A is for Aras, the palace of kings,
Or rather our President, as ‘an Uachtarain’ means
B is for buskers, playing their pitches
Singing and dancing, and hoping for riches
C is for Christ Church, the cathedral of bells
With the cat and the mouse below in the cells
D is for the Dead Zoo, in Merrion Square
Home to the hippo and the American bear (rip)
E is for EPIC, the museum of leaving
Weaving the lives of achieving and grieving
F is for famine, lest we ever forget
The famished and frail lonely figures on foot
G is for the GPO, proclaiming the Rising
Though for most at that time, it was rather surprising
H is for the Ha’penny Bridge, arching the Liffey
To get from north to south – well worth the fee
I is for IMMA and the Museum of Modern Art-ism
Cubism, Abstract expressionism, Post minimalism and whatever you are having yourself
J is for the Jeanie Johnston – the skeleton ship
Sixteen saving voyages, 100 days round trip
K is for Kilmainham, the killing place Gaol
Where the rising revolutionaries ended, and started the tale
L is for Leinster House, with more tales to tell
Most of them lies and none ending well
M is for Molly – the fishmonger so eager
Selling her wares but dying of fever
N is for the National Botanic Gardens, close by the Tolka
Where flowers and trees in the breeze, are dancing a polka
O is for Oscar – a charming man of great wit
Wilde were his exploits, a clear YouTube hit
P is for Poolbeg or Pigeon House towers
Where Dubs on the beach sit and while away hours
The Q is for chips or post-Covid shops
Standing in lines, waiting, watching the clocks
R is for the RDS resplendent on Horse Show Week.
Horses and riders prancing and dancing on peat
S is for the Spire – a magnificent spike
Looking down over the city from its light-bringing height
T is for Trinity and the great halls made to learn
Filling those heads with brains fit to burn
U is for U2, and as Bono would say
Even if the streets have no name, ‘it’s a beautiful day’
V is for Vikings, who first plundered this place
Now, even worse, it’s the Vulture funds that we face
W is for weather and always worth talking
With the wind and the rain, hardly stopping the walking
X marks the spot wherever you’re found
In Dublin’s Fair City, all’s bound to be sound
Y is for questions, so many its true
But once you’re in Dublin, expect one or two
Z is the final place of this ditty
The zoo with the animals not let loose in the city
Alphabet Blitz for the City of Dublin 