Dublin
There’s nothing like a fine day in the Big Smoke so we made a brief visit to the city one afternoon. Our aim was to get an early start in the morning for Newgrange and the Hill of Tara so Trim seemed like an advantageous place to stay overnight. We checked into our lodgings at the White Lodge B&B and headed for Dublin, by bus, no designated driver needed!
We made our way down by Custom House Quay where the replica of the Jeanie Johnston is sometimes moored, I gave a brief description and history about the original vessel and hoped that she was in. She was. What I didn’t tell my tourists was that Rowan Gillespie’s larger-than-life Famine Memorial (pictured) would greet them as we crossed over to the waterside. It is an emotional sight no matter how many times you might visit it; but, to come upon it unexpectedly for the first time can have a tremendous impact, and it did.
The onshore breezes seemed a bit chillier as we crossed one of the many bridges and headed towards the city, so I thought it was about time the girls got properly introduced to the Irish antidote for the chills. The Hot Whiskey! No better place than Fitzgerald’s on Aston Quay, and Fitzgerald’s is, without a doubt, the best spot in Dublin for hot whiskies and Irish Stew, we were not disappointed.
Our next stop, Temple Bar, was right around the corner. Temple Bar is a cultural area in the inner city that has markets, street performers, restaurants, and of course pubs, one of which is called The Temple Bar, go figure! Treading along the cobblestones we listened to the musicians, visited the shops, took some photos, and worked up a mighty thirst! It wasn’t long before we were settled in nicely at The Temple Bar, each with a pint of black, one for the road so-to-speak.
This short visit to the fair city was coming too soon to an end but we were at the mercy of Bus Eireann. We went by the Ha’penny Bridge, over to O’Connell Street, saw a few statues, the GPO, and the spire on our way to the bus station. It had been a long trip and an eventful day, little did we know then that it was only half over or what was waiting for us in Trim!
We look forawrd to visiting Dublin for the first time — soon — and appreciate reading about your day there. Especially the hot whiskeys & Irish stew!
You were over at G & L a while ago and maybe saw things in a bit of disarray. We’re in the process of giving the site a makeover. Hope you’ll revisit soon.
More later,
G & L
Comment by Grillman & Luna — June 9, 2008 @ 2:08 pm
The Famine Memorial really is a haunting and affecting place. Even on bright sunny days in the middle of a modern bustling city. I’ve got a few photographs of it myself over at Flickr.
Comment by Jim Bliss — June 9, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Hey G’man thanks for stopping by, when you plan the Dublin trip let me know!
Thanks for the link Jim, great photos!
Comment by Cao — June 9, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Do those people really look like that or is it the Ginnis I been drinking?
Comment by EuroYank — June 10, 2008 @ 11:22 am
The haunted look captured by these statues of the people fleeing the famine in the 1850’s is very eerie to see in person, stop by Euro and I will give you a tour!
Comment by Cao — June 10, 2008 @ 11:53 am
You sound like my kind of tour guide, CAO
Lots of stop-off’s for liquid refreshment
I hate to think what was waiting for you in Trim?
Comment by steph — June 10, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
We had a surprise Steph! Tell you all about it soon
Comment by Cao — June 10, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Hi Cao, sorry for going off-topic here, but I wanted to notify you of my reply I gave to you at the Grahnlaw Blog:
Tax
I hope it helps a little. It’s difficult to explain. If you have more questions I’d be more than happy to try to help you find answers.
Comment by European Union Law Blog — June 11, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Thanks EU Law…I will check it out!
Comment by Cao — June 11, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
The Famine Memorial always gives me the creeps and makes me feel so sad. Guess a lot of us are lucky to be here - if our ancestors hadn’t of survived the famine.
Comment by shornsheep — June 13, 2008 @ 3:56 am
How very true shornsheep, thanks for your comment!
Comment by Cao — June 13, 2008 @ 9:50 am