What to do in Dublin when it Rains
There is plenty to see and do in Ireland when it’s sunny, but to be honest, we’re not the sunniest country in the world. Maybe not even in the top 10.
But we make up for it because there is a lot to do that is well-prepared for a downpour at any moment. So here ae our picks for top 5 rainy day activities in Dublin.
Number one (of course) Vintage Tea Trips!
We are a fully-covered bus that stays cosy and warm, even on the wettest days. And with hot tea, warm scones, and a friendly spot for a gossip, what more can you ask for when the weather is miserable?
Vintage Tea Trips Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
The bus makes its way through Dublin City, and regales you with a semi-guided trip. Meaning you get stories, history, and chats with the hosts alongside the full afternoon tea spread.
Vintage Tea Trips Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
Number two: The Leprechaun Museum
Hear me out, it’s not as kitchy and silly as it sounds. This whimsical museum covers folklore, fairytales, and storytelling in Ireland from the beginning of human inhabitation of the Island. It’s a history of our storytelling culture, and a timeline of where these stories and characters come from.
Why is the leprechaun so famous?
Why does the leprechaun look like that?
What are other creatures from Irish folklore?
And maybe the most important one, WHY are these stories important in the first place? What do these stories do for the culture and the people? And why are we still using them?
The significance cannot be understated, but also, you get to climb a big chair and pretend to be a leprechaun. So that’s a huge selling point
Number three: The GPO
What? A Post Office? Surely not. But wait! The GPO or General Post Office is not just a fully-functioning and GORGEOUS post office, but also the sight of Ireland’s most significant rebellion. The 1916 Easter Rising, which ended up as a catalyst event for the War for Independence, and eventually, our own Nation! Yup Ireland!
So on a rainy day, you can book a tour of the building and get a full breakdown of the events that took place, what happened to the historic building, and the surrounding Dublin City.
This historic look at the uprising is exciting and tear-jerking, but a lovely thing to have knowledge of.
Number four: Cocktail making at Roe and Co
Dublin’s whisky scene is on fire! (A direct reference to the Dublin Whisky fire of 1875, something you learn about at Roe and Co!) But Roe and Co is a beautiful, teal and copper-coloured whisky distillery right in the heart of the Liberties. Right across the street from Guinness, actually!
The light and fruity whisky makes for a great mixer, and the Distillery shows you EXACTLY how to match your preferences with the good stuff! Umami? Sweet? Sour? You get to find your favourite and mix-and-match to your heart’s content.
Their cocktail classes are a fun, easy activity to do with friends or solo, as a little bit of Irish Courage makes even strangers the best of friends.
Not only do they have their standard class, but around Christmas (Notoriously a very rainy time of year) there is a HOT cocktails class, which really brings a cosy vibe to the function.
Number five: EPIC Museum
The EPIC Museum is just that. EPIC.
They are a museum dedicated to the Irish immigration experience and the diaspora of Ireland. If you’re Irish-American, Irish-English, Irish-Australian or really ANY Irish, you can look for family members, or add your family to their database, or even set up a consultation to see exactly your family tree, and their lives here in the Emerald Isle.
Even if your ancestors aren’t from Ireland, the global impact of Irish immigration is everywhere. So taking a look is always fun. The tickets last you for days, and it’s incredibly child-friendly. With buttons, levers, stamps, videos, and all kinds of interactive exhibits, kids and families can spend hours bopping away at them.
Bonus! That’s right, it rains so much, there’s a bonus activity
The crafting craze is bigger than ever, and it’s here to stay. Everyone we know is drawing, knitting, painting, embroidering or felting. And “This Must Be The Place” is a spot in Dublin where you can do all of that with friends.
With everything from Drink and Draw to Mosaic Making, to storytelling, to felt-making, there is a class or an event to experience in this place. What a great way to make friends and enjoy the pitter-patter of raindrops on the ceiling. I personally love a textile-based craft. But something about that paint-pouring workshop is speaking to my messy inner-child.
