“ If you’ve just arrived in Dublin and feel a bit lost in the city, the Hop-on-Off Bus Tour is for you! It has been carefully designed to give visitors the best overview of the city in barely an hour and a half.
Grab your 2 Days ticket and experience the 24 stops located in the best attractions that Dublin has to offer. As the name of the bus tour implies, you can get into the bus and leave it whenever you want at each of the numerous stops to visit some nice places such as Trinity College, Temple Bar, the Guinness store or … whatever you want as the ticket is valid for 48 hours !! ( TIP – it’s also  really cheap as well !!)

Once you have decided to embark for the big adventure, feel free to choose either the “live” English speaking tour or the multilingual pre- recorded tour. By choosing the live comments, you will face the typical Irish sense of humour of the driver which on my tour was very entertaining to enhance the journey ( driver was what you say a typical Dubliner… and very funny – great craic….) On the other hand, if you don’t feel so confident in English you can opt for the second option and choose between a panel of 10 languages.

As buses are travelling every 15 minutes and have two floors stages, you can be sure to have enough space to sit, especially if you are a group, so don’t worry and jump into the bus with your friends!!

You might wonder if the weather will be good enough to visit the city ( if you know what I mean about the Irish Weather and RAIN !! ) … but don’t worry!!  Indeed, the tour includes indoor as well as outdoor attractions so there is no excuse to hesitate…….If you feel like walking, go to Phoenix Park which is one of the largest parks in Europe and get a breath of fresh air.  This is also a good opportunity to visit the Zoo located in the middle of the Park.  If you prefer to stay inside, you have a lot of choice … Old Jameson Distillery, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Writers Museum and much more! So why not try all of them……. Check out the route here

For me a first timer to Dublin – the HO HO is MUST do for all visitors. For groups – what ever Celtic Group Hostel in Dublin you are staying in….. it’s just a stroll to the HO HO bus stops and the tickets are really cheap.   Go ahead and try it……. “

The post Exploring Dublin… my experience of the Dublin Bus Hop On Hop Off Tour appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

Ok – just days to go…..you think you’re ready….but are you really? If you’re coming to Dublin for St Patrick’s Festival, you are assured of a great time but a little bit more preparation is always a good thing. Stamina is a must have but keep in mind the points below and have the best Paddy’s day ever.

1. Decide your plan of action for the parade. You might like to retire to a lively pub to watch it or you may even consider lining out along the parade route. We advise you to just get out there and see it live.  All our hostels in Dublin are located within easy walking distance of the parade route. Download the route from the website and if you have a Smartphone, there’s a shiny new app to get you going.

2. Every stitch of green clothing you own or can borrow or steal…. get it in the wash. You’ve enough time to have them washed dried and even ironed (some people iron things apparently….) for the big day.

3. Decide where you’re going after. We recommend booking tickets for the Guinness storehouse where you can be sure the craic will be mighty. Go on – get organised.

4. If you’re planning on having a few pints of Guinness and feel there is a risk you may overdo it, stock up on headache tablets. They could be in big demand the day after. Last year, legend has it that a single box of headache tablets was sold for €100 on the streets of Dublin on the 18th March….no, really it was…

5. For the day itself, get stuck into a hearty Irish breakfast in O’Sheas on Talbot street. It will keep you on the go for hours and hours. Yet another great spot just a quick stroll from at least one of our hostels in Dublin.

6. And the shoes!!! Don’t forget to wear comfy shoes. You may envy the girl in beautiful heels at 10 am on St Patrick’s morning but you can be sure, she has a pair of flats in her bag. You need a pair too !

