Book of Kells App
Among tourists, it's possibly the most famous individual item in Dublin, attracting half a million visitors a year to the Old Library in Trinity. Photographing or filming the 1,200 year old manuscript is strictly a no-no, but now you can browse it at will with your own Book of Kells iPad app. Now it's hardly a blockbusting, page-turner, but it has all 680 gorgeous, intricate plates, some rendered at super-high resolution, with lots of information.
€11.99 from the App Store only; unfortunately, no Android version yet.
Dublin City Maps and Walks App
On the other hand, if you'd prefer to get down and dirty in Dublin with a self-guided walkabout, several smartphone apps will help you get lost. In a good way. Dublin's version of the City Map and Walks app doesn't quite have the narrative-richness of Storymap, featured previously here. But it's got plenty of content with 13 different themed walks and turn-by-turn directions. Unless you're following its Pub Crawl route of course, where you may end up freestyling somewhat. All our major cities have their own versions. Oh, and Dingle.
€4.99 from gpsmycity.com, with a Lite version free
Dublin City Free WiFi
With more and more coffee shops, pubs and even public transport offering WiFi access, Dublin City Council is doing its bit with a series of 14 free hotspots around the city centre. Focusing on touristy areas such as Temple Bar and Merrion Square, some other locations are not so obvious. Watch out for the eclectic roster of mosaic icons which mark the hotspots. Phil Lynott we get, but "Tourist"? Anyway, great initiative: let's roll out more.
See dublincity.ie for details
TOM KELLY
betweenideas@gmail.com
