In 2018 I was in touch with the owner of Dublin Tour Guide – you guessed it, a local tour guide in Dublin. Garvan Rushe has now owned and operated his own business for several years, and the day I toured the city with him was educational, fun and gave me a new appreciation for the city and country as a whole.
The Tour Guide in Dublin: Meet Garvan
Giving tourists a very unique and specialized private tour, you get to see places the tour bus might not take you, or the random local might not even know themselves. Full of historical knowledge, Garvan is a font of information, jokes and all around great company to spend a day or two with touring the world famous city.
Our tour started out at Glasnevin Cemetery, with Garvan explaining the fascinating history of why this is a historical landmark in the city. While some may find it surprising, over one million people are buried here.
The grave of Brendan Behan can also be found here, a well-known Irish writer who is most notably remembered for his drinking. Because of this, visitors of his grave do not leave flowers, but rather pints of Guinness.
But perhaps the most interesting grave we visited that morning was that of Michael Collins. Who Garvan describes as the “George Washington” of Ireland, Collins was the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence, and led the defeat of the British army to achieve freedom for Ireland in 1921.
We popped into a small cafe to warm up after the graveyard and grab some coffee, and shortly thereafter hopped on a double decker bus headed for the city center.
Once in the center of Dublin, we stopped first at The Garden of Remembrance. A commemorative site which honors those who had given their lives for the freedom of Ireland. With a man-made pond, an underwater mural has been created to signify the war is over, and no more fighting will take place.
Next, we visited the GPO – general post office – which is over 200 years old, and a great example of historical significance for the city of Dublin. The reason for the post office’s significance is not just its age, but also it was the strategic point from which the rebellions during the Easter Rising in 1916 declared independence from British rule. Though the Irish were subdued 4 days after their initial uprising, it still remains an important element in Dublin’s history.
Following the post office, Garvan escorted me to the Ha’penny Bridge, a particularly famous spot for tourists to take pictures (and I was no exception). The reason for its interest amongst locals and tourists alike, is where the name comes from. Back in the day, the bridge use to cost a toll – a half penny. Garvan showed me the difference between a half penny and a full one, which you can see in the video. Today of course, the bridge is free of charge, but it is fun to take those memorable photos from the bridge, as the view (especially at night) is quite lovely.
Walking through the city center we passed by shops, pubs and all the rest that are commonplace to Dublin. As to be expected, we toured on a very grey and rainy day, but such is normal for the city, which added some natural charm to the tour and to my video.
We found ourselves at a local street market where you could find vendors offering hot chocolate, fresh produce, marinated olives among other similar types of booths.
As we rounded off the latter half of our tour for the day, with two final stops. First, we made our way to the Bank of Ireland, which was originally the location of the British Parliament – from 1729-1801. Again a very interesting part of Irish history to stand in front of and see with one’s own eyes.
And finally, Garvan and I toured the Epic Museum together, which was a terribly fun and interactive experience learning all about Irish immigrants, and their role in not just Irish history, but society as a whole throughout the world. Having Garvan along was not just fun, but was incredibly helpful as he explained certain nuances which may have escaped me had I gone alone.
My day with was Garvan was educational, fun and extremely unique. I’m so pleased I got to learn as much about the history of Ireland in such a personalized way, and would recommended Garvan as a tour guide to anyone seeking the same type of experience while visiting Ireland.
Just make sure that when you book your tour with him, let him know that Lisa sent you!
Get Lost with Lisa 