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GLAM gives you the lowdown on Irelands

fashion capital, Dublin, exploring the bestplaces to shop, sight see, eat, relax and,if youre lucky, party with the stars.

GLAMit up in

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GLAM GLobe trekker

tereotypical Ireland is perceived by many as what you see

in the movies; expanses of green countryside with villages

that are lled with traditional, friendly folk-all of whom

have an extreme fondness for alcohol! While some of these

perceptions are true, Dublin is a multi-cultural city that offers

the most discerning fashion traveller a mix of modern and

traditional with its array of boutiques, malls, markets, nightlife,

restaurants and historical sights.

Shopping in DublinThere are many great shopping areas in Dublin; however, a

walk down Grafton Street will provide a variety of choice

with a selection of high-end and affordable stores. It houses

all the usual high street faves like Topshop, River Island,

Ofce, Coast etc.

A visit to Irelands home grown luxury mall, Brown Thomas, is

a must; at least a couple of hours are required to consume

its extensive offerings of the latest designer collections of

handbags, fashion, beauty and accessories.

For all you foot fetish fashionistas, the second oor is devoted

to a fantastic shoe collection, stocking brands such as LK

Bennett, Kurt Geiger and more high-end collections Gucci,

Louboutin and Chloe (to name a few).

In the clothes department, the list of available designer brands

is endless and would take pages to discuss but a key note

is you can avail of Greek-born designer Mary Katrantzous

latest range which caused a stir at London fashion week.

Take a trip on the luas (silver trams youll notice snaking

around the city) to Dundrum Shopping Centre; be extra

vigilant when crossing roads for oncoming trams, there has

been many an incident of pre-occupied walkers carelessly

getting injured by walking out in front of one.

On arrival at Dundrum, be prepared to shop until you drop in

the surroundings of Irelands award winning shopping centre.

A good stop to visit here is Harvey Nichols, which specialises

in many international luxury brands; also head to London

designer favourite, Lipsy, and treat yourself to a cute party

dress from the latest collection which boasts a cult following

of celebrities and stocks the range of singer Pixie Lotts

sought after line. Fast-food restaurants are around to tackle

hunger when it strikes; for a ner dining experience, head to

the top oor which contains a larger selection of restaurants

for those with a rened palette.

A visit to Avoka store on Suffolk Street offers a unique

shopping experience; it has many offerings including

household items like luxurious throws made from lambs

wool and mohair and quirky jewellery. The best aspect of

the store, however, is nothing to do with the clothing but the

cafe nestled on the top oor; here you will nd scrumptious

dishes (the best thick cut home-made chips), with portions

so huge, that its recommended you only order one meal

between two!For edgier shops, the best place to visit is Powerscourt

Townhouse Centre. This homes a great vintage store, The

Loft Market, offering quirky pieces and award winning lines

of Irelands youngest talents. A trip to the boutique, Covet,

gives customers the option of renting key seasonal high-

end pieces at a fraction of the price (good news if youve

gone overboard spending in other stores and are looking for

something ultra fashionable to wear just for a night!)

If planning a December trip, its worth visiting the Christmas

market held at Georges Dock in the IFSC from 3-22

December. Bartering for gifts isnt a common occurrence in

Ireland but here, if lucky, you might be able to arrange a

deal with the workers of the stalls, which are packed with

jewellery, stocking llers and leathers.

DiningIf youre a fan of steak and searching for a luxury dining

experience then venture to Shanahans On The Green. Its

famous for super tasty slabs of beef, but, be warned that

prices are steep and a steak will cost QR230 +.

Acapulco, a Mexican cuisine on South Great Georges Street,

is another recommended spot to dine at a reasonable price.

The food is good and friendly staff are on hand to provide a

promising evening in quirky surroundings.

PartyingFor an exclusive night on the tiles and the opportunity to

maybe party with some celebrities, visit Lillies Bordello on

Grafton Street. This hotspot allures the fashionable elite

of the city and is renowned for throwing lavish bashes; its

celebrity fans include Rihanna, U2 and all the Irish models.

Another celeb spot is Krystal nightclub, situated on Lower

Camden Street; this club has great promotions on a Friday

night of QR15 cocktails before 12pm.

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Phoenix Park

The worlds largest enclosed park in a city coveringa whopping 707 hectares in total; to put intoperspective its twice the size of New Yorks CentralPark and around 5 times the size of Londons HydePark. Its grounds home Dublin Zoo which is greatto visit if you have the time. It is advisable to avoidvisiting the park at night, especially if alone, as highlevel of crime rates in Ireland is a reality and oneshould always take precautions.

TempleBarThisisthetouristhubofthecity.Thereisarangeofquirkyshops,traditionalpubs,nerestaurantsandstreet performers dominating the cobbled streets(advisable not to wear high-heels walking aroundhere). The place can pack up at the weekendsand become slightly overcrowded, however, theambienceishardtobeatanditswhereyoullhave,astheIrishsay,thecraic.

Trinity College

For your intellectual side, head to oneof the citys oldest buildings (datesback to 1700s), take a stroll aroundthe beautiful grounds and visit thehuge library which contains over onemillion books.

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