Jewish History Private Dublin Walking Tour with Local Guide｜Ireland

Discover the profound and often overlooked legacy of Ireland’s Jewish community on this private, bespoke walking tour of Dublin. Led by an expert guide with over a decade of experience, this custom-made journey takes you through the heart of "Little Jerusalem," the Portobello district, to uncover stories of faith, political activism, and artistic brilliance.

We begin in the historic streets around the South Circular Road, where a vibrant immigrant community once thrived. Your guide will introduce you to the remarkable Herzog family: Isaac Halevi Herzog, the "Sinn Féin Rabbi" who became the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, and his son Chaim Herzog, the Dublin-raised boy who rose to become the sixth President of Israel.

As we walk, we explore the diverse political and social contributions of Dublin’s Jews. You will hear the fascinating story of the Briscoes—Robert Briscoe, the IRA gun-runner turned first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin, and his son Ben, who continued a legendary political dynasty.

We also delve into the radical side of the city, highlighting the Jewish trade unionists and anti-fascists who fought for social justice in the 1930s. You’ll learn about the life of Harry Kernoff, the celebrated radical artist whose woodcuts and portraits captured the soul of working-class Dublin, and whose studio served as a meeting point for the city’s literary and political avant-garde.

No Jewish history tour of Dublin would be complete without a nod to literature. We visit the landmarks associated with Leopold Bloom, the Jewish protagonist of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Whether standing outside his fictional birthplace on Upper Clanbrassil Street or discussing the real-life figures who inspired Joyce, you’ll see how the Jewish experience is woven into the very fabric of Irish identity.

The tour provides a space for solemn reflection at the Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) on Donore Avenue. These memorials honour Holocaust victims with direct Dublin connections, including Ettie Steinberg.