Composing Dublin: Photography on a Walking Tour

(6 reviews)

Dublin audio tour: Composing Dublin: Photography on a Walking Tour

This is a 2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Dublin

Ireland

$9.99

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About the Tour

Dublin’s layers of history create endless photo opportunities. On this walking tour, you’ll discover the city’s photogenic side, from Georgian doorways and canal reflections to modern marvels rising beside medieval foundations. You’ll also learn exactly how to capture these moments with practical photography techniques for smartphone cameras.

The tour starts at the historic Triumphal Arch near the Custom House. I’ll share Dublin’s layered history, from Viking origins to modern tech hub transformation. You’ll weave through the revitalized Docklands, along the peaceful Grand Canal, and towards Georgian Dublin’s architectural treasures. You’ll learn to see reflections, frame compositions, and capture street photography opportunities that most visitors miss entirely.

This tour isn’t just about taking pictures. I’ll also tell you the stories behind each location, like how famine ships departed these quays to the Easter Rising battles fought on Mount Street Bridge. The tour ends at Oscar Wilde’s life-sized statue in elegant Merrion Square where the literary giant once played as a child.

Along the way, you’ll have the chance to:

Capture the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship replica, which carried 2,500 emigrants across the Atlantic without losing a single passenger
Photograph the harp-shaped Samuel Beckett Bridge using panoramic techniques and creative framing of its architectural details
Learn street photography at the Triumphal Arch while discovering Dublin’s transformation from medieval settlement to modern capital
Frame reflections at Grand Canal Dock, now known as Silicon Docks, home to Google, Facebook, and other tech giants
Explore the Georgian doors of Mount Street, each with unique fanlights that survived 1970s demolition threats thanks to student protests
Visit Admiral Brown’s statue and learn about the Irishman who founded Argentina’s navy and has streets named after him across South America
Practice low-angle photography at the quirky Joker’s Chair memorial to comedian Dermot Morgan, star of Father Ted

By the end of this 60-minute walking tour, you’ll have heard several of Dublin’s compelling narratives, combined with practical photography instruction.

Tour Producer

Nuala Redmond

0 tours

I am a fourth generation Dublin native. I love the fact that Dublin has grown over the last few years and it has become a great place to visit - the history is interesting and the sights are picturesque. I have always taken photographs especially while on holidays with my family, but sometimes when I would look back over photographs I find it difficult to remember what the image is of and why I found it interesting at the time. I'm hoping to help you with this issue with my tour.
I always loved people and worked as an audiologist for 38 years, I retired after Covid and went on to do a full time two year photography course which I loved. I think photographs are important as they can be so interesting and bring so much joy and fun to everyone when we look back at them and we remember how much fun we have had.

Preview Location

Location 5

Down City Quay

Walk down the quay with the river on your left and the road on your right.

The first part of this road is called City Quay and then we'll pass onto Sir John Rogersons Quay - named after a British politician and Property Developer.

It's generally accepted that up until th... Walk down the quay with the river on your left and the road on your right.

The first part of this road is called City Quay and then we'll pass onto Sir John Rogersons Quay - named after a British politician and Property Developer.

It's generally accepted that up until the 7th century, Dublin was little more than a monastic settlement until the arrival of the Vikings.

They developed the port. A large archaeological site was uncovered at Wood Quay, which was where the city of Dublin was originally located. It was called Dubh Linn - or place of the black water.

Norse Dublin was a prosperous place. It was one of the biggest slave markets in Europe. Until the 17th century, Dublin was a small medieval town - dominating only The Pale, which was a thin strip of English settlement along the east coast. The city remained further inland from the mouth of the river until the building of the Customs House in 1791.

Dublin's Docklands has been changing and evolving since the late 1700s when the reclamation of the land from the marshes began.

During the 18th century, the docklands was the heartland of Dublin's maritime trade with ships laden with all sorts of goods from all over the world.

Gradually the port and docks moved east towards the mouth of the river. The port of Dublin was dangerous for shipping and during bad weather conditions, ships could not access the port for days and weeks. Captain William Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame oversaw the building of the north wall to protect shipping entering the port.

The south Dublin wall stretches out into the bay and is still there today - a wonderful walk with a fabulous view from any part of it. During its lifetime, the docklands have changed drastically from sailing ships to steam ships, and the cargo and industry they supported has changed dramatically too.

Up until the 1980s, the docks were an industrial zone which had no draw for the general public. An enlightened approach was taken to their redevelopment, and they have become the buzzing happening place you are in today with the headquarters of many international tech companies - the International Financial Services Centre, some theatres, and plenty of social amenities. U2, the Irish rock band, recorded many of their albums in the famous Windmill Lane Sound Studios which are located here.

As with most dockland areas around the world, this was once a drab and unpleasant place, but in 1987, the redevelopment of the Custom House Docks began.

Keep walking towards the bridge. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Triumphal Arch
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Seán O'Casey Bridge
Samuel Beckett Bridge
The Ferryman
Admiral Brown Statue
Diving Bell
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Red Sticks Dublin
Docklands Dublin
Bolands Mills
Aviva Stadium
Mount Street Bridge
Grand Canal Lock C2
Pepper Canister Church
Merrion Square Park
The Joker's Chair
The Oscar Wilde Monument

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Custom House Quay, North Dock, Dublin, Ireland
Total distance

3km
Final location
Merrion Square N, Dublin, Ireland
Distance back to start location

840.2m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at Triumphal Arch accessible from the bus stops on Eden Quay and Custom House Quay as well as the Luas and Dart from Connolly station. Triumphal Arch sits between Georges Dock and the River LIffey and beside the CHQ Building.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

There are cafes along the route - either at the start in the CHQ building or along the Grand Canal Basin. If you want to wait until you have completed the tour there is a coffee shop in the National Gallery of Ireland and pubs and restaurants on Baggot Street close to the end of the tour. Il Cafe De Napoli on Westland Row is a particular favourite of mine.

Best time of day

From early morning until late evening time - the quays can get busy during working hours but it is a good place to visit while it is buzzing with activity.

Precautions

While there are always worries about muggings in any city please be careful of your camera or your mobile phone - getting caught up in the moment of composing a photograph can leave you vulnerable to theft or walking onto a busy road or deep water.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”