Guided Literary Walks

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guided walks

Guided Literary Walk

From Samuel Beckett to Bono, George Bernard Shaw, Hugh Leonard, James Joyce to Maeve Binchy, Emma Donoghue to Jennifer Johnston, some of Ireland’s most famous writers share a connection to our charming heritage town of Dalkey.

The guided literary walk combines a guided walk of Dalkey and its scenic surrounds with snippets and extracts from works by the authors.

Among the readings, landmarks and anecdotes, discover where characters in Flann O’Brien’s The Dalkey Archive drank Hurley’s tonic wine; the train tunnel that Joyce recalls in Portrait and where Chapter Two of Ulysses is set. Look out over the coastline dubbed ‘Ireland’s Amalfi Coast’ that George Bernard Shaw and Henry Cardinal Newman so admired and of which Hugh Leonard said in his play ‘Da’, “there’s a view, that if you were rich enough, you couldn’t buy it”

The walk will finish in the Maeve Binchy Memorial Garden in Dalkey Library where there’s a mosaic to Maeve’s memory.

We offer luxury experiences for those looking for something even more exclusive.

These walks must be pre-booked and a minimum group number of 10 is required.

Tickets €17 per person (10 x €17, total €170) +Booking Fees.

MAKE ENQUIRY
Tour Duration

60 Minutes

Age Restriction

12+

Capacity

16 People

Parking

Coach Parking Nearby

What our Visitors say...

  • star rating  Great fun! - Loved visiting an actual castle and especially learning about its defences. The actors and interaction really made this come to life, so well done!

    avatar thumb DY2309
    November 12, 2025

    star rating  A nice part of a day in Dalkey  - Nice to be able to see defense emplacements, the kitchen, and the church close-up at the Goat (Dalkey) castle. We enjoyed our guided tour because the reenactors were both... read more

    avatar thumb LarryB3451
    November 7, 2025

    star rating  Enjoying history - We've done this tour several times, my kids love it! It's great for families, but also for visiting groups of friends/colleagues who want a hit of history in an imaginative... read more

    avatar thumb Siobhán O
    November 1, 2025
  • star rating  Amazing Halloween tour  - Brilliant tour, the kids loved it! Actors were excellent and very engaging. Great spooky atmosphere! Definitely recommended.

    avatar thumb zapper79
    October 30, 2025

    star rating  Amazing one ! - Unique experience! Living history live with characters from the past was really entertaining. The enthusiasm and effort of the staff makes the experience really enjoyable ️

    avatar thumb chadihani123
    October 18, 2025

    star rating  Lovely experience - The Living History tour was an amazing performance !!! Entertaining, interesting and well organised.
    The Castle is in excellent condition and in general , the whole place is... read more

    avatar thumb KONSTANTINA H
    October 13, 2025
  • star rating  Perfect way to experience a castle! - This was a small castle, but it was my favorite of all the castles we went to in Ireland. The tour guide was fantastic and made us feel so... read more

    avatar thumb Julia R
    October 10, 2025

    star rating  Tottenham Court Road Play at Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre  - What a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon then at Dalkey Castle for the last performance of "Echoes" weekend. The play "Tottenham Court Road" was hilarious and the performance... read more

    avatar thumb brendat397
    October 6, 2025

    star rating  What a gem! <3  - The Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre is an absolute gem – if you are visiting Dublin a day trip to Dalkey with all its lovely cafés and restaurants but ... read more

    avatar thumb 1977mareikeg
    October 6, 2025

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Contact Us

Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
Castle Street, Dalkey, Co. Dublin,
Ireland, A96 DE61

[email protected]

+353 1 285 8366

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