Stillorgan is to the south of Dublin, close to Dun Laoghaire, with it's sailings to and from Holyhead. Once a village, it is now firmly established as a suburb of the city, it is mainly residential and really a commuter area for the city of Dublin.
Stillorgan Mini Guide
Most visitors to Stillorgan are there to visit Dublin and there is so much to this thrilling cosmopolitan city, however, there are some places close to Stillorgan which are well worth visiting. Dalkey Castle and Heritage centre for instance, which is just south of Dun Laoghaire and where you can engage in a live theatre performance featuring Tudor history – an excellent way to get a history lesson across to children. Or Rathfarnham Castle with it's interesting 18th century interiors, together with it's park which has been restored to it's former glory and now houses a rich variety of animals and birds.
South Dublin is where you will find some of the most scenic parts of the area, the Griffeen river – a tributary of the Liffey flows through the Griffeen Vallley Park of Lucan and is crossed by King John's Bridge which is reputed to be Ireland's oldest. In Tallaght you will find the Sean Walsh Memorial Park which provides landscaped parklands and formal gardens for visitors – a green oasis in the centre of suburbia. In Clondalkin, further to the east, you will find the Corkagh Park Fishery, one of the many angling centres around the area, this superb fishery has around 7 acres of fishing space, comprising a trout lake and a coarse lake, in fact the whole of the Liffey Valley has something for the outdoor enthusiast.
Stillorgan is only three miles from Leopardstown, the famous race course, there are meetings held here throughout the year and in particular the popular Christmas Festival which begins on 26th December. Also not too far away is Punchestown another of the famous Irish courses which has regular racing events held throughout the year.
Slightly further to the south is the weekend resort of Bray in County Wicklow, this is still only 30 minutes from Dublin city centre and is mainly used by Dubliners on their weekend's off, many of the more well to do people from the city have holiday homes here. Bray is on the coast but with the mountains of Wicklow as a stunning backdrop, this is the oldest established seaside resort in Ireland and has a mile long beach front promenade. There are some pretty shops here, selling more individual items and craftwork than you may find in Dublin itself, also plenty of good restaurants and the inevitable traditional pubs. If you decide to stay in Bray you will find several hotels and guest houses, here and in the surrounding area to suit all tastes and budgets.