"A weekend in Dublin Town" a Dublin Travel Page by jo104

Well what can I say my previous trip here was a bit rushed as I was doing a Paddywagon tour around Southern Ireland so this time a weekend afforded me a bit more time to see the city.

I arrived at the airport on schedule & took the Airlink bus into the city, nice & convenient 30min, far better then getting ripped off by a cabbie.

I arrived at our hotel & it took some time for them to find my reservation, in the end it was under some other persons name in our party. The rooms were really basic & I found myself comparing the pokey room size to other twins I had stayed in which I could at least have got out of the bed either side!! So in this case luckily the left side was not the "wrong" side of bed for me :-)

I must just explain that this was a hen weekend but I'm sure we were more tame hens & chicks then most in Dublin. Temple Bar area would be the last place I'd want to visit to be social in full of drunken brawlers & mostly tourists because of the exorbitant prices. The first night we went out to a club just outside Temple Bar area there was a good mix of people even though it is known as a gay bar. Two of our party invited were "honourary" chicks for the weekend.

Well after a full irish breakfast, which the postcard that I send home to my parents describes as a pigs head on a plate with a pint of guiness!! :-) It was time to start my tour following the directions of fellow VT member Buckz, I managed half of his tour.

First I went to the spike at O'Connell Street which is a great landmark for anyone lost the other side of the river. Next a lookie around the GPO which has pictures inside depicting the Easter rising of 1916. Unfortunately the outside is being renovated so I could not get a picture of its full beauty. Inside is a statue of Cuchulainn who was an Irish hero who tied himself to a pillar to face his enemies even in death & it was only when a raven landed on his shoulder the enemies approached.

Next a stroll up Henry street which is a pedestrianised street & apparently the cheaper shopping area then Grafton street. Moore street just off Henry street is full of market produce. Just before crossing the Ha'Penny bridge I took a moment to sit with the bag ladies or more affectionately known as Hags with Bags.

So Jo crossed the Liffey & walked right taking in the Sunlight Chambers which murals depict soap making as it was once owned by Unilever who do all tolitery items such as lifebouy soap. Walking on I got a nice picture of the Four Courts. Next it was up the hill into the old Viking / Medieval area stopping at the Amphitheatre behind the civic offices to listen to some locals having a drum session.

I then proceeded through St Auddens Gate & went into Christchurch cathedral which is just spectacular. Camera's could be used except in the treasure room in the crypt. Someone had left their expensive camera on a pew so I am glad I was the one to hand it in sparing anyone the anguish I went through in Maastricht!! A guide is provided in many languages detailing all aspects of the cathedral. The unusual thing in this cathedral was a mumified cat & rat encassed in glass, apparently the cat chased the rat into an organ pipe in the 1860's & got stuck & was mumified when found.

I then proceeded to walk up the hill towards St Patricks Cathedral equally as spectacular with a lovely park attached. I did not have time to enter into the cathedral but worth a visit certainly.

I descended down towards Dublin castle & although I did not go inside I walked around the courtyard behind with its fantastic garden. There is a memorial bust to Veronic Guerin who was a journalist who made it her business to investigate deeply into Dublin's crimeworld, & was assassinated for it in 1996 causing outrage. Her murderer who was acquitted of her murder is serving a 24year sentance for drug traffiking. I took care to notice the lady holding the scales of justice facing into the castle georgian courtyard, as if to say Justice is for the rulers only & turning her back on the city.

Unfortunately I did not continue the walk as I was getting a bit hungry so stopped for some vegetable soup & then went to the Tourist information office to send a couple of postcards. Whilst I was there I saw a large march by people holding placards to free IRA prisoners. The march was very colourful & jolly but I thought it sad to make the young children march as well.

I tried to get a good picture of the Molly Malone statue, or affectionately known as the Tart with a Cart. An urban legend has grown up around the figure of the historical Molly who has been presented variously as a hawker by day and part-time prostitute by night, or, in contrast, as one of the few female street-hawkers of her day who was chaste. People use this statue as a leaning post so no way was I getting a picture!!

That evening we went to the Arlington where they play traditional Irish music downstairs & cheesy pop upstairs, an enjoyable night had by all.

On Sunday I got out of the hotel just before 11am & walked along the boardwalk as far as it goes then continued up the river then crossed over the bridge named after the famous author James Joyce (whose statue in O’Connell street is known as Dick with a stick). I walked up the hill to the Guinness storehouse to purchase a couple of shirts. I have done the tour before & not being a lover of the black stuff it was only the view out of the tower that made it all worthwhile.

I walked on through the gardens of the Irish Modern Art museum onto Kilmainham Gaol which is more then 200 years old. Our guide was very informative & showed us the cells of some of the 14 persons associated with the 1916 Easter Uprising, who were later executed. At one time there was no glass in the windows & the fact the walls are made of limestone which is very porous the cells were continually damp & cold. This prison was one which held children for petty crimes, a man was held for 7 years for stealing the wheel of a cart. During the potato famine the goal was overcrowded with people committing crimes so they could have their 2 small meals a day. The East wing of the Gaol was modernised & is translated to be the All seeing eye – this cell block has been used for movies such as the original Italian Job & In the name of the father as well as some rock bands as the acoustics are good.

I caught the bus back to the hotel, picked up my bag & caught the Airbus back to the station. It is advisable to eat before going to the airport as food prices are often escalated there. Be prepared to take your shoes off when going through security checks.