Drink to St Pats any time of the year at Dublin's modern stretch of riverside Famine statues THERE is arguably no place more central to Ireland's capital than the River Liffey, snaking its way through the city and dividing Dublin into north and south sides before emptying into the Irish Sea at the city's edge. It is along the Liffey riverbanks that many of Dublin's most iconic sites can be found: The majestic Custom House, the quaintly preserved pedestrian Ha'penny Bridge and the Guinness Brewery. In paintings, postcards and memories, the riverbanks form the perfect microcosm of Dublin and its lifeblood, thriving with traffic, pedestrians and the buzz of the capital. Those who follow the river to Dublin Port will find a new, modern Dublin along the shore, replete with dining and entertainment options in a sleek, trendy setting. Mixed in among these neighbourhoods on the north and south sides are elements of the old Dublin, along with memorials and reminders of the city and country's rich history. 1 The restored chq Following the Liffey on the north side away from the city centre, visitors will come upon a beautifully restored building called chq - the latest incarnation of a former tobacco store with vaults underneath. Bright and airy, with a glass exterior, the building now houses a handful of eateries, high-end shops and the occasional art installation. The area next to the building, known as the Docklands, hosts annual events including a Fringe Festival in late summer, an Oktoberfest celebration in autumn and a Christmas market in December. Each of these events brings droves of people into the Docklands, and most feature food, artisan kiosks and various performances with an electric, festive ambiance. Famine statues 2 Famine memorial Just across from this space, however, is a sombre sight on the north banks of the Liffey: A famine memorial with life-sized sculptures of starving men and women, and even a skeletal dog, making their way toward Dublin Port to leave Ireland's shores during the Great Famine of the 1840s. Jeanie Johnston ship Just a few steps away, closer to the port, a replica of the ship Jeanie Johnston is anchored in tribute to the 2 million who emigrated. 3 Guinness on deck A stroll farther along the Liffey leads to another anchored ship, the MV Cill Airne. Turned into a bar and restaurant, it's a beautiful place to have a drink on a sunny summer's day, surveying the long riverbanks while enjoying a Guinness on the deck. The rest of the north side of the Docklands features swanky new apartments and a soon-to-open conference centre with a tilted glass-enclosed front. Located at the edge of the quays before the port is a redeveloped entertainment hall called the O2. It opened in December 2008 and is the largest indoor concert hall in Ireland, with 9,500 seats. 4 Swanky south Samuel Beckett Bridge, with the new convention centre in the background. Crossing to the other side of the river - possibly using either the pedestrian Sean O'Casey Bridge or the just-opened Samuel Beckett Bridge, both named for Dublin-born writers - leads to an even trendier part of the city. Windmill Lane Grand Canal Dock is a chic collection of bright lights, fashionable apartments and stylish restaurants. U2's former recording studio, Windmill Lane, is here, covered in graffiti left by hardcore fans on pilgrimages to the band's home city and haunts. A few blocks away, Facebook just opened its international headquarters in a Grand Canal Dock building, and Google's European headquarters stands a 10-minute walk away from the river - signalling the area's arrival as a 21st-century centre of commerce and technology. Grand Canal Theatre Most importantly, the neighbourhood is home to the Daniel Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre, an asymmetric architectural masterpiece. It is scheduled to open by St Patrick's Day this year and will host concerts, musical theatre performances and other shows. AP http://www.todayonline.com/Traveller/EDC100306-0000070/Pint-of-new-Irish