Who's planning on going and what's your itinerary/plans?
Any recommendations from those that have been?
Hi All
I'm a UK fan from the North of England and I'll be travelling to Dublin for the game this year, so firstly I just thought I'd like to make the acquaintance of GT fans coming across for the game, and also offer a few little insights based on my previous trip to Ireland for a college game two years ago (Penn State v UCF)
So... 'hi'! I'm very much looking forward to meeting as many tech fans as I can over in Dublin later in the year.
Regarding your trip, although I know many of you will have already had to make arrangements by now, hopefully I can enlighten you a little about Dublin. Firstly, compared to the greater Metro area of Atlanta, Dublin is pretty well contained. Many attractions are in walking distance from one another in the city centre, those that aren't, are usually just a tram, bus, or DART (rapid transit) ride away. If you're planning on going outside of the city you may be hiring a car, otherwise public transport or walking should do you. Taxi fares seemed pretty reasonable too.
The city is divided by the River Liffey into North Side and South Side, with the significant majority of city centre shopping and attractions (including the 'Welcome Village' at Trinity College and the Aviva Stadium itself) being found on the South Side. If you have still yet to book a hotel or B&B and are wanting to be near to the stadium for your stay, look around the Grand Canal Basin, Ringsend, Ballsbridge or Docklands areas. For the PS-UCF game we actually stayed right near Aviva in an apartment at Ringsend. It was a lovely apartment and well positioned in a really nice area. (Although ironically miles away from Croke Park, where that years game was actually taking place!) I'm at Grand Canal Basin this time around, so pretty much same area and the stadium only a 15 minute walk, but still easy access to the Centre.
For those who prefer a location closer to the heart of the city (which in truth is only a few miles from Aviva anyway) there are loads of good quality hotels and guest houses (B&B's) all over the centre, including on the North side too. On a recent (non football related) visit to the city I actually stayed at the Jury's Inn Parnell Street on Northside, but that was still only a 5 minute walk to the South across the bridge and into Temple Bar.
Talking of which, for those of you who like a drink or two, or twenty!!
Temple Bar, of course, is the famous eating and drinking district of the city, with literally hundreds of bars, pubs and restaurants to choose from. I understand that each team will be offered 'designated home pubs' so that liked mind supporters can mingle with each other. As already mentioned, Trinity College Campus is going to be hosting all of the activity in the week building up to the game, including pep rally's parades and tailgating. This is just a few minutes walk from Temple Bar, and a short DART ride to the stadium, so the atmosphere in the town on game week/day should be brilliant! It certainly was for the last game. On the subject of 'tailgating' as I shouldn't imagine there will be many from either GA or MA arriving in RV's, I'd prepare yourselves for a slightly 'different tailgate experience'. Although I'm sure it will still be great fun.
For tourist attractions in the city personally speaking:
MUST SEE: Kilmainham Jail, Cathedrals, Trinity College Library, Dublinia Exhibition.
AVOID: Guiness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery (Basically they're just factories with an expensive gift shop!)
Anyway, I'll get outa here for now. But hope to see some of you in just a few months time, for the big game.
All the best.
Go Jackets!