Dublin is a real Irish charmer

There’s nothing like a rugby weekend in Dublin.

Being married to a rugby fanatic has its perks.

Mind you, it’s got its disadvantages too just HOW many rain-soaked weekends have I spent cheering on his team and washing muddy kit…?

However, that aside, one of the upsides is going to support Scotland at international matches in lovely cities. I love all the venues: Paris, Rome, London, Cardiff and, my favourite of them all, Dublin.

There’s nothing like a rugby weekend in Dublin. The whole city gets caught up in the excitement and the streets are awash with tartan and green.

Our Celtic cousins are always hospitable, and the craic in the pubs is first class. Despite the fact it poured down pretty much all the February weekend we visited (and got well and truly stuffed at the game!), it was a great time.

One terrific character pub I was led astray into by Dublin-based pals was Mulligan’s, at 8 Polbeg Street. It’s been ‘legal’ since 1782 and is the place where, among many other famous names, JFK frequented when in Ireland back in the mid-1940s.

It hasn’t changed much since his visit and is full of character AND characters!

We stayed at Jury’s Inn Custom House a short walk from the centre and a comfortable and affordable hotel. Jury’s hotels are always a hive of activity during rugby weekends and this was no exception.

OK, but rugby-aside, what else should you do while in the lovely Irish capital? Well, one thing I’d thoroughly recommend is a visit to the Little Museum of Dublin, a real hidden gem.

It tells the story of Dublin in the 20th Century. There are more than 5,000 artefacts in the collection and it’s quirky and fun, and downstairs from it is a lovely restaurant/caf called Hatch & Sons. Run by a group of friends who have cooked for each other over the years, it’s very reasonably priced and offers massive portions of great Irish food. Find it at 15 St Stephens Green or visit hatchandsons.co.

After that it was off to the National Leprechaun Museum at 1 Jervis Street. How could you possibly resist?

The museum takes you deep into Irish culture to discover what really lies behind the well-known tales of Irish cultural icons leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold. It’s a hoot!

To cheer ourselves up after the disappointing game we hit a culinary highlight the fabulous restaurant in The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin’s equivalent to The Ritz).

Oh wow! Seriously, this is some of the best food and service you can find in all Europe, so if you want a real treat, book in here. The Saddle Room is a steak and seafood restaurant, with an open kitchen and a lavish Oyster Bar adding to the drama of the dining experience. With dark oak walls and rich splashes of gold, the overall experience is lavish and the food is simply delicious with all tastes catered for. Book ahead at TheShelbourne.ie.

Next day, before the flight back with fellow-hungover/depressed Jocks, we went on the Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus (well worth doing) and took in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

With a long and fascinating history, like most churches in Dublin, this has significant historical content. Jonathan Swift was Dean of the Church in the 18th Century and Handel’s Messiah had its first performance here in 1742.

Hop back on the bus or walk to the Guinness Storehouse, St James’s Gate and tour at your own pace. Great for a hangover, that was! Finish your tour at the Gravity Bar and enjoy your complimentary glass of Guinness (and yes, it really DOES taste way better in Ireland than anywhere else) while admiring the views of the city. See guinness-storehouse.com

Then head to the pedestrian Ha’penny Bridge, so named because locals had to pay a toll to use it when it first opened in 1819.

Henry Street on the north side of the river contains large department stores, including the flagship stores for famous Irish names Dunnes and Penneys.

Here you find a real foodie’s paradise in the form of The Winding Stair at 40 Lower Ormond Quay. Their varied menu uses the very best of Irish produce and at under £20 for two courses with a glass of house wine is one of the biggest bargains in Ireland.

The owner worked for many years in Edinburgh and he really knows his stuff. Delicious soups, cheese-stuffed chicken, venison, fish, you name it all done to perfection and with a twist.

You can’t go to Dublin and not visit the library at Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland, dating back to 1592.

The library contains the Book of Kells, written and decorated in the 8th Century. A grand city, despite the rugby results!