Highlights of Dublin and Belfast

The Dublin City centre O'Callaghan Alex Hotel was the third hotel in the O'Callaghan Hotels group on the corner of Merrion Square. This hotel welcomes you into its spacious lobby where you will be greeted with a warm welcome. Located off one of the corners of Merrion Square, O'Callaghan Alexander Hotel is close to the Georgian Squares where business and culture are intertwined and is only a few minutes walk from Trinity College and the popular shopping street, Grafton Street.

Embark on a panoramic city tour, taking in the highlights and historical areas of Dublin city centre. Entrance to St. Patrick Cathedral is included. Dating back to 1220, the Cathedral is Gothic in style and its splendid interior is adorned with funeral monuments, such as The Boyle Family Memorial and the grave of Dean Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels). Continue on this journey to see the highlights of Dublin city in a fully air conditioned luxury Mercedes Viano. This exclusive tour caters to an intimate group of six providing a personalised view of the city.

Epic Ireland is the dramatic 21st Century visitor experience showcasing the unique journey of the Irish people around the world through the ages, centrally located in the beautiful vaults of the 1820 CHQ building. Through 21 remarkable galleries, using cuttingedge interactive technologies, visitors explore the many tales of migration, the forces that have driven it, and the impact that it has had on the world. This is the authentic and epic story of 10 million journeys and the roots of 70 million people, told with memorable style and passion. Epic Ireland is a "must see" visit in any tour of Dublin and Ireland. It is located at the heart of Dublin, at Custom House Quay on the River Liffey, the original departure point for so many of Ireland's emigrants.

The Guinness Brewery in Dublin is Europe's largest stout producing brewery and home to the Guinness Storehouse. Opened in 1904, the Storehouse was an operational plant for fermenting and storing Guinness. Today it houses a very fine exhibition dedicated to the Guinness story. Visitors will discover what goes into the making a pint of Guinness - the ingredients, the brewing process, the time, the craft and the passion. The exhibition shows how the brew has been marketed and how it is today sold in over 150 countries. Once the tour has finished, the guest is invited to the Gravity Bar to enjoy their pint of Guinness. Regular demonstrations on the art of pulling a pint of Guinness also take place in the Storehouse. Launched on the fifth floor in 2011, "Five" at Guinness Storehouse, includes a small replica authentic Irish Bar, an 18th Century inspired Brewers Dining Hall, and a restaurant named Gilroy's where guests enjoy a Guinness gastronomical experience driven entirely by the Irish tradition of wholesome local produce. Menus include local foods such as Ardsallagh goat's cheese, Irish mussels from Carlingford and the Waterford Blaas bread supplied by MD Bakery in Waterford. This area will host from time to time live cooking demonstrations using Guinness in the recipe and it includes an interactive recipe sharing bank that allows visitors to take Guinness recipe cards home.

The Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield village is located in the heart of Dublin city centre. This old barley storehouse, once the centre of distilling in Dublin, was renovated in 1998 and converted into a museum where all the secrets of Irish whiskey's distillation will be revealed. An audio-visual show will introduce the history of this spirit and it is followed by a guided visit which will take visitors through the various stages of whiskey distilling from grain intake to malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturation and finally bottling. The visit culminates in the Jameson bar with an opportunity for all to taste the signature Jameson drink. During the visit a number of volunteers are selected to take part in a tasting session to compare a Jameson whiskey with a Scottish whisky and an American bourbon. Participants will receive a diploma for their achievement. Other facilities include the Distillery Gift Shop, Restaurant and public bar.

Train station - Belfast Hotel

With its proximity to the stunning views of the Stormont Parliament and improved facilities, this is a very good 4 star property. This hotel offers complimentary car parking facilities. The Stormont is situated 6.5 kms from Belfast city centre and 3 kms from the Belfast city airport, in a quiet residential area overlooking the landscaped grounds of Stormont Castle.

Transport yourself back to the Art Deco glamour of 1930's New York and the Jazz Age in Belfast's only dedicated Jazz bar and restaurant: Berts Bar at The Merchant Hotel.

Soak up the sophisticated atmosphere and let the cool jazz melodies wash over you. A handpicked list of cocktails completes the extensive drinks selection. A French bistro style menu is complemented by an extensive wine list and, of course, exemplary service.

Bert's offers live jazz seven nights a week as well as perfectly relaxed weekends complete with delicious brunch and all day dining menus.

Black taxi tours of Belfast from cabtoursNI.com, providers of the world famous political historic tours. On this tour, our experienced and informative tour guides will take you on a unique historical and cultural experience through the streets of Belfast. You will also visit the Falls Road and Shankill Road where you will learn of the history of conflict between the two communities and witness the Peaceline wall which divides the two.

The enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide will explain the many murals which are to be seen on the tours as well as many sites which have played important roles in the political history of Belfast. Our guides are happy to cater.

Visit the birthplace of the Titanic and experience the story. Titanic Belfast extends over 9 galleries with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way; from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s through to her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. The journey goes beyond the aftermath of the sinking, to the discovery of the wreck and continues into the present day with a live undersea exploration centre.

The original path at The Gobbins was opened in 1902, and immediately captivated visitors. The path was part of the vision of Berkeley Deane Wise, Chief Engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company, to use the recently expanded railway line to attract visitors to this spectacular part of Ireland. With the arrival of the steam train in the 19th century it became possible to move large amounts of people and goods in relatively short times. Not only did the railways turn cities like Belfast into industrial powerhouses, they opened up remote beauty spots to a new kind of industry - tourism.

The Gobbins path was Berkeley Deane Wise's final contribution to the tourism offering of the area. It was also his crowning glory.