dublin guide

Podcards Worksheet High Level

This student worksheet is free to download and print for use in the classroom or for self-study. It is meant to be used in conjunction

with the listening file which is available in mp3 format. However, the transcript can be used not only to check answers but also for

reading comprehension and vocabulary ©eslpodcards.com 2006-2007

Dublin - Town Guide

Activity 1

Write the adjectives used to describe the following things:

• The climate: _______________

• How the South Side used to be thought of: _______________

• The family residence of the Earl of Kildare: _______________ • Ulysses (x2): _______________

• The wit of Oscar Wilde: _______________ • Dublin's economic success sine the mid 1990's: _______________

• Dublin's sports stadiums: _______________ • Temple Bar: _______________

• The atmosphere of Temple Bar: ________________________

• Temple Bar at weekends: ________________________

Activity 2

Answer the following questions:

1. What did the Vikings predominantly use to buy and sell in Dublin?

_______________________________________________________

2. What is the city's motto?

_______________________________________________________

3. If your postal district is 27, do you live in the north or the south of Dublin?

_______________________________________________________

4. In 2006, how many cities in the world were more expensive than Dublin?

_______________________________________________________

5. Where is Gaelic football played in Dublin?

_______________________________________________________

6. Where is the home of the national rugby team?

_______________________________________________________

7. What type of beer is Guinness?

_______________________________________________________

8. How long has Guinness been brewed in Dublin?

_______________________________________________________

9. If someone said your sandwich was manky, would you eat it? Why?

_______________________________________________________





Activity 3

Listen and complete the gaps:

Dublin is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Ireland, situated

at the _________ of the River Liffey. It is widely believed that Dublin was

founded by the Vikings as a centre for their _________ trade and today

has a population of _________ half a million. The motto of the city is

rather nice: "Happy is the city where

citizens _________ ".

It has a relatively _________ climate due to its proximity to the sea. The _________ January temperature is 8ºc _________ that of July is 20ºc. The

wettest month is December with an average rainfall of 76mm, _________ the driest is February with a _________ 50mm! In any case it's probably best to

bring an umbrella.

The River Liffey runs right _________ the centre of the city and acts as a

natural divide between the north and the south. A north \ south _________ exists in the city, with the north being considered _________ class and the

south as middle to _________ class. This division is even reflected in the city's postal districts - the north has _________ numbers and the south has even

ones.

_________, this wasn't always the case. The south side used to be less than well-considered, until, that is, The Earl of Kildare decided to build his

_________ family residence there. When asked why he had done such a thing

he stated, rather _________, "Where I go, fashion follows me". The majority of the Irish _________ proved him right by promptly moving there too!

Dublin is a _________ cultural centre. Many great artists and writers were or

are from here, such as James Joyce, whose works include the _________ and controversial Ulysses, Oscar Wilde, whose _________ is legendary, Samuel

Beckett, Bram Stoker, author of _________ the most famous horror novel of all time, Dracula, and more recently award-winning Roddy Doyle. Dublin is also

home to The National Gallery of Ireland, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The National _________ Museum of Ireland as well as a large number of

_________ and Arts Centres.

Ireland has enjoyed a considerable _________ of economic success since the

mid 1990's which has helped it _________ the traditional migratory trend. Young people used to leave Ireland, mainly in search of work but now it

_________ welcomes immigrants, especially to Dublin. These immigrants are mainly from the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand _________ there is a





rising number of ______-_________ English speakers arriving, especially from

China, Korea, India, Nigeria and eastern Europe. In 2006 Dublin was _________ the 16th most expensive city in the world with the ______ best

quality of life.

Dublin _________ two impressive sports stadiums. The first, Croke Park, spelt c-r-o-k-e, is where _________ Irish games are played - Gaelic football and

_________. The second, Landsdowne Road, _________ l-a-n-d-s-d-o-w-n-e,

until 2006 was the world's oldest still functional sports stadium and home to the Irish football and rugby teams.

Any visit to or _________ of Dublin

wouldn't be complete without mentioning that most famous of

_________ - Guinness. You either love it or hate it, but you can't _________

it. It has been _________ at the St James's Gate Brewery since

_________, where you can visit with a

guided tour and trip to the bar to sample it as it should be. It's a must. If

you get a _________ for 'the black stuff' you can carry on with your 'research' in Dublin's famous Temple Bar

_________. This vibrant area is jammed full with bars, pubs and restaurants and music and singing help to create a _________ atmosphere. On any given

weekend you'll find _________ and stag parties, groups of all men or all women celebrating their final days of being single before they get _________.

