Go Irish

When people think of Ireland, they might imagine dancing leprechauns sipping pints of Guinness — or something along those lines. But the Emerald Isle offers a lot more than that — the country is beautiful, and it's fast emerging as one of Europe's party capitals, a hip destination for those who love allnight dancing and flirting with freckled locals. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because, well, it's really green. And it's gorgeous. The countryside exhibits more shades of green than you ever thought existed, and the slateroofed cottages and grazing sheep make this place seem like a land forgotten by time. Although tourism is a major industry, the traditional way of life remains intact, and the locals are unbelievably friendly. Trains run all over Ireland, and you can often get student discounts on tickets. Most major cities and villages have a train station, and it is a hasslefree way to get around. Dublin is a great first stop for a trip to Ireland. From there it's quick and easy to take daytrips to the lush countryside. Dublin is an ideal city for strolling and enjoying the spectacular architecture and quaint, cafélined alleys. The city center is tiny compared to American metropolises, and Dublin has a reliable and inexpensive public transportation system. Hotel accommodations abound in the Dublin's city center, and there are plenty of hostels and lowcost motels for budgetconscious college students. Most hostels charge about $25 per night. While they don't offer privacyhostels put ten or so students in one roomyou can forge friendships with other traveling students thanks to the close proximity a no luxury hotel offers. If you're lucky, the hostel owner will throw in a traditional Irish breakfast for free. Contact the Irish Tourist Board for accommodation information. For all your shopping needs, Dublin's pedestrianfriendly Grafton Street runs through the center of town. It has a few big department stores and supermarkets, and some down market clothing retailers. Even though the merchandise isn't world class, the area's streets are interesting architecturally, and offer a glimpse into Irish life. You can easily spend a day exploring this part of the city and its main thoroughfares and historic, cobblestone streets. Dublin has a handful of big tourist sites, like the National Museum of Ireland, located on Collins Barracks street, which houses a fascinating collection of historical treasures, from prehistoric gold jewels to tomb loot of ancient Egypt. Just a stone's throw away is Trinity College, Ireland's premiere university, located right in the center of town. Trinity boasts stunning gardens and a fun college atmosphere. The university houses the Book of Kells, a medieval manuscript decorated with ornate gold text, worth a visit for history buffs. If you want to stray from the tourist beat, try strolling around the Temple Bar area, just south of the River Liffy. Temple Bar has a variety of stores, including art galleries, charity clothes shops, and hightech music stores. Some of the streets are pretty well trampled by tourists, but look down the smaller side streets, and you'll find some good pubs and clubs. At night, Temple Bar's streets swell with crowds of 20somethings waiting for the area's many clubs and bars open their doors. U2's Bono has a club on East Essex Street called "The Kitchen," which is trendy, fun, and technointensive. Bars in Dublin are like aspiring actors in L.A.: they're everywhere. There's a pub on every corner, and you can follow the crowds to find the good ones. For nightclubs, The Red Box club on Harcourt Street is popular, as is the Palace nearby. Auld Dubliner in Temple Bar is a great place to hear traditional Irish music, and you'll enjoy its authentic local atmosphere. If you're a fan of Sinead O'Connor, check out the Bad Ass Café, where she used to wait tables. Although it's pretty well known among Temple Bar regulars, there usually aren't too many tourists, and they serve a wide variety of quality food. If you want great fish and chips, Beshoff's on O'Connell Street is a holeinthewall where the locals go for a cheap but good meal. For tasty salads and sandwiches, try the Avalon Café at 55 Aungier Street. There's no better way to end your tour of Dublin than with a visit to the Guinness Brewery, located on Crane Street. Take a tour and check out the wax models and technical demonstrations. At the end of the tour, you even get a free pint of the world's most famous black stout. And it really does taste better in Ireland. Yes, Brock Patrick McCormack is Irish.