What to see and do in Smithfield, Dublin

Smithfield is one of Dublin’s most historic city centre suburbs; it’s most famous tenant to this day the well-known Jameson Distillery. This world-renowned attraction is certainly not to be missed, but expats that have settled down in Dublin for the long haul will most likely need more than a once-off trip to the whiskey factory. Luckily for expats heading Dublin-way there is a lot to see and do in this city-centre suburb.

• On the first Sunday of every month the town square fills with horses for the Smithfield Fair. It’s like stepping back into a time when horses were important and cars meant nothing. Small boys lead ponies over cobbled streets and weathered men spit on their hand to seal the deal; a taste of Old Ireland which the boom completely by-passed. But be warned as some of the horses are badly treated and the fair is regularly visited by the ISPCA (Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
• Orient yourself with a great view over the city by climbing up the old Chimney in the town square.
• And if you’ve more of a taste for the gruesome, then St Michan’s church should be the next stop. This 11th century church houses Crusader remains in the crypt and the Handel’s organ upstairs. People say the mummies come out to play after dark – see if you’re brave enough to hang around.
• Catch an art house film in the funky Lighthouse cinema. Unlike many of the other cinemas in town this one will never host “Aliens 55” Recent shows include ‘Sex Drugs and Rock n Roll’, ‘A Prophet’ and ‘The September Issue’.
• Residents in the apartment complexes which surround the square do their weekly shop in Fresh; a gourmet market which doesn’t stint on cost but supplies everything for the perfect Sunday brunch.

Locals are a mixture of lawyers, artists and bemused Dubliners who’ve seen it all before.

Travel there on the Red Luas line from the city centre, or walk if you’d rather experience the transformation from the stylish shopping culture of Jervis street through the boarded up buildings of ‘boom, what boom’ North side Dublin and finally into the trendy square area.