Turtle Bunbury's Dublin: St Stephen's Green to Trinity College
About the Tour
Dublin has long been a city where creativity pulses through the cobblestone streets. On this storytelling walking tour, you'll discover the fascinating characters who shaped Dublin's cultural landscape, from revolutionary firebrands to literary giants. Follow in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and other notable Dubliners while uncovering the city's rich tapestry of history, literature, and architecture.
The tour starts at St. Stephen's Green near the Wolfe Tone statue, where you'll learn about the revolutionary barrister who led Ireland's 1798 rebellion. You'll cross to the Huguenot Cemetery, where French Protestant refugees who transformed Irish culture and commerce found their final resting place. Continuing along Merrion Street, you'll pass elegant Georgian buildings that housed some of Dublin's most influential residents, including the Duke of Wellington, born in what is now the Merrion Hotel.
You'll wander through Merrion Square Park to visit the colorful statue of Oscar Wilde, crafted from stones sourced from around the world. After exploring Lincoln Place, where James Joyce set scenes from his masterpiece Ulysses,
the tour takes you through Trinity College's historic campus. You'll discover the magnificent Old Library, home to the Book of Kells, and hear stories of the college's famous alumni. The tour ends at Trinity's imposing West Front, leaving you perfectly positioned to explore more of Dublin's treasures.
On this 75-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:
- Stand beside the extraordinary Oscar Wilde statue made from exotic stones like Norwegian blue granite and Canadian jade
- Visit Sweny's Pharmacy, where Leopold Bloom purchased lemon soap in Joyce's
Ulysses
- Discover the surprising connection between Dublin and Chilean independence hero Bernardo O'Higgins
- Explore Trinity College's Museum Building with its stunning Byzantine-influenced dome and marble pillars
- View the spectacular Long Room of the Old Library, housing 200,000 rare books and manuscripts
- Learn about the Book of Kells, a masterpiece of medieval illumination created by monks 1,200 years ago
- Walk in the footsteps of Trinity alumni including Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and Samuel Beckett
- Uncover the quirky legends and traditions of Trinity College, including the famous Campanile bells
Join historian Turtle Bunbury on this literary journey through the heart of Dublin, where every corner reveals another chapter in the city's remarkable story. By the tour's end, you'll understand why this compact capital has produced so many literary giants and revolutionary thinkers.
Tour Producer
Turtle Bunbury
Turtle Bunbury is one of Ireland’s best known historians. Born in Dublin, he has made his name by writing about all aspects of Ireland’s past from the incredible minds who built the Newgrange passage graves 5000 years ago to today's elders of Irish society, who he profiled in his best-selling, award-winning 'Vanishing Ireland' book and podcast series. As a former travel writer and TV presenter, he understands the concept of making sure to serve up history that is both entertaining and informed.
Preview Location
Location 7
Merrion Hotel
This is the Merrion Hotel, one of the smartest hotels in the city. This whole row w... Read More
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
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Wolfe Tone Sculpture
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Huguenot Cemetery
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Government Buildings
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Leinster House
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Merrion Square Park
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The Oscar Wilde Monument
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Trinity College Dublin
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The Book of Kells Experience
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Trinity College Dublin Students' Union
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationSt Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland -
Total distance2km -
Final locationParliament Sq, South-East Inner City, Dublin, Ireland -
Distance back to start location688.57m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour starts by the Wolfe Tone memorial in the paved north-east corner of St Stephen’s Green, which stands almost directly opposite the Shelbourne Hotel.
Tips
Places to stop along the way
The Book of Kells and the Old Library, Shelbourne Hotel, O'Donoghue's
Best time of day
You can take this tour any time, but if you'd like to see the Book of Kells and the Old Library, you’ll need to visit Monday through Saturday between 9:30 AM and 5 PM. lease note: At the time of publishing this tour, Trinity College was closed to the public until August 10th to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It might reopen sooner, or later, and it might close again after reopening. If it happens to be closed when you take this tour, I recommend retiring to one of the many fine pubs nearby, to listen to the rest of the tour in comfort.
Precautions
The area is safe but please use common sense and be careful when crossing roads.
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