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HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS: BLACK TO THE FUTURE ; Toast Paddy's Day in Dublin

Posted on: Sunday, 12 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By MATT GLASS

IT'S St Patrick's Day on Friday when all of Ireland will toast its famous sons, great heroes and brave leaders.

And with it falling on a weekend this year, where better to be than enjoying the craic in Dublin?

When I went to the capital recently I got the usual ribbing from friends: "A few days on the Guinness then?"

OK, hands up, I did spend half a day at Ireland's biggest tourist attraction, the Guinness Storehouse in St James' Gate.

But when the black stuff tastes as good as it does "back home", you can't blame me.

T he Store - house is set on seven floors and is packed with gadgets, displays and videos showing you the history of the beer and how to pour the perfect pint.

A new area lets visitors watch the malt and other ingredients blend together and see a piece of the yeast strain used by Arthur Guinness to create the first pint back in 1759.

Every day, one visitor gets the chance to pull the lever, and start the day's brew.

The lucky person is even kept up-to-date with its progress by email, so they can buy a pint of their "own" Guinness when it hits the pubs.

I sat through an entire tasting session learning the difference between Export Strength Guinness, Extra Stout Guinness, Draught Guinness, and even the limited edition Brew 39, which is being produced for the next six months as a trial.

And, from what I remember, it's great fun. Although the sore head in the morning wasn't quite as welcome.

At the end of the tour, I headed up to the "Gravity Bar" on the seventh-floor to enjoy a complimentary pint and gorgeous views of the city from Dublin's highest pub.

The Storehouse hosts its own St Patrick's fringe festival next weekend (March 17 to 19) featuring live music, storytellers, entertainment plus oysters to wash down with the black stuff. Don't miss it!

But the city isn't all about Guinness. For a fascinating look at Ireland's past I visited Kilmainham jail in the south side of the city. Now a museum, it tells of famous inmates including independence leaders Pdraig Pearse and James Connolly who were executed at the jail by the British after the failed Easter Rising of 1916.

The jail walls were even designed to make it colder inside than outside.

The jail closed eight years later and has since featured in films such as The Italian Job and In The Name Of The Father.

Back in the city centre, you can see the General Post Office seized by the Irish Volunteers to start the Easter Rising.

If you're feeling adventurous, head out to the coastal villages where the fresh seafood is the best you'll find.

A visit to the capital wouldn't be the same without a night in Temple Bar, with streets full of drinking dens, live music and dancing.

I ended up staying until the small hours, before staggering back to the hotel feeling a little worse for wear. If you do lose your bearings, head for the 360ft Millennium Spire, built in 2003. It's bang in the centre and can be seen for miles.

After all, I did say that Ireland isn't ALL about Guinness - there's also Baileys, Jameson's whiskey, Kilkenny's, Murphy's, O'Hanlon's, Boru Vodka...

FACTFILE: Matt stayed at the Burlington Hotel where rooms are pounds 75 a night. Call 00 353 1 660 5222 or visit www.jurysdoyle.com/ireland/doyle_burlington.htm

Book tickets to the Storehouse festival online at www.guinness- storehouse.com and receive a 10% discount. Or call 00 353 1 643 5635. The Storehouse is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5pm. Adults pounds 10 including complimentary pint, OAPs and students under 18 pay pounds 5, children over six pounds 3.

Source: People, The; London

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