A Taste of Ireland

for 

Mady Finger, William Finger, Conrad and Jennifer De Los Santos & baby

 

I

reland is nothing if not a mix of fact and fancy. The Irish have woven tales forever, creating in the process the myths and martyrs for which its people are so well loved. Stories have poured forth from the Emerald Island as freely and as easily as stout flows from her innumerable pubs. Remember, James Joyce was an Irishman.

Ireland is a thing of beauty too, a place where orchids, of all things, grow beside thorny, fragrant pines, and where the furious Atlantic beats up against stony black cliffs with an anger that sends seabirds flying. And Ireland is full of contrasts. Sleepy hamlets lie tucked into velvety valleys where folk live a life unchanged for centuries. Meanwhile, twentysomethings fill the theaters in Galway , and designer wear sells in swank shops along Grafton Street in Dublin .

A Bit of History

Evidence of life on the Emerald Island stretches back 9,000 years to a tribe of Mesolithic hunter-fishers who inhabited the coasts of Ireland. In 500 B.C. the Firbolgs, who lived on the island, met their first conquerors, the Celts (or Gaels), master horsemen from Germany,  Spain and France. They brought with them a primitive tribal structure, the raw material for what would become a well-organized society. Saint Patrick brought the word of Christ to Ireland in 423 A.D. As Christianity spread, monasteries became the center of population clusters, and it was here that clan kings stowed their treasures. Monks’ elaborate manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells, still survive as an early testament to the Irish talent for storytelling. Beginning in the ninth century the Irish people suffered repeated attacks by the Vikings. It was not until King Brian Ború defeated the Vikings and the men of Leinster in 1014 at the Battle of Clontarf that the country first had a single ruler. The Irish, however, would suffer continued invasions throughout their history. The Normans were the next to arrive, sent to Ireland by King Henry II of England at the request of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster,, who had been exiled by the then High King, O'Conor. . For the next 300 years the Normans dug in their heels, establishing a powerful foothold, buying up large plots of land, building fortified castles, and introducing feudalism. Henry VIII proclaimed himself king of Ireland in 1541 and insisted that Irish lords surrendered their land to the crown, which would then “regrant the land by the grace of the king.”, basically to protect himself against the Irish habit of embracing any pretender to the English Throne.. King James I of England is remembered in Ireland for the Plantation of Ulster, in which he ordered Protestant Scotsmen and Englishmen to settle in Ulster . The religious mix simply did not work, and the chronic unrest between Catholics and Protestants began. In 1641 Ulster Catholics in Portadown attempted to recover their confiscated land. Twelve thousand Protestants were killed during the rebellion. Nevertheless England continued its push to penalise the practice of Catholicism in Ireland, as they did in Scotland and England.  One of their concerns was that the catholic community might have more in common with their bretheren in France and Spain, traditional enemies of England. Resentful Catholics staged the Great Rebellion, but they were defeated by Oliver Cromwell, whose 20,000 troops killed or exiled one-third of Ireland’s Catholic population by 1652 and handed over its land to Protestants. When James II, a Roman Catholic, ascended to the English throne, Irish Catholics were hopeful, but their optimism was short-lived. James was defeated in 1690 at the Battle of Boyne by his son in law William of Orange. Catholics in Ireland became the persecuted majority. Penal codes barred them from holding public office or indulging in a variety of social activities. Large scale land ownership was forbidden. Inheritance laws dictated that when a Catholic property-owner died his land was divided up between his sons unless one son converted to Protestantism— in which case that son got everything.  The object was not to wipe out catholicism, but to keep them as a labouring class, with no power. By the mid-1700s only seven percent of Ireland was owned by Catholics. Pressure for change built steadily. In 1782 the Irish Volunteers, 80,000 strong, posed such a threat that the English granted Ireland its independence—more or less. In fact the Irish still owed their allegiance to the British crown, Catholics were still denied a role in the politics of their own country, and the English Parliament still manipulated policy in Ireland . Disaffection with English rule reached a climax in 1798 with a significant rebellion. In six weeks of fighting 50,000 people died. Two years later the Act of  Union made Ireland a part of the United Kingdom . The Irish Parliament was dissolved and instead Ireland was represented by 100 members of Parliament in the House of Commons—none of whom was Catholic. Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic lawyer from Kerry, campaigned for the right of Catholic Irishmen to become members of  Parliament. In 1828, in a stunning victory, O’Connell won that right, and went on to call for home rule, the right of Ireland to decide domestic policy as an independent government. His countrymen lent strong support to O’Connell, but fate interrupted with the Great Famine of 1845. Failed potato crops for five years caused the death of one million citizens and prompted another million or so to set sail for America in search of a better life. In the later half of the 19th century the Irish Republic Brotherhood dedicated itself to Irish home rule, assisted by a branch in the United States that called itself the Irish Republican Army. As home rule became more and more the dominant theme, Ireland became more and more divided. Protestants in the north were not interested in separating from the protectors in Great Britain, while Catholics sought an independent Irish identity. On 24 April 1916 the Easter Rising took place in Dublin . Bands of armed rebels—this time middle-class intellectuals—brought the city to a halt, taking over the post office, a biscuit factory, a brewery, and a bakery, among other things. Later the leaders of the Rising would be executed, and they would be remembered forevermore as Ireland ’s greatest martyrs. From 1919 to 1921 the Anglo-Irish war raged, with the IRA gaining the upper hand against the British. Finally, in 1922 Ireland —excluding the counties of Northern Ireland with Protestant majorities, namely Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh, and Derry—became a free state, adopting its own constitution in 1937. The free state of Ireland left the British Commonwealth and became the Republic of Ireland in 1949. But not every Irish citizen was happy with the state of affairs; many still believed that the country should be united.  It is a struggle that continues today though now, since the peace process in the mid 1990s, in a democrtatic political way.  

