This Site (and the Man Who Just Couldn’t Stay Quiet)

Let’s get one thing out of the way: Dublin is wonderful. It’s just that… sometimes, it’s wonderful in a way the guidebooks don’t quite know how to explain.

I should know.
I spent fifteen years giving tours of this mad, brilliant, contradictory city — walking backwards through Temple Bar trying not to get flattened by a hen party, yelling over bagpipers on Grafton Street, and answering the same six questions every single day:

• “Is Dublin in the UK?”
• “Where’s the bar in Temple Bar?”
• “What is that giant silver needle thing?”
• “Is this where U2 live?”
• “What’s craic?”
• “Do you do Game of Thrones tours?”

I loved (almost) every minute of it. But eventually, I hit pause.

Why I Left (And Why I’m Still Talking About Dublin)

A few months ago, I packed up my slightly over-worn walking shoes and moved to Valencia, Spain, to be closer to my brother. He’s got a flat, a spare room, and a healthy sense of humour — so far, we’re all still speaking.

My plan?
Learn Spanish, soak up some Mediterranean sunshine, and maybe — if I can get my head around the verbs — start guiding again, this time with a bit more paella and a bit less rain.

But I couldn’t quite let go of Dublin.
The city’s in my bones. And to be honest, I’ve always wanted to tell the stories I couldn’t say on the tour. The weird bits. The scams. The overpriced pints. The statue that looks like it’s giving you the finger if you stand in just the right spot.

That’s what this site is for.

What You’ll Get Here

This isn’t your average travel site. You won’t find “Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Yoga Brunch Spots” here.
Instead, you’ll get:

• Brutally honest guides to Dublin’s pubs, landmarks, and tourist traps
• Stories I never told on the tour (but probably should have)
• Local secrets, side-eye commentary, and some dodgy historical facts I’ve triple-checked on Wikipedia
• The occasional update on how my Spanish is going (hint: not well)

And later?
You might just see a sister site about Valencia pop up. Same voice, new language, possibly fewer Guinness references.

Want to Say Hi?

Got a question about Dublin? Want the name of a pub that won’t charge you €9.50 for a Guinness? Or maybe you’re also trying to learn Spanish and want to swap notes?

I’m around.
Drop me a line — or just read the blog and enjoy knowing what really happens behind the scenes of a city that never quite behaves the way it’s supposed to.

Welcome to Tourist Information Dublin.
It’s not official.
It’s just honest.