Place – Dun Laoghaire (pronounced – dʌnˈlɪəri)
Where exactly? – It is in the south of Dublin.
Dun Laoghaire has a special vibe that sets it apart from the rest of Dublin and you will be delighted to spend the entire day there! Here are a few things we love to do in Dun Laoghaire, especially when the sun is out.
First Stop: People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire
Tucking into lemon drop crepe with legs stretched out on the cushiony grass I was hit hard by the fact – it took two years in Dublin to know this gem of a place. Until that day, if someone asked for a good seaside location in Dublin, I used to jump up to say only Howth and Bray. So ignorant of me! Or should I say the seafood of Howth and events at Bray kept me occupied. Still it will be no excuse to not have explored Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire.
Placed on the east coast of Ireland, one entire side of Dublin is facing the coastal splendours. While Howth and Bray mark the north and south tips of Dublin’s coast belt, Dun Laoghaire is a few stations before Bray on the Dart (coastline train of Dublin).
My rendezvous with the gloriousness of Dun Laoghaire was through the food market in a park there. It’s a Sunday food bazaar and the park is filled with people. The sight kept me wondering if this park got its name after the food market started magnetising people. Because the park is called People’s Park !
I could spend the entire day there (or did we?!) seeing the stories in every small irregular shaped groups resting on the grass and determined lot queueing up near the food they desired to lunch on.
Plenty food options available!
I had to decide well before choosing the stall, because jumping between long queues and delaying my lunch further wasn’t on my mind. So, the husband waves at me from the Irish burger queue while I’m standing between Thai noodles and Middle Eastern wraps.
While I see the lines growing in front of each stall at the same pace, I am told Pad Thai is finished and they are only serving the spring rolls now. Straightaway I go for falafel in a wrap. My husband almost ate half his burger standing alongside me describing the tenderness of meat melting in his mouth, as I kept noticing which wrap is bestselling. I could have gone for halloumi or lamb, but the crispiness of piping hot falafel kept me hypnotised.
Very kindly the husband had held his other half of the burger to give me company on the grass, but he regretted the kindness later (Oops!). Dublin is breezy and always there’s a chill in the air. Also my turn to buy lunch took longer than we calculated. Later I relished the warmth of my food and he sulked over the cold burger. I offered him my wrap but veg food isn’t his thing while eating out, so he refused.
Farmers’ Market at People Park
There’s always one thing I plan doing on my visit to farmers’ markets – Buy artisan cheese.
Image Source: DLR CoCo
Now I had to go cheese shopping to the direction of stalls bolted by farmers with plenty of organic goodies. In Ireland you get good variety of cheese from cow, sheep and goat milk. Cheesemonger will have you taste a small bit of every cheese from his stall, so decision over conversation becomes the best part of shopping.
There are also stalls of organic breakfast cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables, preserves, chocolates, ceramics, books and more.
Coffee at the park
Our park lunches always extend to coffee time and when it doesn’t, we add a coffee break soon afterwards. To make coffee more interesting fruit tarts from the market will be a good choice. You will get quite a few places to select from for coffee. And if you are not getting a comfortable spot on the grass and the benches are occupied, Brambles coffee shop right at one end of the park also gives a nice view with outdoor seating. (But keep a keep-cup ready because no one including Brambles will provide a reusable cup!)
Since our first visit we have made many trips to People’s park food market because it is that interesting – for good food and for the surrounding vibes.
In the following visits I have fulfilled the temptation by eating delights from different stalls and Arctic Stone (for hand rolled ice cream) is a stall which stays top on my recommendation list. They offer a list of distinct flavours and toppings, but the most exciting bit is to witness the lump of colour take form of ice cream with high aesthetic appeal. They are delicious too! And as it’s said that ‘patience pays off’ – keep this in mind (on a sunny day) while queueing up in front this stall as they have the longest queue.
So, see you there on a bright Sunday and exchange notes on which tasty food we should try next! 🙂
Exceptional Public Library
You don’t need an excuse to make a visit to this wonderful reading space, right opposite to the pier. Dun Laoghaire library is pretty popular for it’s spacious and well managed DLR Lexlcon library which also hosts a creative space for exhibits and events. With all this, library offers a breathtaking view. Imagine sitting there with your favourite book and taking small breaks to look outside the window at it’s always lively piers.
Joyfully end the day with Pier Walk
The most interesting thing to follow the delicious treats at the farmers’ market and library visit, is a walk at the Dun Laoghaire pier! Do this with small breaks to gaze at the gorgeousness of the sea.
Visiting the pier, it feels like Dun Laoghaire saves the best for the last. Stay around for the setting sun and feel the bliss.
“When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.”
― George R.R. Martin
If you’re new in Dublin, this is the address for you to reach Dun Laoghaire – Map
You can check the website of Dun Laoghaire County Council for the other events they organise apart from this Sunday market.
Hand rolled ice cream? Wow, that sounds amazing
It is delish! You must try them on your next visit to Dublin 🙂