Neil McDermott (1980)

Image by Neil McDermott

In 1999 archaeologists discovered mass burial graves from the post-medieval era underneath Trinity College. Apart from the somewhat gruesome collection of human and animal bones, the remains of a camel were also apparently found … yes, a camel. It makes you wonder what exactly a camel was doing in Dublin at the time – my own personal theory is that the deceased met a grisly end at the hands of a disgruntled circus ringmaster!

Somewhat off the beaten-track in the College is another burial site – Chaloner’s Cemetery. It’s located just beside the ATM that can be found between the Chapel and the Dining Hall off Parliament Square. When you do find it you won’t be surprised to know that it is Dublin’s smallest cemetery.

Named after the first Provost (President/Chancellor) of Trinity College, it marks the burial places of a number of the College’s Provosts and Fellows. On the side of this little graveyard you’ll also see the steps that lead down to the vaults (and presumably more graves) underneath the Chapel. The plaques on the wall that affectionately pay tribute to academic staff show that the graveyard has continued to be used even relatively recently.

Mind you, I still can’t help think about that poor camel …

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Chaloner Cemetery | Art & culture, Relaxing
Parliament Square, Trinity College | South city centre
Normal College opening hours

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Image by Neil McDermott

Plenty of visitors take the train to Howth for a day-trip but a nice variation is to get off the train at Sutton. Here you can do two things. (1) You can turn right onto the Strand Road which leads into Baldoyle, which in years gone by was home to a well-known racecourse and in the 19th century was a popular bathing spot for Dubliners.

There is not much to see but if the tide is in, it is a short pleasant walk along the seafront into the centre of the village. I actually grew up here so I’m a little attached to the place. Keep an eye out for the local library which is housed in a former police barracks and which has had a modern but not ugly extension built on to it.

Alternatively, (2) Turn left, past the station and take the first left which brings you to Burrow Road. You can spend a few minutes looking at some grand-looking houses until you come to a small entrance on the left that leads to the Burrow Beach or as locals usually call it, the Hole in the Wall.

Like a lot of Dublin beaches, it can leave a lot to be desired but when the tide is low, it’s pleasant for a short stroll and has nice views of Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island.

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Sutton and Baldoyle | Art & culture, Relaxing
Sutton Station | Greater North
24 hours daily

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Image by Neil McDermott

When I decided I would write about this bookshop located near Trinity College, I realised I had never give much thought to its name which doesn’t really roll easily off the tongue. I can only assume that there was once a Mr. Hodges and a Mr. Figgis who decided to open a bookshop together. For some reason, I imagine that Mr Figgis had a handlebar moustache. Correct me, someone, if I’m wrong.

Anyway, I think this is certainly one of my favourite bookshops in Dublin (admittedly, the total number of bookshops in the city isn’t that many). Housed in a beautiful red-brick building on Dawson Street, it seems to cater to all tastes and has an interesting ‘bargain basement’. For me, of all the bookshops in Dublin, Hodges Figgis has the most extensive collection on Irish history and literature.

Maybe it’s good selling skills from the staff here but it is also the only bookshop I go into where I check the bestsellers section. If you’re interested in our reading habits here in Ireland, up until recently, books on the collapse of the Irish economy were topping the list – a sign of the times!

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Hodges Figgis | Shopping
56-58 Dawson Street | South city centre | +35316774754
Mon – Wed & Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 18:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

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Image by Neil McDermott

For me, going to the cinema on the northside of Dublin no longer just means the film itself but also a visit to Madina.. I’ve never had a problem getting a table here which shouldn’t be the case as it has lots of good reviews and features in Dublin restaurant guides. Located a short walk from O’Connell Street, it’s definitely not a formal type of restaurant and with its bright furnishings it’s altogether more relaxed.

What it offers is good-value, nourishing South Asian food that comes under that broad heading of “Desi“. The menu is literally huge and manages to cram in different types of curries and other dishes. Personally, I’m always drawn to the aloo saag with some coriander naan on the side. Also, what better to wash it all down than some non-alcoholic apple-flavoured beer?

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Madina | Restaurants (South Asian) | Curries from € 9.00
60 Mary Street | North city centre | +35318726007
12:00 – 23:30 daily

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Image by Neil McDermott

As we walked through the rain to Rathmines on a Sunday evening, me and my better half began to wonder if it would be worth it just to have a burger.

Happily, the fare on offer in Jo’Burger removed my doubts. Here, they’re able to take something simple like the humble hamburger and turn it into something much more interesting. To be honest, there are quite a few burger places in Dublin that could satisfy the tastebuds but Jo’Burger is different. You can tell that an extra effort has been made from the imaginative fillings to the sweet potato fries and even the peri-peri salt. The portions are generous too.

Jo’Burger’s lay-out helps as well with its cleverly painted walls and menus disguised as comics and children’s encyclopaedias. There might be a risk that it all verges on the pretentious but the easy-going staff and quick service win you over. They also go that extra mile with house DJs and open mic nights.

Oh, and I forgot to say – the burgers are delicious!

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Jo’Burger | Snacks, Restaurants (Burger/Salad) | Meal from € 10
137 Rathmines Road | South-East | +35314913731
Mon – Wed 12:00 – 23:00, Thu – Fri 12:00 – 00:00, Sat 11:00 – 00:00, Sun 11:00 – 21:00

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