Dublin: a great place to celebrate

Dublin is one of Europe's hotspots: the perfect place for an all-night, no holds barred party. It's clear that the Celtic Tiger has brought a newly found sense of prosperity and a willingness to celebrate in true Irish spirit. The garda (police) and ambulances were kept busy while we were there; no doubt, they're still busy as you read this piece.

Dublin is also famous as a literary city, having inspired Joyce (who immortalized it), Swift, Wilde, Beckett and Shaw, amongst others. If you've always intended but have never succeeded in reading Ulysses, why not re-Joyce at the opportunity of following in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom (the protagonist of this famous novel) by celebrating your very own "Bloomsday"? Joyce's fans will be delighted to hear that professional actors regularly retrace Leopold's fictitious 24-hour journey around Dublin.

The Book of Kells, an illuminated, medieval manuscript produced by monks in the early 9th century, is another literary masterpiece. Housed in Trinity College, it depicts the four gospels in beautiful Celtic patterns. The Long Room, adjoining The Book of Kells, houses some 200 000 volumes over a distance of 65 metres on extremely high shelves. For these reasons, Trinity College, Dublin's principal centre of learning, is well worth a visit.

St Stephen's Green, Dublin's most famous park, has beautiful and formal flower gardens, stately trees and an ornamental lake. As in so many parts of Dublin, monuments of Ireland's great writers and former leaders adorn the park. Europe's biggest square, "The Green" offers a tranquil break after a long day spent walking the city.

And therein lies Dublin's charm. Unlike hugely sprawling, labyrinthine and partly underground London, Ireland's capital city is small, accessible and eminently walkable. O'Connell Street (look out for the impressive General Post Office) runs naturally into Westmoreland, which, in turn, flows into busy, pedestrianized Grafton Street. Turn left at the end of Westmoreland and you're in Nassau Street, en route to the National Library. Likewise, the River Liffey is easily crossed at a number of points, none more charming than the Ha'penny Bridge near Temple Bar. Perfect for slo-mo sightseeing; ideal stop-start stuff.

If it rains, as it did briefly while we were in the city, then a bus tour is an excellent way of getting an informed commentary on Dublin's history and culture. Operating on a hop on, hop off basis,

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