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L I KE A ROL L I NG S TONE

ESCAPE TO THE EMERALD I SL E

KILKENNY CASTLE

N ow more than ever, the history and hospitality of Ireland beckon alluringly across the Atlantic Ocean. And nowhere personifies a warm Irish welcome more than The Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, with almost 200 years of history behind its gleaming facade. In 1824, Irishman Martin Burke turned

Beef Chateaubriand. There’s no shortage of dining hotspots to enjoy in Dublin. Work up an appetite while perusing the stunning, early medieval

manuscripts that make up the Book of Kells at University College Dublin. Keep the historic theme going by visiting the astounding bog bodies–corpses preserved for millennia by the various minerals present in Irish swamps– present at the National Museum of Ireland’s archaeology division. Channel Comedy Central’s classic program Drunk History by heading to the Guinness Storehouse. At the home of the world’s favorite beer, down a pint (or two or three) while learning all about the delightful brew’s rich cultural heritage. Then, browse the vast collection of books on the first floor of bookstore/restaurant The Winding Stair, before going upstairs for a hearty meal. Or, head into the heart of the city to dine at Fade Street Social, featuring acclaimed chef Dylan McGrath’s cuisine. Fade Street Social offers petite, tapas-style portions of fresh, seasonal Irish produce. Dublin’s immediate surrounds offer exquisite heritage sites. In the verdant countryside

three townhouses near the St. Stephen’s Green into top-flight accommodations and named his new property after a former British prime minister. Occupied by the British during the 1916 Easter Rising, The Shelbourne Hotel played host to Michael Collins in 1922 while he was drafting the Irish constitution. History buffs should ask for the hotel’s genealogy butler, an expert on family history, to arrange a consultation on their own Irish pasts. A haven of luxury amidst Dublin’s hustle and bustle, The Shelbourne’s beautifully appointed rooms complement the hotel’s numerous dining and drinking options. Sip a spot of afternoon tea in the refined Lord Mayor’s Lounge, then adjourn to the secluded 1824 Bar, whose plush fittings amidst wooden paneling–and superb whiskey collection–are reminiscent of a viscount’s study. Need a bite

SHELBOURNE HOTEL

to eat or a lighter tipple? No. 27 Bar & Lounge offers up delightful cocktail creations and sophisticated twists on classic Irish pub fare. For dinner, look no further than The Shelbourne’s Saddle Room, which serves up delicious renditions of classics like Irish scallops or

northwest of the capital, stop at the prehistoric wonder that is Newgrange, courtesy of a Mary Gibbons tour. A circular monument that might have been an ancient temple, a ritual site fromwhich to view the sun at the summer solstice, or something in between,

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