box, off-site venues are plentiful, too — from museums to breweries, universities to stately country homes, cookery schools to distill- eries, and castles to traditional farms, there’s a space with special Irish charm to suit every type of event.

Heritage Ireland’s centuries of history have built a layered, multidimensional cul- ture deeply rooted in its customs. Groups that convene in Ireland will find many ways to immerse themselves in Irish traditions, whether it’s learning to play the Irish sports of Gaelic football and hurling, or the art of Irish step dancing.

Gastronomy Groups will find a new genera- tion of talented chefs at the helm of Ireland’s pubs, cafés, and Michelin-starred restaurants, whipping up everything from traditional deli- cacies to innovative cuisine. Visits to historic markets, such as the English Market in Cork or St. George’s Market in Belfast, give visitors the opportunity to meet local artisan food producers.

Hospitality There’s a reason why Ireland is known as “the land of a thousand welcomes.” The warm, welcoming nature of the Irish people is legendary, and meeting planners and their attendees will experience it from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.

DUBLIN Think of Dublin as Ireland’s heartbeat — a colorful, cosmopolitan metropolis steeped in centuries of history as well as museums, art galleries, rousing live music, and even some unexpected cultural discoveries. The city also has a variety of purpose-built and unique venues for meetings and events, like the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), which opened in 2010 as the world’s first carbon- neutral–constructed convention center. The landmark building has been designed to take advantage of its scenic location over- looking the River Liffey with a soaring glass atrium that stretches from floor to ceiling. In total, the CCD offers 22 meeting rooms, a

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2,000-seat auditorium, 48,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 3,000-seat theater, and banquet facilities for up to 2,000 guests. Another versatile venue for larger groups,

the 51,700-seat Aviva Stadium has welcomed more than 1.8 million spectators for rugby, soccer, and concert events. This past Septem- ber, Aviva Stadium hosted the Notre Dame vs. U.S. Navy football game, attracting fans from all over, including 35,000 visitors from the United States. Meeting planners can utilize the stadium

for anything from galas to outdoor events for groups of up to 2,000. Croke Park — home to an 82,300-seat stadium — also offers a dedicated conference center with 87 meet- ing rooms and eight conference suites. The adjacent, four-star Croke Park Hotel has addi- tional meeting facilities and 232 guest rooms. For events that spark the imagination,

historic venues like the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) have provided storied, flexible settings since the 1800s. The 42-acre RDS has 10 mul- tipurpose conference and exhibition halls, an outdoor stadium, and multiple concert venues for up to 35,000 people, along with a range of meeting rooms, restaurants, and outdoor spaces for events, banquets, exhi- bitions, and meetings of all kinds. The site has played host to the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit, and concerts by everyone from Andrea Bocelli to Jay-Z. For off-site events with a big wow factor,

attractions like the Guinness Storehouse and Old Jameson Distillery can create memora- ble functions with local flair. Guests can learn how to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse, which offers six floors of varied spaces and full-service catering for events of up to 2,000. The Old Jameson Distillery on Bow Street can arrange whiskey tastings, guided tours, and dinners with traditional Irish music and dancing for groups of up to 500. And just north of the city center, Mala- hide Castle dates back to the 12th century and provides a majestic setting for gala events. Getting around Dublin is simple — many

of the city’s popular attractions, hotels, and venues are within easy walking distance of each other, and public transportation, like the Luas light-rail transit system, is plentiful.

Easy access Sixty-three airlines offer more than 190 routes into Ireland, including many direct flights from several U.S. gateway cities to Dublin, Belfast, and Shannon airports. Passengers departing from Dublin or Shannon airports to the U.S. pre-clear customs and immigration prior to boarding flights, and luggage for passengers with connecting flights is checked through to their final destination.

City of quarters Belfast’s lively arts scene centers around Cathedral Quarter, where visitors can catch one of the city’s many festivals, performances, and cultural events. In Queen’s Quarter, meeting planners can host conferences within the magnificent Lanyon Building of Queen’s University. And the recently revitalized dockyards, where the Titanic was built a century ago, are now known as the Titanic Quarter.

NOVEMBER 2012 PCMA CONVENE 81