Unfortunately this has become especially popular with parties from the UK and it gets a bit too _________ so most locals actually avoid this area at the

weekends.

Finally, one or two _________ words to listen out for. If something is 'grand' it

is great. If someone says you're an 'eegit' you're an _________. If you're looking for the 'craic' it means you want to have some _________. If

something is _________ you'll often hear 'manky' and to have a look at something is to have a 'decko'.

There are _________ more but you'll just have to come here to hear them. If

you do, enjoy the craic!





Transcript

Dublin is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Ireland, situated at the mouth of the River Liffey. It is widely believed that Dublin was founded by the

Vikings as a centre for their slave trade and today has a population of roughly half a million. The motto of the city is rather nice: "Happy is the city where

citizens obey"

It has a relatively mild climate due to its proximity to the sea. The average

January temperature is 8ºc while that of July is 20ºc. The wettest month is

December with an average rainfall of

76mm, whereas the driest is February with a mere 50mm! In any case it's

probably best to bring an umbrella.

The River Liffey runs right through the centre of the city and acts as a natural

divide between the north and the south. A north \ south rivalry exists in the city, with the north being considered working class and the south as middle to

upper class. This division is even reflected in the city's postal districts - the north has odd numbers and the south has even ones.

However, this wasn't always the case. The south side used to be less than well-considered, until, that is, The Earl of Kildare decided to build his plush

family residence there. When asked why he had done such a thing he stated, rather arrogantly, "Where I go, fashion follows me". The majority of the Irish

peers proved him right by promptly moving there too!

Dublin is a significant cultural centre. Many great artists and writers were or

are from here, such as James Joyce, whose works include the renowned and controversial Ulysses, Oscar Wilde, whose wit is legendary, Samuel Beckett,

Bram Stoker, author of arguably the most famous horror novel of all time, Dracula, and more recently award-winning Roddy Doyle.

Dublin is also home to The National Gallery of Ireland, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The National Print Museum of Ireland as well as a large number of

theatres and Arts Centres.

Ireland has enjoyed a considerable degree of economic success since the mid 1990's which

has helped it reverse the traditional migratory

trend. Young people used to leave Ireland, mainly in search of work but now it actually

welcomes immigrants, especially to Dublin. These immigrants are mainly from the UK, the

US, Australia and New Zealand although there is a rising number of non-native English speakers





arriving, especially from China, Korea, India, Nigeria and eastern Europe. In

2006 Dublin was ranked the 16th most expensive city in the world with the 24th best quality of life.

Dublin boasts two impressive sports stadiums. The first, Croke Park, spelt c-r-

o-k-e, is where exclusively Irish games are played - Gaelic football and hurling. The second, Landsdowne Road, spelt l-a-n-d-s-d-o-w-n-e, until 2006 was the

world's oldest still functional sports stadium and home to the Irish football and

rugby teams.

Any visit to or mention of Dublin wouldn't be complete without mentioning that most famous of stouts - Guinness. You either love it or hate it, but you can't

ignore it. It has been brewed at the St James's Gate Brewery since 1759, where you can visit with a guided tour and trip to the bar to sample it as it

should be. It's a must. If you get a taste for 'the black stuff' you can carry on with your 'research' in Dublin's famous Temple Bar district. This vibrant area is

jammed full with bars, pubs and restaurants and music and singing help to create a buzzing atmosphere. On any given weekend you'll find hen and stag

parties, groups of all men or all women celebrating their final days of being

single before they get married. Unfortunately this has become especially popular with parties from the UK and it gets a bit too crowded so most locals

actually avoid this area at the weekends.

Finally, one or two local words to listen out for. If something is 'grand' it is great. If someone says you're an 'eegit' you're an idiot. If you're looking for

the 'craic' it means you want to have some fun. If something is dirty you'll often hear 'manky' and to have a look at something is to have a 'decko'.

There are hundreds more but you'll just have to come here to hear them. If you do, enjoy the craic!

dublin guide

Documents

traditional

winning roddy

functional

impressive

river liffey

river liffey

irish museum

student worksheet