Two weekends in Dublin, one for a family of five and another on a student budget.
Tanya Nyegaard and Nora Hartnett, Harry to her friends, are students at Limerick School of Art and Design. They take a low cost weekend break in Dublin, hitching to the capital and back home again. Their accommodation for the weekend is bed and breakfast at The Young Traveller near O'Connell Street, where they share a room with two other women. The Young Traveller offers free musical entertainment for visitors.
Food in The Young Traveller is good, basic and there's plenty of it.
While in Dublin, Tanya and Harry visit the National Wax Museum and go skating at the Dolphin's Barn ice rink. They stop by the Iveagh Market to find clothing suitable for their night out at 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' at the Classic Cinema in Harold's Cross.
A grand total of £73 for the two.
The Brophy family are Noel and Mary, two young children, and a baby. For their family break they avail of a Córas Iompair Eireann (CIÉ) weekend train fare from Nenagh to Dublin return. Their lodging for the weekend is the Aisling Hotel near Huston Station, which offers bed and breakfast with a free babysitting service.
While in Dublin, the Brophy family take a walking tour of old Dublin, and make visits to St Michan's Church and the Dolls Museum in Dartry. Noel and Mary take a tour of Irish Distillers headquarters in Smithfield. This is followed by a tasting of whiskey samples, where they are joined by Derek Davis. When an American tourist describes Bushmills Irish Whiskey as smooth Derek Davis jokes,
It comes from the north you know, it's the home of smoothness.
The Brophy family eat out at Gallaher's Restaurant on Middle Abbey Street where they avail of a special tourist menu.
Bord Fáilte have a brochure listing the restaurants carrying the menu.
For Sunday afternoon entertainment, Noel and Mary attend the weekly tea dance at Jury's Hotel. They also take a horse and carriage ride around St Stephens Green. In all, the Brophy's accommodation came to £93, travel £43, meals £36 and they spent £33 on entertainment.
That's £210 in all.
This episode of 'Davis at Large' was broadcast on 9 February 1986.