May 25   Tour to Adare - 45 minutes drive, unless you meet  rush hour traffic (8.15 am - 9.15 am), in which case it is 90 minutes!

Snuggled in a wooden and lush countryside setting, Adare is widely regarded as being Ireland’s prettiest and most picturesque village. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the Shannon river, Adare (Gaelic name: "Ath Dara" - the "ford of the oak" - from the combination of water and woodland) dates back, at least, to the early 13th century. The bridge by which you enter the village, in the shadow of the ruined Desmond Castle, was built in 1329. Two groups of world famous ornate, thatched cottages line part off the village’s broad main street, punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins

 

Overnight in Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge

 

In close proximity to Adare, Echo Lodge is a charming, stylish country house, hidden among the hills, watching over the sleepy rural village of Ballingarry and apart from the hotel, now offers two luxurious apartments both with 2 bedrooms.

Built in 1884 as a parochial house, it later became a convent and is now the home of the renowned Mustard Seed Restaurant.   Set on seven acres, the gardens have been lovingly and carefully restored to their former glory and guests are invited to stroll through the grounds, enjoy the silence and breathe the country air. Fresh herbs and vegetables are gathered daily from the kitchen garden for the preparation of dinner - an affair which is taken very seriously. All produce are sourced from local suppliers from the surrounding countryside and an extensive wine list compliments an exciting menu offering the best of modern Irish cuisine.

The Mustard Seed has long been highly acclaimed for fine dining, attracting lovers of good food and wine from all over the world. The house has 12 bedrooms, including one specially adapted for wheelchair users, and two 2 bedroomed suites. All the rooms are individually decorated with a combination of traditional antique furnishings and modern facilities. Each bedroom carries its own style. Good taste prevails and an interesting collection of books fills the library downstairs for that rainy day by the fire. The decorations are delightful and reflect the owner's professional studies in antiques and fine art.

