Get to Dublin in an hour - for St Paddy's Day!

At Doncaster Sheffield Airport - the world's your oyster!
St Patrick's DaySt Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day

And with St Patrick’s Day around the corner, a trip to Dublin couldn’t be simpler with DSA’s new Flybe route.

The hour-long flight has proved incredibly popular since it launched last year, and DSA is expecting a flood of people heading to the Emerald City ahead of March 17 to partake in local festivities and celebrate in style.

St Patrick's DaySt Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Steve Gill, chief executive of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “Dublin is a very popular route for Yorkshire passengers and we are expecting to see lots of people travelling through the airport for St Patrick’s Day celebrations and for the final of the Rugby Six Nations which takes place on the same weekend.

“The Dublin route with Flybe offers great connectivity with US destinations for passengers from the region connecting via the Irish airport.

“New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington and Connecticut in America and Toronto in Canada are all accessible via Dublin from Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“The route to Dublin with Flybe brings the major advantage to travellers of being able to clear US immigration in the comfort of Dublin Airport before seamlessly connecting on to the US, saving large amounts of time upon arrival into the US. It means there are no border checks upon arrival in the United States as passengers are classed as domestic arrivals.

St Patrick's DaySt Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman for Dublin Visitor Centre said: “On March 17, Irish communities all over the world come together to celebrate St Patricks Day - however the biggest celebration is naturally reserved for our fair city!

“Dublin’s St Patrick’s Festival is too big to be limited to a single day, so head to Dublin to enjoy four full days of official celebrations.

“Ireland can have up to four seasons in one day, so light rain gear and sunglasses always come in useful. Streetside volunteers offer face-painting service so this could be a great way of donating to charity and getting into the festival spirit. Dress to impress by wearing some traditional Shamrock in honour of St. Patrick and all of the other ‘Paddy’s Day’ accoutrements.

“When thinking of St Patrick’s Sartorial Style, think Gaelic Mardi Gras and go as wild as you dare. There’s no such thing as too much green when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day!

St Patrick's DaySt Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The parade is, of course, the focal point of the St. Patrick’s Day Festival with thousands of marching bands, pageant groups and revellers keen to embrace the carnival ambiance. The streets will be thronged with revellers eager to get a good vantage point so arrive early and claim your spot, or book a grandstand ticket so you don’t miss out on any of the action and - best of all - you can avoid queueing.

“Following the parade, Temple Bar will be congested so leave the crowds behind and enjoy traditional Irish music at the Cobblestone Pub or visit the free craft fair at the Old Jameson Distillery in trendy Smithfield.

“Admission to the Guinness Storehouse is free if your name is Patrick or Patricia and if you are interested in continuing the party then the Tivoli Theatre on Francis Street is holding the inaugural Paddy Fest.”

Sounds like a heck of a weekend doesn’t it?

Chris page and friends in DublinChris page and friends in Dublin
Chris page and friends in Dublin

And South Yorkshire journalist Chris Page knows exactly how simple the flight from Doncaster to Dublin is...

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There truly is something for everyone in this Emerald Isle gem of a city,” said Chris, who has previously travelled to Dublin from DSA.

“It has never been easier, or quicker, to reach Dublin than from Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Indeed, the hour-long journey takes less time, and is less tortuous, than many a local work commute. And the trip was a fix that no lust-for-lifer could refuse. My time in Dublin provided an intoxicating cocktail of culture and revelry. Dublin’s fair city – where the girls are indeed so pretty and, moreover, the gulls are pretty raucous – didn’t disappoint in any area.

“Dublin Bus is a capital idea – along with ipad, iphone and android-friendly Discover Dublin Trails Visit Dublin – to tour the beating heart of Leinster’s east coast province. You’ll traverse the city’s famed arterial river across O’Connell Bridge, Europe’s only such structure whose width equals its length. The hop on, hop off introduction allows the visitor to best enjoy a taste of Ireland’s biggest city.

“Speaking of which, seamlessly, first stop the Liffey liquid shrine that is The Guinness Storehouse Plant tours include such eye-opening delights as the wonder wall fall of water, key to the time-honoured secret brewing process. The Skyscraping Gravity Bar, affording eagle-eye panoramic vistas for miles around, is one bar with views afar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Girls and boys from the black stuff serve a pint of free finest stout, perfectly poured at optimum 45 degree angle, for all who make it to such heady heights. The floor below confirms stag and hen parties aplenty can indeed organise a party in this particular brewery. There, pint-sized River Dancers held ceilidh centre stage, stepping out to strains of shamrock ‘n’ roll salty sea shanties. That this is a must-see place to visit is as black and white as the heady burnt barley brew itself.

St Patrick's DaySt Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day

“Then try a shot at tasting uisce beatha at Old Jameson Distillery Teeling Whiskey Museum and The Irish Whiskey Museum. Also well worth a visit are historic inns, thirst choice for such literary giants as Joyce, Behan and Beckett. And newcomers can raise a glass to Ireland’s oldest pub, The Brazen Head, where pumps have been manned since 1198.

“The Cobblestone sees – and hears – troubadours’ traditional music off the Temple Bar beaten track, far from the madding crowd, in an authentic alternative to commercial city centre sites.

“Young and old alike join the throng, from the tiny tot with a crop of molten gold atop his nodding head, to the greying grandma boasting a bassoon almost as big as her bosom. The pub couldn’t be more Dub were famous favourite sons Bono, Geldof, Lynott, indeed folk balladeers The Dubliners themselves, propping the bar alongside locals likely as regular as a bodhran’s beat.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And a quick search of DSA’s website has turned up flights and hotels packages from £99pp price for flights only for the St Paddy’s weekend.

Visit www.flydsa.co.uk to day to book your St Patrick’s Day weekend.