Emerald Isle, land of leprechauns, fairies and elves, Ireland has long attracted us as a travel destination. We managed to combine business with pleasure by going to a conference – there are many offices of international companies in Dublin, and such events are not uncommon there.

The city of Dublin has an ancient history: as early as 140 AD, a Celtic settlement in this area is mentioned in historical documents. However, only in 841 a settlement founded by Scandinavians forms the basis of the future city of Dublin. Over the centuries, its rulers changed, and for a long time the city was the stronghold of British rule on the island. Of course, such historical changes left their mark on the appearance of the modern city. In addition to the presence of old buildings in the old part, the city turned out to be extremely green – there is a large number of parks and green spaces in it.

The most vivid impression of our trip to Dublin was a visit to the Trinity College Library, the oldest and most prestigious educational institution in Ireland. And the library there is really like in the Harry Potter films – dark oak shelves with thousands of old tomes, the smell of old books and the general feeling of a fairy tale.

Since our trip was mostly a business trip, we were especially pleased to visit the local office of Google. We saw with our own eyes what the company of the future looks like. Plenty of public areas with brightly designed spaces, food and coffee stations are scattered across all floors, and the atmosphere is truly the most relaxed. There was also a souvenir shop, which we passed by at the end of our informative visit 🙂

By the way, Ireland, in principle, has quite close business ties with the United States: many American companies have their offices here, and quite a lot of expats live in Dublin. And if suddenly someone of them would like to change his rainy weekdays to a native sunny beach, there is an excellent opportunity for this – there are Destin Beachfront Condo Rentals in sunny Florida.

A description of the Irish city would be incomplete without mentioning the local beer. There are pubs at every turn, and many of them can be safely called “historical”. That is to say that they were opened more than one century ago, and since then beer and simple snacks have been served there in. The first days we did not understand them very well, so we cautiously started with something more recognizable – the local Temple Bar. Well, then our fear was dispelled, or rather, drowned in a glass of beer 😉

And, of course, speaking of local beer, GUINNESS should be mentioned separately. This brand was originally founded by the brewer Arthur Guinness, after whom the Arthur Guinness Son & Co company was named, founded in 1759 (now the owners are different). Guinness has become a symbol of Irish beer and its recognizable flavor can be found all over the world. Dublin also has a museum of this beer brand – Guinness Storehouse. In addition to the bar, this multi-storey building also has several exhibition halls (about the history and traditions of the brand, methods of making beer, as well as a collection of advertisements from different years and many other interesting things). I was personally particularly impressed by the information that a wife of the brand founder had 23 (!!!) children (although not all of them survived to adulthood). Although in the museum, of course, you can find a lot of cognitive information of a different nature 🙂

In Dublin, in addition to pubs, one can find many decent restaurants. One rainy day, we googled the restaurants nearby and came across a FIRE Stakehouse & Bar with good reviews. When we came – then saw a small two-story glass building, a bar counter right at the entrance (they offered to wait while our table was being prepared), somehow cramped, there were not many tables… And then we were led to our table through the several huge halls, striking the imagination with their tall ancient vaults and rich decoration. How many people were there! Walking along the street, it is impossible to guess that somewhere there is hiding its own “Narnia” and so many amazingly designed space! It was very tasty, bright, interesting. Highly recommended!

I also remember that nature in Ireland has its own special beauty. On one of our visits, we were in a suburban area near Dublin. And our Powerscourt Estate Hotel is a former 13th-century castle, originally owned by the Viscount Powerscourt family, and later sold to a German family who brought in a renowned German architect to complete the palace. The hotel was recently renovated (taking into account its history), and now it is a comfortable place for leisure and business (corporate events are regularly held there). It is surrounded by the gardens and forests, the surroundings are ideal for the long walks or bike rides, for those who want to spend more active time there are courses and all conditions for playing golf.

In general, Ireland makes a strong impression precisely with its nature. Its perception essentially depends on the weather – there it is really changeable, often in the absence of the sun, “leaden” clouds hang in the sky and it rains, which suddenly gives way to blue skies and bright light. To appreciate the beauty of the local nature, it is worth leaving the city, taking a car and visiting more remote corners of the country. But that will be a completely different story 😉

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