The lashing rain didn’t stop Ireland's foodies from enjoying the first day of Taste Of Dublin on Thursday, with Laura Woods kicking things off in style.

A 36-hour trip to Dublin including a Guinness Storehouse tour, a rooftop restaurant dinner and an overnight stay at The Leinster Hotel.

Dublin needs 1,725 new hotel bed spaces a year between now and 2030 to meet projected demand, the city council has been told.