In Old Dublin Town

MMC :: in September 7, 2015 :: in Ireland :: 3 comments

Back in Dublin. It’s novel to be taking pictures of cityscapes, not landscapes. 

Our valiant steed, Juan Diego

Yesterday we went to knock off the two things we wanted to see in Dublin: Dublin Castle and the Trinity College Library. 

But we didn’t get to either of those yesterday. Instead we went to the old Jameson distillery, and then Daddy took his first Uber to a pub near us that was recommended by a gent we met randomly in a bar (The Bank), in order to watch the match. The match was the all-Ireland hurling final. Hurling is Ireland’s national sport, and looks most like rugby played with field hockey equipment. 

We met two crazy girls there, a guy named Michael bought us a round, and then we went to pizza and took a wrong turn home. It was a long day, but a good day. 

The old Jameson distillery, which once spanned over five acres. All Jameson barley is grown within 100k of their current distillery down in the south of Ireland.

We were rooting for Galway, as was all but one person in the pub. Apparently Kilkenny win every year. Just like the Yankees. Fuck ’em.

Today we saw Dublin Castle and Trinity College. There were some stupid southerners whom I wanted to poke with a red-hot rod (‘How does a castle burn down?’, ‘Must be a Catholic chapel, just look at it…’ (remarked in the chapel of the palace of the viceroy of Ireland, the British head of state here for over seven hundred years), and other really ignorant remarks confusing Catholics and Protestants), and of course your token oblivious Germans, but that’s what to expect in tourist settings. It can’t be escaped. 

Books in Trinity College library

Itty bitty Bibles

One of the original printings of the Proclamation

We went to the third and last old traditional pub on our list for pints afterwards. 

Some neat street art. Most of what I’ve seen here has just been toys, but this was impressive.

Fittingly, we made friendly chatter with some Canadians who had just arrived in town today.

Now it’s off to pack, and to reflect. We’ll be back in the Hub tomorrow.