The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge is the ideal base for touring the south-west region. The Dingle peninsula, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are all within driving distance. For the golf enthusiast, a choice of four excellent courses await you or go treasure hunting in the antique shops of Adare. Horse riding, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and garden visitis can all be arranged nearby.

 

 

May 26th

Stick to the main road and aiming towards Limerick. 

Limerick Adare Castle Adare Village

Limerick is a big industrial city, famous as the setting for Angela’s Ashes. Limerick Castle is a dramatic city fortress of Norman times standing guard over Limerick on the river Shannon. The castle was built in 1210 under orders from King John. It is one of the finest examples of fortified Norman architecture in Ireland With an imaginative exhibition, multi-vision show, excavations, war machines, 800 years of history unfold within its battlements. In the narrow streets that surround it are several small antique shops. Nearby is The Hunt Collection, an internationally important Collection of some 2,000 original works of art and antiquity. It is a personal collection formed by John and Gertrude Hunt who selected each piece according to the quality of its design, craftsmanship and artistic merit. These criteria were applied to objects from all periods of the past - from the Stone Age to the Twentieth Century.  Don't miss The Georgian House or St Mary's Cathedral either.

Bunratty Castle Bunratty Folk Village Ennis

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. The great square keep was built around 1450 by the MacNamaras. It then fell into the hands of the O'Briens, Princes of Thomond and later was occupied by Admiral Penn, father of William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania. The restored castle now provides a wonderful insight into the life-style of the 15th and 16th centuries. The great hall where the Earls of Thomond held court, their private chambers and the public offices are furnished with Lord Gort's magnificent medieval collection. The crafts and skills of the self-sufficient Shannon farming community have been revived in the Folk Park where a 19th century village has been created. Features of the folk park include a recreated village street, 8 farmhouses, a watermill, a blacksmith's forge, Mac's pub, a church and a display of 19th century farm machinery.

The town of Ennis owes its origin to the O'Briens of Thomond who moved from Limerick and settled in Clonroad between 1208 and 1216. The original name of the town of Ennis was Iniscluanruadh or Inis-Cluainramh-Fhada.The word Inis, which is the Gaelic word for an island was anglicised to Ennis. The town was formed between two streams on the River Fergus. In the mid to late 1200s a member of the ruling O'Brien clan invited the Franciscans to establish a settlement within his domain. A significant portion of the Friary still remains intact. Ennis is the county town of Clare and has a population of 22,000 plus.

Visit the Cliffs of Moher, a sheer precipice 8 km long and rising to a height of 203m, one of the most impressive stretches of the coast in the West of Ireland, remarkable especially at nesting seasons for the quantity and variety of seabirds there. Lisdoonvarna is a spa town with an excellent salmon smoke house. September was, and still is, the peak month of the matchmaking season here and with the harvest safely in bachelor farmers flock to Lisdoonvarna in search of wives. The Spa Well also continues to attract the crowds. The Doolin Craft Gallery is also worth visiting for its scrumptious food and stunning gardens - a plantsman's paradise. You will pass Lahinch Golf Course, famous for its impenetrable rough and its goats. South of Lahinch, just beyond Miltown Malbay is Doonbeg, the newest challenging championship links course in Ireland, designed by Greg Norman.

The Burren - Words simply cannot do justice to this eerie, peculiar 193-square mile area of ancient seabed that suffered glacial activity during its long history. The Burren, is a bare lunar like landscape of a limestone plateau dotted with stone age forts and megalithic tombs. In the narrow crevices that criss-cross this pavement flourish orchids, gentians and other rare flora, an amazing mix of arctic, alpine, temperate, and tropical vegetation growing side by side. Twenty-two varieties of orchids thrive here, nourished by underground rivers and rich soil. Today we see treeless meadows of limestone karst that forms natural pavement interspersed with lush flora. Scholars of history can scour the Burren for tombs, chambers, and dolmens (two stones that support a horizontal slab), traces of Stone Age inhabitants. . To the north the Burren is bounded by Galway Bay with the fishing port of Ballyvaughan, a noted centre for oysters, while to the west the Aran Islands stand out against the broad expanse of the Atlantic Ocean

