Private Dublin Historical and Heritage Tour by Bike

1. O'Donovan Rossa Bridge - A historic crossing at the heart of the city, rebuilt in 1875 on the foundations of the 1755 original. You'll hear the story of the original custom house nearby, the hotel with links to a famous rock band, and the confluence of two rivers that gave Dublin its name. (10 min)
2. Dublin Castle - Pass through the courtyard of what was the centre of British administration in Ireland. The architecture spans the 12th to 18th centuries, with visible remnants of early Norman rule. (10 min)
3. Dubh Linn Gardens - A city-centre garden on the site of the "dark pool" that gives Dublin its Irish name. Stop to see the circular garden, the Garda Memorial, the David and Goliath statue, the Special Olympics tribute, and hear about the Chester Beatty Museum and Library nearby. (10 min)
4. Cornmarket / Meath Street area - A fascinating street corner in the medieval city. Look out for the old city walls marked in metal plates, learn about Jonathan Swift's birthplace, a mistranslated street name, and the story of the suffragettes arrested here. (15 min)
5. St. Patrick's Cathedral - The rival to Christ Church, with majestic gardens and Norman walls still intact nearby. (5 min)
6. Teelings Distillery, the Liberties - A working-class Dublin district with a deep connection to whiskey. Hear the story of the great whiskey fire of Dublin in the 19th century. (5 min)
7. The Liberties - One of Dublin's oldest residential areas, with 19th and 20th-century streetscapes and a strong link to the Guinness business. (5 min)
8. Irish Museum of Modern Art and Kilmainham Cemetery - Originally the Royal Kilmainham Hospital (17th century), the building now houses IMMA. Stop by the gardens overlooking the city, then visit Dublin's oldest cemetery nearby. (15 min)
9. Kilmainham Gaol - Stand outside the entrance to this once-notorious prison, the site of public executions in earlier centuries and now one of Ireland's most visited museums. (5 min)
10. War Memorial Gardens - Peaceful, traffic-free paths built to remember those who died in the First World War. Continue by cycle path along the River Liffey to the historic village of Chapelizod. (pass by)
11. Phoenix Park - Enter one of Europe's largest urban parks through its 17th-century walls and pedal along dedicated cycle paths. With a bit of luck, you'll have company from the resident deer herd. (pass by)
12. Croppies Acre and Collins Barracks - According to tradition, a burial ground for those who died in the 1798 rebellion. Look across the river at the Guinness Brewery and learn about Collins Barracks, now the National Museum of Decorative Arts and History. (5 min)

Meeting point: Bike rails outside the Bike Stop shop, 37 Capel Street, just south of the junction with Mary Street.