Student Tips: Spending Your Summer in Dublin
By Alexander Glover | May 2 2017
Staying in Dublin this summer? Alexander Glover has got some suggestions.[br]You’ve decided to advance your career prospects with a summer internship, you’re working to pay off those student loans or you just can’t afford the flight to Vancouver. Well, it’s true what they say, it’s never crowded along the extra mile. In fact, you may not see anybody you know!Summertime can be a lonely time in Dublin if you’ve opted to stay behind while your mates go interrailing, island-hopping or J1 spoofing. But don’t worry, we’ve got your Dublin summer covered and there are plenty of things to do and see right here in the capital. MusicIt seems like every year Ireland attracts more and more of the top music talent from around the world. They all say that the Irish crowd is the best but maybe they mean it because they keep coming back. This year, there are plenty of music festivals to look forward to in and around the capital.First off (after exams) is Life Festival on the weekend of May 26th. The dance festival will take place in Belvedere House where it has been held since 2010 so not technically in Dublin but buses leave from George’s Quay each day of the festival. This year’s line-up includes Rudimental and Duke Dumont as well as more underground acts. Also, that weekend is Guns N’ Roses’ return to Slane Castle for which the more expensive tickets are still available.Next up is Forbidden Fruit on the June bank holiday weekend and this one is definitely in Dublin. Tickets are still available now and the festival is being headlined by Orbital, Aphex Twins and Bon Iver. It has also been announced that there will be a new stage this year featuring 19 Irish artists. You could alternatively catch Vantastival that weekend if you make the trip to Drogheda which will be headlined by the Riptide Movement.Longitude is back on the weekend of the 14th of July. Marlay Park’s premier music event has a lot to live up to after Kendrick Lamar last summer and looks to draw a crowd this year with The Weeknd, Stormzy, Mumford & Sons and Mac Miller amongst others. Saturday tickets are already sold out but Friday and Sunday tickets are still available. If you want to attend on the Saturday, 3-day tickets are still available too.July also sees a string of concerts being held at Trinity College and the Iveagh Gardens. From the Two Door Cinema Club and Pixies at Trinity to Nathan Carter and Aslan at Iveagh Gardens. Tickets are also still available for Kings of Leon at the 3 Arena.One of Dublin’s newest festivals, The Beatyard, returns to Dún Laoghaire for two days this August and will be headlined by Mark Ronson and will also feature Eatyard (more on this below). LiteratureIf music’s not your thing then, of course, Dublin has plenty of literary events in store for this summer. The International Literature Festival takes place right after exams from May 20th – 29th. The festival includes poets, writers of fiction and non-fiction, lyricists, playwrights and screenwriters.There will also be live spoken word performances amongst other events at the UCD Festival in Belfield on June 10th. This annual event is for alumni, current & retired staff, and the local community.Dublin Comic Con takes place at the Convention Centre on August 12th & 13th. Now in its fifth year, it looks to be bigger and better than ever and will be attended by the likes of Kevin Conroy (voice of Batman). FoodBloom returns on June 1st -5th and while it was set up as a gardening festival it has grown to include one of the top food villages in the country. Just two weeks later is Taste of Dublin at Iveagh Gardens, Ireland’s premier festival for foodies. Tickets for both festivals are available now.Dublin has, in recent times, become saturated with delicious food markets. They seem to be popping up everywhere and we certainly don’t mind. Eatyard has risen in popularity lately and it’s for good reason, the food is delicious! It’s right beside the Bernard Shaw and it’s open Thursdays to Sundays from 12 pm.Feeling nostalgic for UCD? Many of the vendors from the Irish Village Markets that appeared each Thursday at the ‘new’ lake will be at a lot of events this summer and hold the Grand Canal Lunchtime Market every week which always attracts a good crowd when it’s sunny. The Temple Bar Food Market also takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm.There has never been more choice for ice-cream in the capital. It seems new parlours such as Scoop and Gino’s are opening all the time in the city centre and a trip to Dún Laoghaire is a must during the warmer months. Scrumdiddly’s will probably be just as popular this summer but let’s not forget about the national treasure that is Teddy’s. Be a Tourist in your Own CityMany of us walk by some pretty amazing things every day in Dublin without stopping to appreciate them. Dublin is home to some of the world’s top tourist attractions, some modern and some as old as the city itself. There are plenty of things to Instagram right on our doorstep, how many have you visited?The Guinness Storehouse is consistently ranked as the top tourist attraction in Dublin and is well worth a visit if you haven’t seen it. If alcohol tourism is your thing then there’s also the newly reopened Jameson Distillery on Bow St. and the Irish Whiskey Museum on Grafton St.Dublin City Centre is full of incredible museums, most of which are free in. If you haven’t visited the National Gallery of Ireland, you really should. A stroll around the city should lead you to some interesting exhibition in one of Dublin’s 40+ museums. Explore the CoastlineWhen the weather permits, a trip to the seaside is a summertime must. From Skerries to Dalkey, Dublin Bay is beautiful and should be experienced by all. Each of the coastal towns has something unique to offer visitors and they all have stunning views onto the Irish Sea. Discover a ParkEven when there’s no music festival, a day in one of Dublin’s many parks can be delightful. There’s more to the Phoenix Park than just the zoo, try one of the walking trails or go deer watching.The city centre is rich in beautiful green spaces and they offer the perfect location to enjoy a summer stroll or a picnic. When the sun’s out check out St. Stephen’s Green, the Iveagh Gardens and Merrion Square.If you’re outside the city limits, suburban parks such as Marlay Park, St. Anne’s Park and Bushy Park offer great days out too. Of course, these parks make for great walks and relaxation spots but they now hold excellent markets on the weekends too.