Not far West of Gort is the site of an old monastic settlement, Kilmacduagh. The 7th century saint, Saint Colman, son of Duagh, established a monastery on land given him by his cousin King Guaire. It is well worth a visit not only for its ruined churches and well preserved round tower, but also for the views of the local area

Coole Park, North of Gort, was the home of Lady Gregory, dramatist and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre. The area is also a National Nature Reserve due to its great wildlife importance - its native woodlands and turloughs. The visitor centre uses multimedia presentations, models, exhibitions and audio visual to inform the visitor of both the natural and literary heritage of the area. Though the main house was demolished by the State in the 1960s, the walled garden remains with its autograph tree, signed by all the great and the good of 19th and 20th Century Irish literature.

Nearby is Thoor Ballylee which is the poet W. B. Yeats's monument and symbol. The tower is a 16th Century Norman castle built by the Burke family. It is of four floors with one room on each, connected by a spiral stone stairway built into the seven-foot thickness of the massive outer wall. Each floor has a window overlooking the river, which flows alongside.

On the north side of the village of Newmarket on Fergus you will see a turn to the right just at the end of the village. When you reach the top of the hill walk up through the trees to Moohaughan Fort, the Iron Age seat of some great ruler. N.B. This is quite a steep and stiff walk.

Quinn Abbey, a well preserved ruin of an abbey built in the 15th century, surrounded by an old churchyard with many interesting high crosses;

Knappogue Castle The original tower house was built by Sean Mac-Con MacNamara in 1467. During the 1641 rebellion the castle was occupied by Cromwellian forces. In the 18th and 19th centuries further additions were made to the original structure. The castle was abandoned in the 1920's and was restored by the Hon. Mark Edwin Andrews and his wife Lavonne in 1966. Today world famous Medieval Banquets are held at the castle

Craggaunowen Quin, Co. Clare You can see the early Christian answer to the microwave at Craggaunowen. The Fulacht Fiadha (ancient cooking place) uses an ingenious method for cooking meat with instant boiling water. There is a reconstruction of a crann-g or fortified lake dwelling, which shows how the Celts lived around the 6th or 7th century. Tim Severin's boat "The Brendan" a replica of the saint's 6th century vessel is on display at the centre. Craggaunowen Castle, a 16th century tower house, has been restored complete with replicas, furniture and tools of the period.

Overnight at Echo Lodge

May 27th    Head down to Kenmare - about 2 hours drive  from Echo Lodge or, to extend the day, tour The Dingle Peninsula first on the way to Killarney

The Dingle Peninsula is widely regarded as having some of the most dramatic and magnificent scenery in Ireland. The combination of the Connor Pass, craggy cliffs and long sandy beaches brought David Lean here to film 'Ryan's Daughter' in 1970. More recently the Tom Cruise film 'Far and away' was made in the Slea Head area.
Dingle town is rich in music, history and culture. Irish is still widely spoken in Dingle. Beyond Dingle lie the Blasket Islands, which are a symbol of a vanishing coastal culture; There are so many things to see, to do, to explore, to experience on the Dingle Peninsula . . . from almost 2,000 archaeological sites, to more walking than you could fit into a year, to Fungie, a bottlenose dolphin who's been living at the mouth of Dingle Harbour since 1984.

Killarney is a busy shopping town, but on the road out towards Kenmare, driving past the lakes a must see is Muckross House, a magnificent Victorian Mansion and one of Ireland's leading stately homes, with a good collection of antique furnishings. It is beautifully situated amidst the spectacular scenery of Killarney National Park. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed Gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House. The Gardens are renowned worldwide for their beauty. In particular they are noted for their collections of azaleas and rhododendrons. Nearby are Muckross Traditional Farms where three separate working farms, complete with animals, poultry and traditional farm machinery will help you relive the past. 