If you need more help planning, talk to us. As Dublin’s trip planning specialist, all our hostels in Dublin guests are well clued in and keyed up for what happens in Dublin and you’ll find plenty of things to do for St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin

All festival events are within easy walking distance of our hostels in Dublin, Cork & Galway, the only place to stay is with Celtic Group Hostels – HURRY get booking now for 2014 – space fills up really fast…… Book Now

The post Must haves for St. Patrick’s Festival visitors? Stamina, stamina and…a little plan of action appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

And if you want to know exactly what’s going on or you need a helping hand – that’s us. If there’s a party on the go, we’ll know all about it. So exactly what are the things to do for St Patrick’s festival and what makes this so much different than any other party in Ireland? Glad you asked that….
The festival was established to give the locals a voice. What once was just a parade is now a creative opportunity for people all over Ireland to contribute to the music, song, dance, sport and so much more.

This year’s main festival is a whopping 5 days event which coincides with the year of the Gathering and is expected be the biggest Festival ever. In the spirit of getting people involved this year St. Patrick’s Festival have added The Peoples Parade inviting more than 8,000 people around the world to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade! WOW.

The main parade forms an integral part of proceedings and meanders through cities throughout Ireland on the big day itself – 17 March. Bands, acts and culture from all over the world turn a little green for the day and join in this traditional and fun-filled procession through our cities.

Other events include treasure hunts, band & street performances, beer festivals, funfairs and much more. And with every pub and restaurant full of revellers, the atmosphere in our cities on these days is incredible! No matter what city you’re heading to – Dublin, Cork, Galway or Clare you will have an amazing time.

Check out the full event listings here -  Dublin  , Cork  and Galway.

All festival events are within easy walking distance of our hostels in Dublin, Cork & Galway, the only place to stay is with Celtic Group Hostels – HURRY get booking now for 2014 – space fills up really fast…… Book Now

The post Be Irish for a day and enjoy St Patrick’s day like a local…… appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

Moving house on the Internet is a bit like moving home normally. Add in the regular stress, the constant feeling you’ve forgotten something and the nagging worry that the new house will not be as great as you think it will. And then you get there, and you wonder what all the fuss was about. Our new home is fantastic and it gives us the ideal platform to tell you everything you need to know.

With our personalised group booking system, you need never be in doubt whether or not we can fit you in. Our Things to do guide and blogs give you the full picture of what’s going on – wherever you are. And now with a growing family of ten hostels country-wide, we have to be on our toes and keep you informed about what’s happening all over the country. You can even sign up for our newsletter online and if you have a soft spot for social media, our tweets are there for all to see. In fact, why not follow us on twitter and complete your Celtic Group Hostels online experience.

With tips on planning your trip and ideas for things to do and see, our new website is really a one stop shop for groups coming to or travelling within Ireland. And our new site coincides with the arrival of three new hostels in to our clan. You can now book your group hostel with us whether you want to stay in Dublin, Cork, Galway or Clare. Our range of locations means you can now book different parts of the country as part of a multi stop tour.

And if you’re the type that prefers to pick up the phone, instead of going through our website please do so. With us, you get local knowledge, attention to detail and most importantly, a commitment to make your stay with us as enjoyable, informative and hassle-free as possible.

I mentioned Facebook right ? No? Sorry Facebook addicts, you can of course join us there too …..in fact wherever you turn in the digital world, you’ll find us there too !

The post Welcome to our new website – a must visit for all student groups travelling to Ireland appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

First of all, meet our Galway brother. Based right in Eyre square, it’s on the doorstep to one of Ireland’s liveliest cities. Sleepzone Galway is spacious, with over 200 beds in en suite rooms, and offers a large, fully equipped self-catering kitchen and outdoor terrace. You get free internet and WiFi access, so bring your laptops for free wireless surfing. Not only that but throw in 24 hour reception, self-service laundry, bureau de change, luggage lockers and safety deposit boxes.

