FÁILTE
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO DUBLIN
Dublin, Ireland, is a home away from home for the Lunger family. John Lunger ’90 lived and worked in Dublin from 2004 to 2007.
During that time, the Lunger family cobbled together a list of recommended destinations for their friends and relatives visiting the Emerald Isle. In preparation for the Naval Academy community’s descent on Dublin for the Navy-Notre Dame game on 26 August, Carol and John Lunger provided Shipmate their “insider’s guide” to the best of Ireland.
Although currently living in Philadelphia, PA, Dublin remains a special place for the Lungers, who returned to the city in the spring. The Lunger family attended the 2012 Navy-Notre Dame game and are excited to attend this year’s battle between the Midshipmen and Fighting Irish in Aviva Stadium.
“Of course, the primary reason to go to the game is to support the Naval Academy and Navy football,” John Lunger said. “Beyond that, it is a chance to share our love of Ireland with classmates and alumni and enable them to experience a bit of the great city of Dublin from a local perspective.”
LAUGHTER IS BRIGHTEST WHERE FOOD IS BEST
—Irish Proverb
These are all in or around City Centre—most are located on the south side of the Liffey River—the same side of the river as Aviva Stadium. All require reservations and many can be reserved through Open Table.
HIGH END
• Merrion Hotel—The Garden Room, chef Patrick Guilbaud—www.merrionhotel.com/dine
• Shelbourne Hotel—The Saddle Room—www.theshelbourne.com/dine-drink/the-saddle-room
• Marco Pierre White (two locations)—www.marcopierrewhite.ie/dawson
A NICE DINNER OUT
• BANG Restaurant and Wine Bar on Merrion Row, City Centre—www.bangrestaurant.com
• Lennan’s Yard Restaurant on Dawson Street—www.lennansyard.com
• Trocadero—www.trocadero.ie
• Fallon and Byrne Wine Cellar—www.fallonandbyrne.com/restaurants/exchequer-street-wine-cellar
• Ely Wine Bar—www.elywinebar.ie
• Roly’s Bistro—www.rolysbistro.ie
• Caffe de Napoli—www.ilcaffedinapoli.ie
• Dunne & Crescenzi—www.dunneandcrescenzi.com
• Fade St. Social—www.fadestreetsocial.com
• Brasserie Sixty6—www.brasseriesixty6.com
• The Sussex—thesussex.ie
RELIABLE RESTAURANTS
• Milano (several locations)—www.milano.ie
• Elephant and Castle (several locations)—www.elephantandcastle.ie
LUNCH/BRUNCH
• Brother Hubbard (several locations)—www.brotherhubbard.ie
• Avoca Café (several locations)—www.avoca.ie
• Cinnamon (several locations)—www.cinnamon.ie
• Avoca Handweavers continues to be good for lunch and breakfast, even though it has been sold to a big company. Great bakery, scones, etc. www.avoca.com/en/stores-and-cafes/suffolk-street
PUBS FOR LUNCH OR DINNER!
Most pubs serve food (pub grub) and we haven’t had a bad meal yet.
DUBLIN SPIRITS
• Guinness Storehouse, despite being a big tourist draw, is cool. The Gravity Bar on top is great for a pint after doing the walk-around tour. www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/gravity-bar
• You can do the Jameson tour as well. www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-us/visit-our-distilleries/jameson-bow-street-distillery-tour
• O’Donoghue’s on Merrion Row. Famous for musicians (the Dubliners used to play here). www.odonoghues.ie/bar
• Doheny and Nesbitt—www.dohenyandnesbitts.ie
• Brazen Head. Claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland. www.brazenhead.com
FOR UPSCALE COCKTAILS OR DRINKS
• The Horseshoe Bar at the Shelbourne Hotel—www.theshelbourne.com/dine-drink/the-horseshoe-bar
• Café en Seine—www.cafeenseine.ie
• The Blind Pig Speakeasy—www.theblindpig.ie
HISTORY
• The usual museums are free in City Centre (art, natural history, Irish history, Book of Kells, Dublin Castle).
• The 1916 Uprising Museum—www.anpost.com/Witness-history
• 14 Henrietta Street Museum—www.14henriettastreet.ie
BEYOND DUBLIN
• Harbor around Dún Laoghaire—was the departure and entry point for many emigrants who left Ireland in search of work in England. It features the East Pier which offers views into the harbor. www.theirishroadtrip.com/dun-laoghaire-dublin
• Swim in the Irish sea at 40 Foot near Dún Laoghaire. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Foot
• Walk up Killiney Hill in Dalkey. Dalkey is an upscale seaside part of south Dublin, where the likes of Bono and The Edge of U2 live. www.wildirishwalks.ie/killiney-hill-walk
• Visit Howth Head and do the Cliff Walk. www.howthcliffwalk.com
• For a day trip, head south to the Wicklow Mountains. You can do Glendalough Monastery and Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall in a day. www.glendaloughhermitage.ie/glendalough/ and www.powerscourt.com/gardens
FIERCE BUT FRIENDLY RIVALS
I knew the Navy-Notre Dame tradition as the longest-running uninterrupted college football rivalry (including the painful NCAA record 43-game losing streak) but I didn’t know why until a Notre Dame grad at a tailgater made me aware over a pint of ale. Though our two teams had played since 1927, it was solidified during WWII when the Navy sent officer candidates to South Bend to save Notre Dame from closing its doors when so many young men went off to war and enrollment plummeted.
In fact, it seemed most Irish fans I spoke to in Dublin were aware of this fact while none of the Navy fans were, which was a bit humbling. Today, I live in Indiana surrounded by Irish fans so I make a point of sharing this important tidbit of history as often as I can. It is always received with a grateful, wide-eyed smile.
Tradition and camaraderie are what make college football so special. Despite a lopsided win-loss record, we are fortunate to be part of a rivalry that ranks as one of the most important in college sports.
Go Navy! Beat the Irish!
—Rex Alexander ’80