Custom House
Custom House Quay. Though best viewed from across the river, the Custom House, designed by James Gandon with financial support from Luke Gardiner and built between 1781 and 1791, is also worth a close up which reveals the arched arcades, and the heads of the male gods of Ireland’s other thirteen principal rivers. The fourteenth, the Liffey’s, Anna Livia, is female. Its landing stage port was designed in part by Captain Bligh of 'The Bounty'. The present building is a faithful reconstruction of a building burnt in the independence struggle.

Four Courts
Inns Quay. Another of Gandon’s magnificent designs, similarly rebuilt after being fired, like the Custom House. Michael Collins shelled the original in 1922 leading to the Civil War.

Ceol – Irish Traditional Music Centre
Smithfield Village. Tel: (01) 817 3820. Celebrates the living history of Irish traditional music, song and dance, its roots, its energy and its personalities. At Ceol's core is a 180-degree widescreen auditorium where visitors are taken on a journey the length of Ireland and the breadth of its musical heritage. Open daily: Mon-Sat 9.30am to 6pm and Sun 12pm to 7pm.

GPO
O’Connell St. Designed by Francis Johnston, the man responsible for so many of Dublin’s and Armagh’s gracious Georgian houses, the General Post Office has a particular place in Ireland’s history. Burnt out after the siege in 1916 it was on its steps that Patrick Pearse and James Connolly read their proclamation. It has been completely restored.

Heritage Trails
Dublin Tourism publishes a number of City Trail Guides; Old City Heritage Trail, Cultural Heritage Trail, Georgian Heritage Trail. The Cultural Heritage Trail covers Dublin north of the Liffey, The Old City Heritage Trail leads eastwards, south of the Liffey from Trinity. The Georgian Trail, which is well signposted, takes in the streetscapes south of the river. Information offices at Suffolk St., Dublin, Dublin Airport, Dun Laoghaire Port, Baggot St. Bridge and The Square Towncentre, Tallaght.

The Chimney
Smithfield Village, Dublin 7. Tel: (01) 817 3800. View Dublin from above at the top of Dublin's only observation tower. Take a trip skyward in the panoramic viewing lift to the top of the original distillery chimney (225ft high) and enjoy unrivalled views of the city. Open daily: Mon–Sat 9.30am to 9pm and Sun 12pm to 7pm.