Next up is our new rustic cousin in the wilds of Connemara. Built in the late 1800s – The Connemara Hostel a former hunting lodge has now been converted into one of the most comfortable hostels anywhere in Europe. It has over 100 beds in 21 en suite rooms – both private and dormitory. It overlooks the incredible Killary Fjord and has everything from… deep breadth now…… residents’ lounge, free internet and Wi-Fi access, TV room, self-catering kitchen, outdoor terrace, its own tennis court and access to a range of organised outdoor adventure pursuits on its doorstep. The hostel also has a library with travel books, and books of Irish interest.…exhale…

And finally, our cool new sister in the Burren. Situated in the amazing county of Clare, The Burren Hostel is a real looker (!) and is on the doorstep of some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery. Formerly a 3 star hotel, we’ve lost none of the star quality and it has a brilliant range of facilities from a cosy residents’ lounge to conference room and spacious guest kitchen and dining room. Add in Laundry and drying facilities, free parking and Internet and you’ll see why our sis in The Burren gets all the attention.

No matter where you are in Ireland, if you’re staying in a Celtic Group Hostel, you’re guaranteed first class accommodation, genuine local knowledge and a trip you’ll never forget.

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Where do we start? Culture Night is an initiative co-ordinated by Temple Bar Cultural Trust and supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaelteacht in partnership with the regional arts offices and local authorities throughout the island of Ireland. For example In Dublin, 154 venues open their doors for a late night of free entertainment! Venues stay open later and longer than usual – this can involve opening earlier than usual as well – and ideally places stay open until at least 11pm. Special and unique events happen for Culture Night on the streets, squares, seashores and other public spaces around Ireland. Everything is available free of charge!

What’s the point of Culture Night? It’s about involving people in the everyday cultural life of our great country. It hopes to get us to try new things. It reminds us that we’re surrounded by iconic and engaging cultural landmarks all over our cities and towns. Most of all, it’s about ensuring culture is accessible to all. And it’s for the culture outlets themselves. They want you to visit them, even if it’s just once a year. And they want to explore how they can provide a good experience for you.

Finally – it’s about creating community and belonging and making sure that we all get involved. No – it’s not just for men with beards and who wear corduroy, know lots about wine and have a PhD in classical studies from Oxford (if you’re one of those…sorry…but you know what I mean), culture is for you. So, if you’re in Ireland on the 21 September, culture night should be top of your list of things to do. And of course, we’ll be there to help you plan your itinerary – no matter which location your staying in.

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It’s now in its 18th year and never fails to surprise and enthrall us. This time we’ve got 90 artists with 624 events spanning theatre, dance, live music and visual arts in the 30 venues. Creative talent comes in all shapes and sizes and for artists, the Fringe gives them an opportunity to innovate, to cross disciplines and boundaries and to find new ways and places to create work. For the rest of us, it gives us a chance to drink in new artistic experiences, to engage with artistic platforms we never would have dreamed of before and to take a step outside our normal life and do something fresh and invigorating.

These events are taking place all over Dublin and if you’re staying with us at Celtic group hostels in Dublin, you’ll be no more than a stone’s throw from hundreds of events. So if you’re into trying new things, have an interest in the arts or indeed are an artist in your own right, you simply have to make it to Dublin for this festival. With ticket prices starting at €5 and never exceeding €27.50 (for a single ticket), ABSOLUT Fringe 2012 will expand your imagination – that’s for sure. Check out their website for more information.

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As the biggest park in Europe, it’s just 3km outside the city and has a walled circumference of 16km that contains large grassy plains and tree lined avenues. The name is gotten from the Irish translation for clear water which is ‘fionn uisce’.  It’s open every day of the year, every hour of the day. So, what’s to do….. Hire a bike and jump on. It’s easily accessible from our Celtic Group hostels in Dublin.

Ten to take in – in the Park
1. Aras an Uachtaráin – the residence of our newly elected Irish president, Michael D Higgins, it’s open for visitors on weekends.

2. Ashtown Castle and Phoenix Park Visitor Centre – a medieval tower house and an informative display on the Phoenix Park’s history. You’ll find out so much about this brilliant public facility.

3. Dublin Zoo – an iconic site in the park, the zoo has been a vital part of Dublin life for nearly 200 years and host to all creatures great and small, from apes to zebras.

4. Farmleigh House – dubbed by locals as “the most expensive B&B in Ireland”, this is the official guesthouse of the Republic.

