Doing business
Dublin being the open and mature economic centre that it is, there’s little point making too many generalisations when it comes to etiquette. While a cheerful disposition and ready wit will be welcomed, the thing that really matters is the business in hand. As with anywhere, behavioural boundaries from meeting to meeting are generally a matter of intuition, although remain sensitive to the fact that overt political or historical debate won’t always go down well.

Cool hotel
A notable landmark on the St Stephens Green skyline, the Fitzwilliam Hotel is one for those who value contemporary chic as much as a lively location. The shops and bars of Grafton Street are on the doorstep, but it’s the stylish feel of the hotel itself – complete with Terence Conran design, Michelin-star dining and a ‘Free Spirit’ health and beauty centre – that keeps the plaudits coming. The property has 139 rooms and meeting space for up to 100.  See: www.fitzwilliamhotel.com

Hip restaurant
Located in the basement of the excellent Dublin Writers Museum, Chapter One complements warm décor and arty furnishings with some of the most consistently high-quality grub in the city centre. The basic concept is classic Irish cooking with a French twist, so expect anything from duck breast with a cassoulet of sausage and lentil to sea bream with braised squid. There are two private dining rooms and a colossal wine vault. 
See: www.chapteronerestaurant.com

Happening bar
It barely needs saying that there’s no shortage of evening hospitality in Dublin. Trendy hang-outs, snug hideaways, spit ’n’ sawdust pubs, retro bars – they’re all here. If you’re more interested in prestige than kicking back with a few pints, Cocoon draws a discerning crowd. There’s an extensive cocktail menu, a modernist design theme and regular live DJs. The bar is actually owned by Eddie Irvine of Formula One motor racing fame and sits on Duke Lane, a short stroll from the centre. See: www.cocoon.ie 

Must-see sight
Anywhere with an alumni boasting Samuel Beckett, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde is not to be taken lightly. Trinity College’s lawns and cobbled quads provide an atmospheric haven from the streets outside and can be enjoyed at one’s leisure. The key attractions are the spectacularly vaulted Old Library and the Book of Kells, a well preserved 9th century manuscript of the Gospels. 

Getting downtown
Dublin International Airport is simple to get to and from, sitting just 10km north of the city. Buses and coaches are easy to come by – Aircoach and Dublin Bus provide regular and efficient services direct to the city centre. Taxis are readily available from the forecourt of the airport’s arrivals building. Expect to pay around 20euros for a journey to the city centre, taking anything from 20 to 40 minutes depending on the weight of traffic.

Getting there
The airport is one of the ten busiest in Europe, served by over 90 scheduled and chartered airlines. Companies flying from the UK include British Airways, bmi, Aer Lingus, Aer Arran and Ryanair. As a sample pricing, a mid-week return flight between Heathrow and Dublin with bmi currently costs around £80 including taxes.

INSIDER’S TIP
“Out of the meeting room, there are a lot of must-dos in Dublin. Among countless other things, you can raise a glass to James Joyce on a literary pub crawl, ‘rock ’n’ stroll’ through Temple Bar, take in the Georgian surrounds of Merrion Square, pluck a lucky clover on St Stephens Green or go through your notes over a coffee at Bewley’s Oriental Café on Grafton Street.”
Jeff Youtan, Managing director, Travellers’ Friend

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