If you’re heading to Dublin to see Handel’s Messiah in the National Concert Hall then why not book one of our Dublin hotels that are located close by; you can either head up the night before and relax on the day of the show, or stay the night after your show and opt for a spot of retail therapy.
The National Concert Hall is located in the city centre just south of St Stephens Green on Earlsfort Terrace. If you’re on walking and starting from the city centre on O’Connell Street, then you can head south across the river and walk past Trinity College to Grafton Street. Walk the length of Grafton Street until you find St Stephens Green. Earlsfort Terrace is located on the opposite side of the park and the National Concert Hall is about half way down the street.
There are a number of public transport options that are convenient to the National Concert Hall. Firstly there’s a Luas stop about 5 minutes away on Harcourt Street and a DART Station on Pearce Street, though it’s a fair walk away. A number of bus routes pass nearby, including 10, 11, 13, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 27C, 44, 46A, 46B, 48A, 68.
If you’re travelling by car it should be noted that the National Concert Hall has no parking facilities of its own, though there are a number of car parks nearby that you might avail of, The Royal College of Surgeons car park, Dawson Street car park, Drury Street car park, Park Rite car park and St Stephen’s Green car park, or if you’re lucky enough there’s also some on street parking.
The National Concert Hall is Ireland’s premier classical music concert venue. The building started originally as part of the UCD campus in 1865. During the 60′s UCD began to move its campus to the northside so the building was converted as a National Concert Hall which opened in 1981. In recent years UCD has completely moved out of the building allowing the NCH to be refurbished to bring it up to the same standards as its rivals in Europe.
Composed in the summer of 1741 the oratorio, Messiah, premiered for the first time in Dublin during the spring of 1742. From December 12th to the 14th Messiah, the most famous of George Frideric Handel’s works, returns to Dublin some 265 years after its first performance. This oratorio tells the story of the life of Jesus and it was traditional to play it during Easter, but after Handel’s death it became more common for it to be performed during Advent in the run up to Christmas. The original story of Messiah is taken from the King James Bible and consists of 3 parts of Jesus Christ’s life; his Birth, the Passion and the Aftermath. In the lead up to Christmas it’s common to just perform the first part of the oratorio as well as the famous Hallelujah chorus.
As 2007 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations with Japan, the Our Lady’s Choral Society proudly presents Hiroya Aoki and three other Irish soloists for this production of Messiah.
If you’re looking for a Dublin hotel, there are plenty in and around the National Concert Hall. Situated on the opposite side of the street there’s the luxurious, 5-Star Conrad Dublin hotel.
Located on nearby streets you can find the 5 star Westbury Hotel which is just off Grafton Street while on St Stephens Green there’s the 4 star O’Callaghan Stephens Green Hotel.
The 3 star Harcourt Hotel and the Russell Court Hotel are both located on Harcourt Street. Also on this street is the 2 star Jackson Court Hotel.
The Kildare Street Hotel is another 2 star and on Lower Leeson Street and you can find the 3 star Premier Suites Dublin and The Leeson Court Hotel, which is unclassified but is about 2 star level also on this street.
As you can see there are a wide selection of Dublin hotels situated close to the National Concert Hall. And when you stay in one of these hotels you will be located within walking distance of the city centre and to Temple Bar which is the nightlife capital of the city.
If you have any queries about any of our Dublin hotels feel free to contact us. Just leave a message in the comment box below and we’ll get back to you.
