Accommodation
The Generator Hostel, Smithfield Square, provides a location very close to DIT Grangegorman and a short Luas ride away from the city centre and Trinity College. The room rates are perfect for students on a budget, and the surroundings are terribly hip. The Hostel is served by the Red Luas Line, the stop is Smithfield. Plus it’s opposite The Lighthouse Cinema. Bonus.
Also in Smithfield Square, The Maldron Hotel provides basic hotel accommodation at a reasonable rate.
Transport
From Dublin Airport, Dublin Bus operates a regular bus service (the 747, geddit?), which runs from outside both Terminal 1 and 2. A return ticket is €10 and a single is €6. If you get off the bus at the Central Bus Station, or at a Red Luas line stop, you can take the Luas towards Smithfield Square (if you happen to be staying in The Generator Hostel or the Maldron). The Visitor Leap Card also includes the 747 Airport Bus (see below).
Air Coach also operate a service, from Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre.
If you plan to explore a little, a Visitor Leap Card can be useful. It works on buses and the Luas (think London, think Oyster card, only designed by Kermit the Frog). It costs €19.50, and is available from the Spar in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, as well as the Info Desk in Arrivals, valid for 72 hours.
If you’re arriving by train into Heuston Station, the Red Luas Line runs from just outside, travel towards The Point or Connolly on this route, and alight at Smithfield.
Eats
Around DIT Grangegorman:
Third Space (deliciously cool café) – My Meat Wagon (yes… lots of meat, BBQ-type place, frontier-style) – Oscars (really reasonable main courses, next to the Cinema) – and maybe you want some fancy dinner in Seven Social.
And for that thirst-quenching sup, Dice Bar provides salty snacks and frothy beers.
Around Trinity College Dublin:
Lemon (pancakes and melts). On Dawson Street, next to the saliva-worthy Hodges Figgis bookshop. To eat/peruse, go out the side gate of Trinity College, accessed through the Arts Block, and cross the road.
KC Peaches (you can fill your plate for a small fee). Nassau Street, out the side gate of Trinity College, through the Arts Block, and then cross the road and go left.
The Farm provides food that you can trust, tasty and ethically minded, good for a main meal, this is just opposite Lemon on Dawson Street.
Travelling Between DIT Grangegorman and Trinity College/City Centre
This map outlines the public transport options travelling to and from DIT Grangegorman. The conference is being held in St. Laurence’s Church, towards the south of the map, and from here to the Smithfield stop on the Red Luas Line is approximately a 5 minute walk. Take the Luas towards the city centre (towards The Point or Connolly), and get off at Abbey Street for Trinity College. Walk across O’Connell Bridge, up Westmoreland Street and Trinity College is right in front of you. If you continue around Trinity College, you’ll find yourself at the bottom of Grafton Street.