 15.pdf (11.85 MB)]
