More information that the school has kindly provided for us.

Eaing and Drinking.

The most important thing to remember when you are going out to eat or drink in Dublin is that the legal age in Ireland for drinking alcohol is 18 years of age. Most pubs and discos have an age limit of 18 years old. It is illegal for anyone under 18 years of age to be in a pub after 8pm.

Dublin is a very cosmopolitan city and there are restaurants to suit every taste and budget from lively traditional restaurants to Michelin-starred restaurants.  Early bird and lunchtime specials are generally excellent value.  In the city centre the eating areas with the widest choice are around the Temple Bar area and in and around Grafton Street.

Smoking is not allowed in any public building by law. This includes schools, bars, restaurants, trains and buses. 

Public Transport

Dublin has an extensive bus network, operated by Dublin Bus. CES staff in your centre can provide you with details of bus services in your area. www.dublinbus.ie

Dublin also has a light rail network called the DART. This train system travels along Dublin Bay, from Howth to Bray. Many people think it is a tourist attraction in itself as travelling on it gives people a wonderful view of Dublin Bay. www.irishrail.ie

Dublin tram system is called the LUAS. The LUAS runs two tramlines: The Green Line –connecting Sandyford to St Stephen’s Green and The Red Line – connecting Tallaght to the Point and Heuston to Connolly. The Luas  has high frequency and high speed services. www.luas.ie

Students who come to Ireland to learn English are advised to purchase a special pass that gives unlimited travel on all Dublin Bus Routes and the DART. The 2014 costs are:

1 Week Bus & Rail   €46.50

2 Week Bus & Rail   €70.00

3 Week Bus & Rail   €94.00

  4 Week Bus & Rail   €119.00

Student Bus and Rail Passes can be bought in your centre. Please note that these passes can only be used in Dublin on the bus or DART. They cannot be used on the LUAS.

When using the Dart and Dublin Bus, remember the following guidelines to make your journey more enjoyable: -

·         If you are using a student pass, enter the door of the bus on the right. Insert your ticket in the machine on the pole. If you are paying cash, enter the door on the left and pay the driver. Make sure you have the exact amount of money, as the driver will not accept notes and no change is given.

·         When your group gets on the bus, make sure that they get on slowly and quietly.

·         If there are free seats, please sit in them. You are not allowed to stand when you are upstairs on the bus or to sit on the stairs.

·         Make sure your group talks quietly and that they do not shout or disturb the other passengers. If there is any type of incident on a bus or Dart please note the time, station and bus number and report it to the centre Principal.

Private Transport

Dublin has two types of private transport; taxis and hackney cabs. Taxis can be stopped on the street and run on a meter. Hackney Cabs can only be booked by telephone and cannot be stopped on the street. Taxis and Hackney Cabs are charged according to how far you have travelled and can only carry 4 people. Taxis in Dublin are quite expensive compared to other cities in Europe. 

Where you live.

Raheny

Raheny is a very popular residential area for CES students. St. Anne’s Park, with public tennis courts and playing fields, the Rose Garden and lovely walks, are well worth a visit.

The DART goes to Raheny from the city centre. You should get off at Raheny Station.

Buses to Raheny: Nos. 29a, 31, 31a, 32, 32a and 32b from Lower Abbey Street.

Clontarf

This area is located beside the sea. It’s a pleasant place to go for a walk on sunny evenings. It is also close to St Anne’s Park and to Dollymount Strand, which is a popular Dublin beach and which has a nature reserve complete and exhibition centre.

Buses to Clontarf :  No. 130

Sutton and Howth

The Howth Peninsula is one of the most beautiful areas of Dublin with interesting walks and a lovely fishing village to explore. This is a wonderful place to visit on sunny evenings. A walk to the Summit on Howth Head is well worth the effort. You can get a bus to the summit and walk down.

The DART goes to Howth. Get off at Howth Station.

Buses to Howth: No. 31, 31b.

Coolock and Artane

The places of most interest to students in Coolock are the Leisureplex and UCI Cinema. The Leisureplex is a large centre with a bowling alley, Quasar laser game, video game arcade and café. The UCI cinema is one of the largest cinemas in Dublin, with 10 screens showing the latest movies. Please note that is not advisable for students to congregate in the evening at the UCI complex.

A short walk from the Malahide Road, near the Artane roundabout, is Artane Castle Shopping Centre, containing a supermarket and McDonalds. Coolock can be reached on the following buses; these buses go by Mount Temple School as well.

No. 27, from Lower Gardiner Street, near the Busaras station. This bus runs every 15 minutes.

No. 42 from Lower Gardiner Street. This bus runs every 20 minutes.

If you are getting the bus from Malahide Road, most buses heading away from city centre go to Coolock, but just make sure before you get on.

Castleknock

Castleknock is a quiet suburb located beside Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed public park in Europe. Inside the park is Dublin Zoo, reputed to be one of the world’s oldest zoos. The Phoenix Park is also where Pope John Paul II said mass during his visit to Dublin in 1979, and it is said that over one million people attended. The Park has wonderful walks. The Irish President and the American Ambassador’s Residence are in the Park.

Castleknock can be reached by Bus and by Train.

The Arrow, a suburban train, which travels from Connolly Station to Maynooth, stops at Castleknock.

No. 37: Departs from Lower Abbey Street, off O’Connell Street. This bus runs every 30 minutes.

No. 39: Departs from Middle Abbey Street, off O’Connell Street. This bus runs every 10 minutes.