By Patricia Earnest

One of the oldest cities in Europe, Dublin manages to be both intimate and eccentric. It is a special place where walking is the best mode of transportation. Stroll around the elegant shopping streets filled with pubs and bookstores and you will feel the real Dublin.

Cultural attractions include Dublin's Viking Adventure, Malahide Castle, Shaw's birthplace, the Fry Model Railway, Dublin Writers Museum, Newbridge House and the James Joyce Museum.

The writing theme of the city is embodied in the Writers and Joyce Museums and Shaw's Birthplace. At the Writers Museum at 18 Parnell Square on the north side near the Abbey and Gate theaters, the lively and knowledgeable guide told us that "Irish writers take a story and embellish it to make it magical."

The museum houses copies of the magical works of most of the great Irish story tellers: Bram Stoker and George Bernard Shaw are among the many famous name represented within the museum. The museum is open every day, all year.

Malahide Castle and Newbridge House will appeal to visitors who love the grace and charm of residences of times gone by. The castle is open every day, year-round, while the railroad is open every day April-September and on Sats. and Suns. the rest of the year. Newbridge House is open Tues. through Sat. April-September, but closed on Mons. and open Sats. and Suns. the rest of the year.

JAX FAX Travel Marketing Magazine ©