Dublin, the capital of Ireland, the Emerald Isle, is a city rich in history, culture, sport and gastronomy. Its literary history is world famous, producing such figures as Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw. It's also famously known as the home of James Joyce. More contemporary figures from Dublin include singer Sinead O'Connor, the rock band U2, and actor Colin Farrell. And the food, oh the food! Many may first think of France or Italy when thinking of fine cuisine across the pond. But Dublin has some fantastic surprises that are putting the city on the international culinary map.

Staying in Dublin can be affordable AND comfortable. The following cheap hotels in Dublin provide guests with the means for a restful, memorable and frugal trip to Ireland.

The Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley is located on the N4, just six miles from the center of the city. It is beside the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, which boasts 85 shops. The all-inclusive hotel is like a city itself, with large and comfortable rooms, the Kudos Bar with an Asian Wok station, the SanoVitae Health and Fitness Club and Sinergie Restaurant (Mediterranean-Irish fusion). For those who would rather go on foot and explore the surroundings for a meal, try the Spurs Family Restaurant, at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. The casual and budget-friendly restaurant has no less than a dozen burgers, including: Hawaiian, BLT, Guacamole and Cheddamelt. There are steaks of all kinds, fish and Tex-Mex, as well as a good variety of vegetarian items.

The Bracken Court is at Bridge Street in Balbriggan, a fishing village outside of Dublin. It is a four-star hotel situated close to a variety of activities, including fishing, horseback-riding and golf. There are 66 en-suite rooms, and they include all the basic amenities, including Wi-Fi. There is also a restaurant on site. Jack Doyle's Bar in the hotel has regular live entertainment for those who choose to remain close to "home." Venturing out a bit, guests will be treated to a variety of restaurant options, but one to try is Jaffa's, at Balbriggan Business Campus. The cafe serves up an amazing variety of paninis, wraps, bagels, jacket potatoes, salads, and burgers. Try the chicken and brie salad, or the Devil's Breath burger if you dare. Finish off your meal with a delicious espresso or cappuccino outside on the porch.

The Pembroke Townhouse is an 18th century Georgian townhouse located in Ballsbridge, Dublin's business district. It's only a few steps from the shops of St. Stephen's Green as well as Grafton Street where there are many restaurants, cafes and shops in the vicinity. Situated like a guesthouse, Pembroke Townhouse offers guests the opportunity to "raid the kitchen" in the middle of the night for cookies, read in the drawing room, or rest comfortably in their rooms stocked with fluffy towels, crisp sheets, Wi-Fi, Green tea toiletries, blow dryer, cable TV, coffee and cookies in the room, mini safe and original artworks. Only five minutes away is Olivier's @ the Schoolhouse, a restaurant that specializes in local Irish food, and is a favorite of the Pembroke staff.Specials include Pan-fried Lamb Sweetbreads, Balbriggan Scallops, Roasted Ballotine of Partridge, Fillet of Wicklow Venison, and Paddy Byrne Organic Vegetables.

Harrington Hall, 69-70 Harcourt Street, is a boutique hotel in a townhouse, with an amazing Dublin City Center location, close to St. Stephen's Green. It's less than five minutes from Grafton Street, the site of many shops, restaurants, pubs and theatres. The National Concert Hall and Trinity College are also just a few minutes away. Harrington Hall exudes elegance and hospitality. Start your day with a hearty, traditional Irish breakfast featuring fresh produce. Throughout the day, order from the guest service menu for items such as hot/cold snacks, beer, wine, champagne and sodas. Just outside the hotel, a restaurant to try is Il Primo, at 16 Montague Street. The upscale Italian restaurant is in a cosy period house, and serves Tuscan specials such as Fried Monkfish Cheeks, Roasted Quail, Tagliatelle with Wild Irish Game Ragu and more. It also serves a Pre-Theatre menu.

Well, I’m heading out of the country again. If I said that twenty years ago, you would have the impression that I was a successful businessman with a mythical travelling lifestyle. Nowadays, it can cost as much to go to Warsaw from Dublin as it does to Limerick.

I’m not going for a short break, or a holiday, or even a wedding. I will be embracing one of the oldest and strongest Irish traditions. After rebelling, the favourite activity of the Irish is leaving the country. And that’s usually the chronological order it takes as well. I’m going to France. But don’t worry, it’s just for the winter season.

Oh, the histories I could tell you of Irishmen going to Gaul/France. I could start with John Scotus Erigena, a great 9th century Irish philosopher whose career culminated with service at the court of the French King. He is regarded as Europe’s greatest philosopher of the early Middle Ages. And then you’ve got Irish mercenaries sighted in France in the 14th century. But Irish holidays to France really took over in the 18th century.

In the 18th century, the number of Irish soldiers leaving for France reached its peak. They didn’t just go over there because of this mysterious season called ‘summer’, no. For the previous two centuries, at least, there was a great link between France and Ireland. It began as a religious link, with Irish students studying in France (before the Celtic Tiger in Ireland, generally if you were studying at university level, it meant you were studying for the priesthood!), but then blossomed into a military link with numerous brigades of the French armies composed of men of Irish descent. In some cases, an Irishman would join the very same brigade of the French army as his grandfather.

The reason France is not speaking a Gaelic tongue now –the reason for the decline of the strong Irish-French connection – is because the British army lifted its ban on recruiting Irishmen. And they lifted it well! By the end of the 19th century, there were, apparently, more Irish commanding officers serving in the British Empire than there were Welsh, Scottish or even English commanding officers!

And the axiom is still holds true today – Irish people become more successful abroad than in their own country.

So, come on Grenoble, give me a commanding position!

My flat there is a penthouse, does that count?