Dublin is most famed for its history, literary culture and hospitality. This heritage is reflected in a range of unusual and attractive conference facilities, meeting spaces and event venues in Dublin, including the Dublin Writer's Museum, University College Dublin, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland's oldest university.
Dublin is the Irish Republic's most popular point of entry for international visitors. Visitors can choose to fly into Dublin via Dublin International Airport, with 12 scheduled services to North America, or enter via Dun Laoghaire, which is the major ferry port from the UK.
The number of meeting venues in Dublin received a boost in 2010 with the opening of the $530-million Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), which is housed in a stunning new landmark building overlooking the River Liffey. This Dublin venue features a 2,000-seat auditorium and seating for 3,000 in an additional space. Located just across the river from the CCD is the historic and much-loved Royal Dublin Society building, offering a massive 20,000 sqm (215,280 sf) of flexible space for conferences, exhibitions, events and large-scale trade shows.
There are 17,000 hotel rooms in and around the city center, many of which contain their own substantial conference facilities. The Citywest Hotel is Ireland's largest conference hotel, boasting 1,314 bedrooms. The 4 star Crowne Plaza Hotel at Dublin Airport and the Burlington Hotel in the city center can both cater for over 1,000 delegates.
For those who enjoy more luxurious accommodation, there are no less than nine superb, 5 star hotels in Dublin. These include the famous Marriott Shelborne Hotel overlooking St. Stephens Green, the elegant Merrion Hotel, the modern boutique Dylan Hotel, the Clarence Hotel (owned by rock icon Bono), the Westin Hotel overlooking Trinity College, the Conrad Hotel and the Fitzwilliam Hotel – all of which are close to Grafton Street.
There is also a stunning array of hotel and dining venues in Dublin, as well as hundreds of welcoming Irish 'pubs' all serving foaming pints of Ireland's national beverage – 'Dublin Brewed' Guinness. Dublin event venues range in size from the smallest of pubs to the 14,000-capacity O2 Arena Dublin. Try the Church Bar and Restaurant, which astonishingly occupies four levels of a historic church building and can cater for large parties and special events.