5. Magazine Fort – this imposing military installation is where the first Dublin-based action of the Easter Rising took place in 1916.

6. Papal Cross – in what has become famous meeting point, this massive steel cross was erected to mark Pope John Paul II celebrating mass to millions in 1979.

7. Peoples Garden – a landscaped pleasure garden, the people’s garden is loved by all visitors.

8. Phoenix Park Sports grounds have nurtured emerging talent in many sports in the city for generations. They remain a colourful and lively aspect of life in the park.

9. After that, add in the Phoenix Monument, and the Wellington Monument.

10. Don’t forget the deer – generations of Dubliners have been taken there around Christmastime to see the ‘reindeers’ getting ready for Santa.

And remember, as part of the trip planning service for groups booking our hostels in Dublin with us, we can organise discounted prices for bike hire in the Phoenix Park and entrance to Dublin Zoo. Let us take the hassle away for your group and organise it for you.

The post On your bike – ten things to see by bicycle in Dublin’s Phoenix Park appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

What makes Dublin different is the fact that everything is in walking distance. As a compact city, much of old Dublin is ideally laid out for the visitor who prefers to make their way on foot. We’ve had a think about the best route for you and below, we take you through a selection of Dublin’s most famous churches and cathedrals. It’s Dublin sightseeing at its most beautiful.

It’s no surprise to find out we’re starting in the famous Christchurch Cathedral which is just ten minutes walk from Trinity College. It’s Dublin’s oldest building and dates back to the 11th century. Just a few hundred metres away is another iconic Dublin religious landmark in St Patrick’s Cathedral. This is famed for its appreciation of the role of music and was the location for the debut of the beautiful Handel’s messiah back in 1752. The music does not stop there.

The ringing of the bells in both places is a time-honoured tradition and a wonderful insight into the heritage and ritual of life for the religious in times gone by. We can organise tours for groups involving this and full tours of religious Dublin in general.

Lesser known churches are no less beautiful and are scattered right across the city. Other interesting options include the Carmelite church on Whitefriars st. It is said that this is where the remains of St. Valentine are laid to rest. Other beautiful churches can be found on St Stephens Green and Marlborough st in Dublin 1.

Whether you just want to find out where the nearest service is on or would like a comprehensive tour organised, we can help. As part of the trip planning service for groups booking our hostels in Dublin with us, we can organise discounted prices for visits of our famous Churches and cathedrals.

Just to make sure we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet – (sorry!)

The post Find God in Ireland – a tour of Dublin’s most famous cathedrals and churches… appeared first on Celtic Hostels.

Chocolate workshops are run for both adults and children alike and it’s not all about stuffing your face. You’ll get to find out about the origins of chocolate from the time of the Aztecs and how cocoa beans became one of the world’ s most sought after commodities. You’ll also get your very own Willie Wonka moment as you’ll find out how chocolate is made. But don’t stand too close to the screen because we all remember what happened to greedy Agustus in the famous film…

You then get to see a real chocolate demonstration in full flow. Here, the experienced staff at the Chocolate Warehouse Dublin will explain how Easter eggs are made. Now it’s time to get your hands dirty! If you’re looking for fun things to do in Dublin, this must be near the top of your list.

The hands-on session is one of the most popular and grown men and women have been known to rediscover the child inside as they enrobe, decorate and package chocolate to bring home. Just remember to take some home and not eat it all on the bus!

The folk at the Chocolate Warehouse have designed specific educational workshops and have worked hard at ensuring every workshop is suited to the age of the group.

So there you have it – Dublin’s very own Willie Wonka experience. Just don’t expect to see any oompa loompas !!  So if you think this is what you want to do in Dublin let us know. As part of the trip planning service for groups booking our hostels in Dublin with us, we can organise discounted prices for Dublin’s chocolate warehouse. Eh take away the hassle of booking……..   just eating and playing with chocolate  – sounds good to us…..
HAPPY EASTER

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