Dublin, Ireland

We had a bit of bad luck 12 hours before our flight out of NY to Dublin...they had cancelled our outbound flight, or as they put it delayed it by two days without changing our connecting flight. But thankfully Matt is on top of things, was on the phone for a long time and booked us last minute flights out for the next day with only a minimal extra expense and we were on our way!

First tip for those wanting to be European travelers- Get RICK STEVE'S book to wherever you are planning your trip to. He gives great insider tips, advice, and free audio guide tours.

Our first night in Dublin we went to the Temple Bar district where basically all the best pubs, restaurants, happening night life is in Dublin. We stayed in an AirBnB there is Dublin which was a come and go type of place no one there to greet you, which was not our favorite kind but at least it was really cheap. Although we also think it might have been haunted... a couple noises we couldn't explain!

The pub where we ate at our first night. Service is pretty good in Ireland comparatively but they are in no rush for you to leave that's for sure.

Remnants of all the partying in the temple bar district

In Dublin we bought a 3 day bus pass from the airport, which brought us in to Dublin and it also worked on the city buses. It was also part of the hop on and hop off Dublin tours- it is with the Green Bus company. "Remember Green is Good, Red is different" is what one of the bus tourguides said about the  tour buses in Dublin. Green was really god and seemed to be a lot better than the red one, it is Ireland after all, so go Green.

We visited the Trinity college in Dublin that houses the Book of Kells.  The college started as a monastery and then it became a college where women were not allowed for along time. This one College president was particularly opposed to women gaining an education there. Girls on their graduation day pose with his statue today.  Top students here also get free room &board as well as free meals that include a pint of Guiness. So a lot of smart students find ways to extend their education here. This campus is beautiful and has lots of different architecture. The book of kells, which is an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels. It is preserved and studied at Trinity. There is a really nice museum all about how it was started back in 800 AD by a monks in Scotland and moved to Ireland to complete it when persecution arose there. Sorry no pictures were allowed so you'll have to google it. But they are truly a masterpiece and so incredible. The patience they had to create them with such intricate detail and vibrant colors too. Definitely worth the visit to check them out!

Trinity college

So they have this amazing library at Trinity. So many books here, and lots of them with the first techniques of book binding. I love how they are organized as well, from smallest at the top to largest in size at the bottom. This unusual system insures the tenure of the librarians there I suppose. Felt like I was Belle in the Beasts library, so in awe!

The harp is a symbol of Ireland, which is appropriate because so much of their culture revolves around music

They were filming a movie while we were there.

Lots of great street artists everywhere. These guys were from Australia.

We also went to a jail (Goal Kilmainham) there that became famous because of all the revolutionists that were incarcerated there. Ireland has had a tumultuous history. Between their own family clans fighting to British rule, to civil wars they fought really hard to win their independence. It only came in 1922 well sort of, they are still a bit divided unfortunately.  Anyways the conditions and the brutality of the prisoners here was something else. Just one room cell, with nothing else in it. They would be given a candle to last them the night and no other source of light or warmth. I was freezing there and it was August and I had lots of clothes on! There are times slotted for tours so make sure to get there early and while you wait there is a great museum that teaches about the 1916 revolution (one of many) that was pivotal in getting the movement going, and lots of them were executed at this jail who participated in it.

in front of the jail

smiling outside the jail where someone was hung???

 

 

Our name and variations of it are everywhere in Dublin

Its really all about the music here, it is a big part of their culture and I think it is what has preserved it. We went to a music pub crawl, where they take you to 3 different pubs and on the way talk to you about the history of the area. Then at the pubs they play traditional music and talk about the history of it. The fun thing about Irish music is that it has lots of audience participation. They talked about how if you find yourself in a pub that looks like an old living room and the musicians are all sitting, drinking together playing when they want to you have found a true Irish traditional session.

waiting for the pub crawl to start

Our musicians for the night. They played the guitar, concertina, penny whistle and the bodhran drum.

 

Just a place we ate at and I thought the name was clever

One of the free museums here. If it's a national museum it is free.

 

Although maybe the natural history museum is free because it had some really great taxidermy there. Like this guy is suppose to be a cougar!

This is the Dublin Castle, use to be their site of government.

On the grounds outside the castle. The colorful walls are a part of the castle.

Matt in front of his rightful throne. This chair was actually specially made for a particularly large king

Just love this little set

This crazy fun chair was in there too not sure why but we liked it

This guy who loved Ireland I believe he was American donated his unusual collection of rare books, paintings, manuscripts, etc.  too Dublin. He even had a manuscript of the New testament dating back to 120 AD!!!

This is called the penny bridge because it use to cost a penny to cross this pedestrian bridge

The oldest pub in Dublin, where we had our story telling dinner.

Traditional Irish meal and stories

Going to the story telling dinner was one of my favorite things we did in Dublin, I highly suggest it! The talked about the importance of the potato to Irish history and how the famine and landlord situation caused large migrations, which is why so many people have Irish heritage. (think the movie "Far &Away"). They also talked about Fairies and how the Irish really do believe in them still and is one of the ways parents make sure their children behave because they don't want the fairies to get them. When Christianity came over to Ireland they kind of mingled the two beliefs of the fairies and Deity. It was just such a great cultural experience, great food, and music too!

After three days in Dublin we rented a car-  a FIAT 500 I think these cars are really cute and great for the small Ireland roads- we headed to see the rest of Ireland. Matt did a great job driving stick and on the left side of the road!! It was only a little bit scary at times!