Good Friday in Dublin

cbuchwa1 · Member

Good Friday in Dublin

Michele Erdvig · Host

Carrie,

Great to hear from you again. Pubs, most restaurants and sightseeing is closed on GF. However the scenery is always open. How about going south into the Wicklow Mountains? Glendalough is beautiful and always open. You could take a picnic lunch if the weather cooperates. I don't know if you will have a car, but you can also go by bus or train.

Michele

kathy · Veteran Member

The story i am getting over here (as a new resident) is that it is NOT an official holiday - my husband has to work... but being a religious holiday, many things are closed (banks, post, etc). Our local friends tell us that all the restaurants, grocery stores and tourist sights should be open and active - especially in Dublin. Easter itself is a different story - that will be as quiet as christmas here.

Michelle was absolutely correct though - make sure you have a full tank of gas and go out exploring. We have the best time doing that on Sundays. Most recently, we came across an 11th centure franciscan abbey that was just beautiful in the morning light.

kathy

Michele Erdvig · Host

kathy,

Thanks very much for the additional info. Last time I was in Ireland on GF was about six years ago. Everything was closed in Co. Clare except for the Foynes Flying Boat Museum. Not a pub or a resturant was open. Sounds like Dublin is a bit looser with the rules. That is good for tourists.

Michele

Dude · Guru

We were in Dublin on Good Friday in '93 and the bus tours weren't running so we just walked around O'Connell Street and looked at some history and then caught the Bus Eirann back to Laughlinstown and headed north and west. Obviously we found some place to eat; we were doing picnic lunches on that trip so probably found a store open and bought fruit and bread. My journal just says, "Lunch near the Hill of Tara."

cbuchwa1 · Member

Thank you so much to everyone. I suppose that I'm so excited about having family coming to visit me that all I could think about were the museums and shops and other things like that to show them, I nearly forgot about the beauty of places like Glendalough and the enjoyment we get from wandering around streets even if everything is closed! Your suggestions have been great

Carrie

Michele Erdvig · Host

Carrie,

I hope the weather is good on Good Friday. Let us know how everyone enjoys it.

Michele

rnl37 · Newbie

We are also visiting Dublin for the first time, and will be arriving on Good Friday. I know that the pubs and the restaurants with liquor licenses will be closed...what about shopping? Also, can anyone recommend any cafes or restaurants w/o bars that may be open? Thanks...LJ

Michele Erdvig · Host

rnl37,

I don't know the names of the exact places that will be open. Just ask at your hotel or play it by ear. Mostly hotel restaurants will be open. Enjoy your trip.

Michele

cbuchwa1 · Member

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the suggestions. Since tomorrow looks to be a very good day in terms of the weather, I believe we are going to have a nice, quiet, simple day. Picnic in Phoenix park in the early afternoon and then perhaps just walking along the Liffey. It's simple, yes, but I'm looking forward to it especially as the family will probably be a bit jetlagged and we won't have a car to get out to the mountains or anything like that.

You have to love the weather here, though. Forecast for today says snow and forecast for tomorrow says hot and sunny. It seems I need a better weather source

-Carrie

Michele Erdvig · Host

Carrie,

You've got to love those Irish weagther forecasts! The best way to know what the weather will be is to stick your head out the door.

Michele