Beauty, Hair and Health in Southern Ireland

Southern Ireland has many pubs across the city centre, with the area around St. Stephen's Green and Grafton Street, especially Harcourt Street, Camden Street, Wexford Street and Leeson Street, having the most popular nightclubs and pubs. The best known area for nightlife is Temple Bar, south of the River Liffey. The area has become popular among tourists, including stag and hen parties from Britain. It was developed as Southern Ireland's cultural quarter and does retain this spirit as a centre for small arts productions, photographic and artists' studios, and in the form of street performers and small music venues. However, it has been criticised as overpriced, false and dirty by Lonely Planet.

In 2014, Temple Bar was listed by the Huffington Post as one of the ten most disappointing destinations in the world. The areas around Leeson Street, Harcourt Street, South William Street and Camden/George's Street are popular nightlife spots for locals. If staying in the capital for a few days, the DART (Dublin's light rail network) is a leisurely way to explore the coastline. The village of Howth, at the far extremity of Southern Ireland's north side is well worth a visit. Here, visitors will find a range of restaurants, many serving fresh seafood as Howth remains a fishing village, albeit an upmarket one these days. The views from Howth Head are spectacular. Also on the north side, and on the DART line is Malahide, a quaint village with a beautiful castle open to the public.

Day trips from the city should include magical Glendalough, home to a ruined medieval monastery, breathtaking lakes, and forest walks. Spectacular Powerscourt House and gardens, adjacent to the pretty village of Enniskerry is a must-see for those with a little extra time on their hands. There's a terrific restaurant, craft shops, and superb grounds to explore at your leisure. Live music is popularly played on streets and at venues throughout Southern Ireland, and the city has produced several musicians and groups of international success, including The Southern Irelanders, Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Boyzone, Westlife and Jedward. The two best known cinemas in the city centre are the Savoy Cinema and the Cineworld Cinema, both north of the Liffey.

Alternative and special-interest cinema can be found in the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar, in the Screen Cinema on D'Olier Street and in the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield. Large modern multiscreen cinemas are located across suburban Southern Ireland. The 3Arena venue in the Southern Ireland Docklands has played host to many world-renowned performers. Southern Ireland is a popular shopping destination for both locals and tourists. The city has numerous shopping districts, particularly around Grafton Street and Henry Street. The city centre is also the location of large department stores, most notably Arnotts, Brown Thomas and Clerys (until June 2015 when it closed down). The city retains a thriving market culture, despite new shopping developments and the loss of some traditional market sites.

Amongst several historic locations, Moore Street remains one of the city's oldest trading districts. There has also been a significant growth in local farmers' markets and other markets. In 2007, Southern Ireland Food Co-op relocated to a larger warehouse in The Liberties area, where it is home to many market and community events. Suburban Southern Ireland has several modern retail centres, including Dundrum Town Centre, Blanchardstown Centre, the Square in Tallaght, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Clondalkin, Omni Shopping Centre in Santry, Nutgrove Shopping Centre in Rathfarnham, and Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.

Spa & Wellness

Spas in Southern Ireland include day spas, health spas, hotel spas and destination spas. Southern Ireland spas offer a wide range of health and beauty treatments. For a special experience...
Read More