Gender or Bender?? Dublin...

This week we are off to the Emerald Isle, and it's capital city Dublin. I have been here three times, once for my 29th birthday, for El Grande Queso's stag night, and most recently for Molecats final fling. But is it a place to rekindle a relationship? Or are you better off having your blood type tattooed to your forehead, in case of resuscitation?

Price- A very cheap place to get too, thanks to RyanAir, but that is about the only thing that is cheap. If you are stying in a hostel on the edge of the town centre, big up to the Paulcano for finding one, you can find cheap accommodation, but if you are hoping to impress your partner, with a decent hotel, make sure your bank account is well stocked, because it ain't cheap. in fact quite the opposite. I do know of one hotel that bridges the gap between the two, but it still is a favoured haunt of lads on the piss. Temple Bar is the local tourist trap, and has prices to match. Anywhere that you get into free, and has a late opening time, will up their prices on the hour, every hour after midnight. Lobon got stiffed for about £9, when he got a vodka and coke in the small hours. Even away from the bright lights you will not find a pint for under £4, the cheapest I found was at the Guinness store house, more of which later. 3/10

People- Much is made off the Irish hospitality, but the bouncers down Temple Bar can be less than accommodating on a busy weekend night. On my first visit, as long as you weren't as arsed as Dutch was, entry seemed a pretty straight forward affair, but the dawn off budget airlines, in particular RyanAir, saw the rise of the Stag night, and it got nigh on impossible to get into a nightclub. Things have cooled since then, with the economic downturn and all, so it has improved. The locals seem friendly enough, although they are scarce on the ground in Temple Bar, where you are more likely to encounter Yanks and Australians, than a Dubliner. I prefer the bars around Trinity College, it is more relaxed, and at my age, not quite as hectic. The local talent is above average, but if you are desperate to pick up a chick, you are better off targeting the plethora of British hen parties carousing the streets. The bartenders are amazing, you never seem to get held up at the bar, even though they are pouring gallons of the slow poured Guinness at any given time. 7/10

Stuff- There are probably some very nice cultural things to do in Dublin. I am aware of the Book of Kells, and the National Galleries collection of works by Yeats, but just about everything else centres around the pub. Even the shopping is nothing special, the main retail area on Grafton Street resembles just about any British high street you care to mention. The main tourist draw is the Guinness storehouse at the brewery. It isn't cheap to get in, about £13, and you only get one free drink, in the impressive Gravity Bar, but it is good spot to kill an afternoon, as it has four different bars through out, that serve the cheapest pint of the dark stuff that I found. The Gravity bar at the end is brilliant, giving an uninterrupted view of the city. The taxi driver on the way back gave us a good tip for if you want to score some extra free beer. Most of the people who go to the Gravity bar, where they only serve complimentary pints, don't actually like the stuff, and will take a couple of sips and leave it, meaning a free pint for those not concerned about drinking out of somebody else glass. Apart from that, there isn't much to do but supp. 6/10

Reputation- A well known destination for those in search of a bender. Of course this means that some folk take a dim view of the English shenanigans, but what the hey. It is a small town, no bigger than Leeds, so getting around is quite easy. The missus is also likely to more receptive to a Dublin jaunt, as there is no famous red light district, and because of the lack of anything else to do but drink, a short two night session is ample time. 5/10

Intrigue- A tough one. It's a place that before you have been, you really want to go, but once you have been you kind of wouldn't rush back. Of course, because you can get there for next to nowt, there is always the possibility of another jaunt, but if I was to raise a trip just for the Hell of it, I can imagine the take up being fairly low, due to the fact that just about everybody has been there. That said, the Shouty Saltaire Posse wouldn't mind a go, so if it were just a one night flyer I would be up for it again. 4/10

Verdict; 25/50 Price apart, a great place for a lairy night on the tiles with the lads. Can't see there being much to keep the missus diverted though. On the Razz with the Ladz, a definite......
BENDER