Dublin Lesson: Stay at the Schoolhouse Hotel
Sleeping in Dublin
The leafy neighborhood of Ballsbridge is just a few blocks from downtown Dublin, and a fifteen minute walk from Trinity College. It’s the perfect location for visitors who want to be close to everything, but would like to get some sleep.
I considered booking a room in Temple Bar, but this trip was not for partying and nightlife. This was a heritage visit with Mom, and I’m a writer and old building reuse fiend. The Schoolhouse, a restored parochial school, where the rooms are named for famous Irish writers was the only reasonable choice for us.
A history of books
Opened in 1861, St. Stephen’s served the children of soldiers from a nearby base until it was closed in 1969. The heroic (at least as far as historic preservation goes) Sweeney Hotel Group bought the derelict building in 1997 and restored it for use as a charming and unique hotel.
A night in the Oscar Wilde room casts a witty light over the rest of the trip. Always a blessing for family travel.
Sleeping in Dublin, under the droll gaze of Oscar Wilde. That’s a sweet dream for any writer.
