Exploring Dublin as a Non-Drinker

Definitely Kilmainhaim Gaol but book tickets now. The two cathedrals , been to them but can't remember which one is the best. It has underground crypt and am sure someone here can help.with that.. Day tour to Newgrange I think Mary Gibbons is the best but you may have to book now. Walk across Half penny Bridge and down to the GPO. Go to Belfast for the day. Spend a day in Howth and easy commute from.Dublin. . And it gets you out of the city for a day. just a few ideas to get you started. My husband does not drink and being in Dublin never bothered him even with the huge number of pubs. Just don't bother with the Temple Bar area.

Gail's list is a good one. Christ Church is the one with the crypt, St. Patrick's is also very good. I'd add the National Museum of Ireland (Archeology), Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library, and the Book of Kells in Trinity College. Downstairs in the GPO is an excellent exhibit about the 1916 Easter Rising. Plenty of good parks and interesting streets, plenty of good food. Of course alcohol is served in pubs and restaurants, but there are always other options. Temple Bar didn't appeal to me at all, but it may serve a useful purpose in concentrating in one area the people who center their enjoyment around drinking, leaving the rest of the city for the rest of us. Have a wonderful time!

I'm also a non-drinker, plus I don’t care for noisy, raucous places where others are in their cups.

A couple of other fun not yet mentioned must-sees for me when I was in Dublin last summer included 14 Henrietta Street (https://14henriettastreet.ie/). I made a reservation for a tour online after I got to Dublin. I walked from my hotel, got there much faster than I expected and would've been happy to wait my turn, but they let me go with the tour that was about to start when I arrived. From their website linked above: "14 Henrietta Street is a social history museum of Dublin life, from one building’s Georgian beginnings to its tenement times. We connect the history of urban life over 300 years to the stories of the people who called this place home."

The other place I went was EPIC The Irish Immigration Museum (https://epicchq.com/visit/). Beyond the potato famine, I knew very little about Irish immigration history.

From their website: "Forget dusty archives and ancient artefacts. EPIC is unlike any museum you’ve ever experienced before – it’s a fully interactive experience. You will uncover the dramatic and inspiring stories of the Irish people who travelled the world, reliving some of their greatest achievements in music, literature, sport, politics, fashion, science and more."

And: "Ever wondered why the Irish have made such an influence on the world? What is it that makes us Irish? How did such a small country make such a big impact on the world? You’ll find the answers to all these questions and more at EPIC.

Over the centuries more than 10 million people emigrated from Ireland – at EPIC you can find out why they left, where they went and how they shaped the world. The museum was founded on the belief that emigration is one of the most interesting ways to fully understand a country. As you uncover the stories of our emigrants, you’ll realise that emigration is not about what people leave behind, but what they bring with them."

You can get tickets and/or sign up for a tour online. I did neither. I just walked in and bought a ticket. I got the little guide sort of designed for kids, visited every exhibit listed and stamped it in the book. It took awhile and I loved every minute.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great time in Dublin. 🍀