Location

The 2018 summer school will be hosted at Dublin City University (DCU), where accommodation, breakfast and lunch will be provided. DCU is a young, dynamic and ambitious university, located at a modern campus in Glasnevin, just north of Dublin city centre. It admitted its first students in 1980, and since then has grown in both student numbers and size. The School of Physical Sciences was established in 1980 and has active research groups in astrophysics, laser and plasma physics, atomic physics, materials science, optical sensors, and maths and science education.

Dublin is a vibrant European capital city, renowned for its welcoming and friendly atmosphere, its rich history and culture, live music and nightlife. Located at the mouth of the river Liffey on the East coast of Ireland, the city has a young and growing population of over one million people. It was founded in medieval times as a Viking settlement, later becoming the centre of Norman and then British power in Ireland, and after independence was achieved it became the capital city of the Republic of Ireland.

Dublin expanded hugely during the economic boom in the early 2000s and has become a popular tourist hub for visitors to the country. Information on tours, museums, sights and attractions can be found at the Visit Dublin tourism website. Local travel information is available on the Transport for Ireland website.

Accommodation

We have booked a block of rooms on campus at DCU for school participants, including breakfast and lunch each day. These are within easy walking distance of the school lecture room.

We offer a single room with ensuite bathroom and shower, free wi-fi, a work desk, facilities for making tea and coffee, toiletries and daily towel change. Guests have access to shared living space which includes kitchen facilities, dining & lounge area. More information, including some photos, can be found on the DCU Rooms website.

The on-campus rooms will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Dublin hotels and guesthouses are currently very expensive because of lack of supply and a strong economy, so we encourage all participants to register and book their on-campus accommodation as soon as possible.

Travel to and within Dublin

Dublin airport has good links to most cities in Europe through Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and other airlines. It also has many direct flights to North America, and almost hourly flights connecting to London Heathrow for onward intercontinental travel.

The Aircoach and Dublin Bus have connections from the airport to the city centre, and taxis are also available.

Public transport in Dublin consists of buses, trams, and commuter rail lines. On all of these services you can pay cash for your tickets, but it is cheaper and easier to buy a Leap card, top it up with credit, and tag on/off whenever you use public transport. DCU have a useful public transport page.