You\’ll a day-and-a-harf in lovely Clontarf

At City Language School Dublin we like to let our students know what we think are the best things to see and do around Dublin in their free time. After a busy week of learning English we know it is important to wind down and relax. So here are three recommendations for this weekend. All of these places of interest are close to Clontarf so if you\’re coming from town hop on the DART or better still the 130 bus, which will bring you close to pretty much all the places we are talking about here today.

Walk of the Weekend – Dollymount Strand

Dollymount late evening

One of the great benefits of living in Dublin is its proximity to the mountains and sea. Clontarf is a great place for a \’breath of fresh air\’. Dublin\’s longest beach, Dollymount Strand is a vast open expanse on which northside Dubliners traditionally learn to drive but it is also a great spot for a walk. If you\’re into windsurfing, this is where you will find Dublin\’s most active windsurfing community.

Visit of the Weekend – St. Anne\’s Park

st-annespark

Nearby St. Anne\’s park is probably one of Dublin\’s prettiest parks with forest walks and beautiful gardens. If you\’re an au pair in Dublin and you need to get the kids out, it is worth bringing the them here. The park playground is huge and has lots of viking themed swings and climbing frames to keep them entertained.

Pub of the Weekend – Connolly\’s or Harry Byrne\’s

Having the craic in Connolly\'s

After a walk on Dollymount Strand and a game of hide\’n seek in St. Anne\’s, you are going to want a nice quiet pint. Connolly\’s -The Sheds on the seafront is the just place. If you like theatre, the pub\’s Viking Theatre hosts regular plays, though you will probably see enough in the bar. Not far from here is the somewhat livelier Harry Byrne\’s, another favourite with locals.

 

Some words and phrases that might be new to you

its proximity to something = how close/near it is to something

vast = very large/open

spot = place

hide\’n seek = a children\’s game where someone hides and the person who is \’on\’ has to find them