Dublin
We only kept 1 day for exploring Dublin.
Our first item for the day was a visit to the Kilmainham Goal. This jail is particularly prominent in Irish history because many political prisoners of the Irish fight for independence have been jailed and even executed. This is the top rated attraction in Dublin.
The location in the courtyard where political prisoners were executed by the British firing squad. 14 were executed here.
Edward de Valera, who was a prisoner and the 15th person scheduled to be executed, but spared went on to become the President of Ireland. In that sense, Mandela's story was similar and appealing.
The Irish have a sense of solidarity with other peoples that have also been oppressed by powerful forces, such as South Africa, India and Palestine.
Some words that Mandela penned while in prison:
Prisoners were mostly used for stone breaking.
Next, we took a cab to the Chester Beatty Library, another hidden gem of Dublin (free admission). This was the creation of an American mining magnate, Chester Beatty, who later settled in the country he loved, Ireland. He collected centuries old precious manuscripts and books from all over the world in a very methodical manner. Ancient writings, prints, scrolls, drawings, books and objects from China, Japan, India, Turkey and the Middle East were on display. The kids really enjoyed browsing through the artifacts on display. The Library is one of the premier sources for scholarship in both the Old and New Testaments and is home to one of the most significant collections of Islamic and Far Eastern artifacts.
Satto had a lamb dish.
After lunch, we took a 2.5 hour walking tour with a jovial and funny tour guide, who filled us in on the history of Ireland. Below are some street views along our walk ! Alex did complain it was too much walking, since we have been walking from the start of the day at 9 am !
"Forty Steps" is a famous alley way in Ireland. This is a few feet away from where Jonathan Swift (Author of Gulliver's Travels) was born. These steps are also featured in the movie 'P.S. I love you.'
Dublin Castle - it has a mix of medieval and more modern architecture.
Walking around in the Temple Bar area - a very touristy area, usually avoided by the locals ! It was a vibrant area and fun to walk around.
Buildings are adored with colorful flowers. Petunias abound. There are plenty of rains in Ireland that nourish their plants!
We saw this Temple Bar restaurant and excitedly took some photos. It turned out to be fake! You'll see the real one later.
The real Temple Bar!
Street views with double decker buses and trams :
Below is the Bank of Ireland. In those days, the British taxed windows. So buildings were made without windows to avoid having to pay the tax. British also taxed men who were not married by age 25 and also men who grew beards. However, these taxes were hard to enforce.
Trinity College courtyard
The Temple Bar area was bustling with activity towards evening.
Too much walking. We rested a while in St. Stephens Green. Alex caught a small nap, as usual :-)
We took the bus back to the B&B. It took exact change, so we exchanged notes for coins with another passenger who was only glad to help and talk!
Our first item for the day was a visit to the Kilmainham Goal. This jail is particularly prominent in Irish history because many political prisoners of the Irish fight for independence have been jailed and even executed. This is the top rated attraction in Dublin.
The cell in which Joseph Plunkett, a political prisoner, was held. After he was sentenced to death, he was allowed to marry his fiance Grace Gifford. On the day before his execution, the 2 were allowed to meet in the jail to get married, supervised by the guards. From interviews with Grace Gifford many years after the execution, it was later found that they didn't utter a word to each other during their last hours together.
A moving letter written by 17 year old James Fisher, another political prisoner, before he was executed. He was hoping to meet his mother, but this last request was denied to him.
There is an exhibition going on to commemorate Nelson Mandela on his 100th birthday: From Prisoner to President. Mandela was such an amazing, inspiring leader in so many ways.
Edward de Valera, who was a prisoner and the 15th person scheduled to be executed, but spared went on to become the President of Ireland. In that sense, Mandela's story was similar and appealing.
The Irish have a sense of solidarity with other peoples that have also been oppressed by powerful forces, such as South Africa, India and Palestine.
Some words that Mandela penned while in prison:
The entrance through which all prisoners entered!
Prisoners were mostly used for stone breaking.
Next, we took a cab to the Chester Beatty Library, another hidden gem of Dublin (free admission). This was the creation of an American mining magnate, Chester Beatty, who later settled in the country he loved, Ireland. He collected centuries old precious manuscripts and books from all over the world in a very methodical manner. Ancient writings, prints, scrolls, drawings, books and objects from China, Japan, India, Turkey and the Middle East were on display. The kids really enjoyed browsing through the artifacts on display. The Library is one of the premier sources for scholarship in both the Old and New Testaments and is home to one of the most significant collections of Islamic and Far Eastern artifacts.
We had a Mediterranean lunch at the Silk Road cafe within the library.
Falafel dish! No shortage of vegetarian options wherever in Ireland you go.
Satto had a lamb dish.
After lunch, we took a 2.5 hour walking tour with a jovial and funny tour guide, who filled us in on the history of Ireland. Below are some street views along our walk ! Alex did complain it was too much walking, since we have been walking from the start of the day at 9 am !
"Forty Steps" is a famous alley way in Ireland. This is a few feet away from where Jonathan Swift (Author of Gulliver's Travels) was born. These steps are also featured in the movie 'P.S. I love you.'
Walking around in the Temple Bar area - a very touristy area, usually avoided by the locals ! It was a vibrant area and fun to walk around.
We saw this Temple Bar restaurant and excitedly took some photos. It turned out to be fake! You'll see the real one later.
The real Temple Bar!
The spire of Dublin (not that popular !)
Street views with double decker buses and trams :
Below is the Bank of Ireland. In those days, the British taxed windows. So buildings were made without windows to avoid having to pay the tax. British also taxed men who were not married by age 25 and also men who grew beards. However, these taxes were hard to enforce.
Trinity College courtyard
The Temple Bar area was bustling with activity towards evening.
Found this beauty near Temple Bar.
Too much walking. We rested a while in St. Stephens Green. Alex caught a small nap, as usual :-)
The park was overflowing with flowers!
Temple Bar, all lit up.
Dinner at The Exchequer, which called itself a gastropub!
This was the end of a long day of walking ! We enjoyed seeing Dublin. In retrospect, 2 days in Dublin would have been ideal to get a better feel for the city.
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