Author Archives: stevedineen

Six of the best at Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2014 by stevedineen

If you find yourself in Dublin on one of these dark, damp, but cheerful evenings before Christmas, you might discover some large groups marauding through the city streets, bedecked in retro Christmas jumpers. Some may be singing and roaring. Others … Continue reading →

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New story published

Posted on December 11, 2014 by stevedineen

‘Leap Years’, a new short story of mine, has been published in The Galway Review. Stephen Dineen – Leap Years  

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Ode to St Audoen’s

Posted on November 27, 2014 by stevedineen

For many tourists, one of the natural points of gravitation in Dublin is Christ Church Cathedral, a magnificent feat of architecture, history and endurance. Only a few hundred yards down the road – heard of by many more than have … Continue reading →

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Tower power

Posted on November 14, 2014 by stevedineen

The return of the Dublin Book Festival this weekend reminds one of Dublin’s most famous novel, Ulysses, and its iconic landmark. James Joyce only stayed there for five and a half nights, yet no other home has become so synonymous … Continue reading →

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Keeping the best for the guests

Posted on October 30, 2014 by stevedineen

Have you ever wondered how the Irish State ensures its official symbol is never confused with the Guinness icon? Did you know that when Ireland gained independence in 1922 over half of government revenue was derived from the Guinness family’s … Continue reading →

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Getting back to the books

Posted on October 17, 2014 by stevedineen

The days are getting shorter, the students are back in school or college, and tourists are looking for somewhere warm. Among the top ten, most visited, free attractions in Ireland last year was the Chester Beatty Library, and maybe now … Continue reading →

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In pole position

Posted on October 2, 2014 by stevedineen

These days and months are full of commemorations of seismic events one hundred years ago. A smaller piece of history, about bravery and the human spirit between 1914 and 1917, began one hundred years ago last week with departure by … Continue reading →

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Reconnecting with The Dead

Posted on September 18, 2014 by stevedineen

As a Dubliner interested in art, literature and music, James Joyce would have approved of Culture Night. Though he left as a young man and never returned, Joyce would have enjoyed reading from afar that his home city’s cultural institutions … Continue reading →

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On your bike for the Hiberno-Indian summer

Posted on September 4, 2014 by stevedineen

Among the European capital cities that have embraced shared bike schemes, Dublin has been a success story. Over 42,000 people who live or regularly frequent the capital subscribe to the Dublin bike scheme. Since 2009, when the scheme was launched, … Continue reading →

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For the power and the glory

Posted on August 21, 2014 by stevedineen

As the summer begins to think about meeting autumn halfway, it’s not too late for tourists to visit the interface between Dublin and Wicklow, where suburbia withdraws and hands over to the mountains. A good spot to visit, accessible by … Continue reading →

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