If you wanted to find one area in Dublin with the most history squeezed in, you might be surprised to learn it wouldn’t be O’Connell Street with the GPO or St. Stephen’s Green. The winner would be the area right around the home of Ireland’s most iconic brand. The Guinness Brewery is located on the River Liffey, and it is surrounded by other key historical sites. While Guinness features on the most Irish gifts, the legacy of the ring of sites around offers a deep and varied view of Irish history and culture.
North of the Liffey
Right across the Liffey is the Croppy’s Acre, a memorial park on the site of a mass grave of rebels executed during the 1798 uprising. Behind the Croppy’s Acre is Collins Barracks, which is now the Decorative Arts and History branch of the National Museum of Ireland. It houses everything from historic military uniforms to the innovative designs of Eileen Grey. Visitors can explore Irish history through clothing, furniture, currency, and even centuries of silver design.
West of Guinness
Back on the south side of the Liffey, west of the Guinness Storehouse, is residential neighborhood chockful of history – Kilmainham. It’s the home of the notorious Kilmainham Gaol prison, which now hosts tours. It’s a somber place to visit, and an important one for anyone who wants to learn about Irish history. The leaders of the 1916 Easter Uprising were held here, and many were killed here.
Just between Guinness and the jail is the Irish Museum of Modern Art, which is housed in what was once the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Built as a home for retired soldiers in the 1680s, the stately structure was modelled on Les Invalides in Paris. The elegant gardens were once for medicinal plants. After the building was handed over to the fledging Irish nation, it served as headquarter for An Garda Siochana, Ireland’s police force, and spent some years being neglected until it became Ireland’s first museum of contemporary art. But the historical significance of the site goes back further than the building. In 2006, a Bronze-Age cemetery was discovered on the grounds.
The Liberties
Between the famous brewery and the bustling city center is a lively neighborhood called The Liberties. The modern world is squeezed tightly next to historic pubs and some of the last of Dublin’s street markets in The Liberties, and everything is held together by one of the most tight-knit communities any city can claim.
Trendy eateries and humble historic pubs. Antique shops and cutting-edge designers. And on certain days, street traders plying every imaginable ware on the sidewalks. You’ll find a staggering range of Irish gifts here, from the traditional to the latest creations of a new generation of artisans.
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