Overnight at the Park Hotel in Kenmare.

May 28th  

The Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula .  It is best to do it in an anti clockwise direction - Killorglin, Glenbeigh, etc.

 

Hightlights are :

 

Killorglin situated on a hill overlooking the wide and graceful River Laune, a river offering salmon and trout angling. Dominating the landscape to the south are the MacGillycuddys Reeks. It is the location of the famous "Puck Fair" festival - On the bridge into the town is a salmon smoke house called The Fishery.

 

 The Bog Village is situated half way between Killorglin and Glenbeigh on the main Ring of Kerry route. It is a must for you to stop off and enjoy a step back in time to the early 18th century to recapture the way life would have been at that time. Peat, or turf as it is usually called in Ireland , is harvested from bogs and is still used as domestic fuel. The village is here to preserve the past for your enjoyment. This is a most worthwhile and historic visit to see the real Kerry life as it was, in the heart of Kerry's bogland. The Bog Village is adjacent to the Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is open seven days a week.

 

Glenbeigh is a popular holiday base nestled at the foot of a well-wooded mountain and close to the head of Dingle Bay .  It is dominated by the strange ruin of Wynn's Folly, or Hedley Towers , once home of the Winns, Barons Headley. The Title dated from 1797. Wynn's Folly was burnt down in 1922. The view from 'Wynn's Folly is superb, and provides a breathtaking view of the village and surrounds of Glenbeigh.  After Glenbeigh you will pass through Kells Bay where a local shepherd gives demonstrations of working sheep dogs

 

From Cahirciveen you can divert to the right and take the car ferrry to Knightstown on Valentia Island.  Be sure to visit The Slate Quarry, Glanleam Gardens and The Tetrapod Trackway -   In 1993 an undergraduate geology student (Iwan Stossel) made the discovery of a lifetime. While examining rocks on the island's coast he came across a rock platform containing a set of ancient animal footprints. The tracks have since been dated to almost 400 million years ago and are regarded as among the earliest footprints known to science, and certainly the oldest known footprints in Europe .

 

Valentia is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breathtaking cliffs and magnificent seascapes. The island is an excellent centre for sea angling and diving in unpolluted waters. The bridge was built at Portmagee in 1970. The island, about 11km long by 3km wide is one of the most westerly points of Europe . The surface is bold and rocky, two prominent features being Geokaun Mountain 268 meters on the north and Bray head 180 metres on the south, both are splendid vantage points for the sightseer. The Skellig Experience is located here. This is where the story of the Skelligs is told. The themes include the monastic settlement, the lighthouse, the bird and underwater life.

 

Head on to Ballinskelligs via St Finans Bay .  In Ballinskelligs is the Cill Rialaig Centre - once a deserted and almost forgotten pre-famine village of thatched stone cottages situated on the Bolus road near Ballinskelligs, it is now an international artists' retreat .

 

On through Charlie Chaplin's Waterville and Caherdaniel where, by golden beaches, stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Today some 120 hectares of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House, make up Derrynane National Historic Park . Plantations and garden walks were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries, principally north and west of the house. Some features of the demesne are strongly associated with Daniel O'Connell, including the old Summer House. The main area of the gardens, set inland and to the north of the house, can be reached through a tunnel under the road.

 

Between Waterville and Derrynane you will see a Neolithic Stone alignment on the ridge above the LHS of the road.  Outside Caherdaniel is a ruined Iron Age fort on the RHS.

 

At Castlecove, some distance to the left off the main road, is Staigue Fort - probably the finest example of a stone fort in Ireland , and is about 2500 years old. It is built of local stone and is almost circular, 27m in diameter. The walls are almost 4m thick at the base, and 2m thick at the top. The north side is still perfect with some of the old coping stones still in position. There are two small chambers in the wall, one on the west side and one on the north side. The stairways are probably the most interesting feature of the fort, and run inside the wall almost to the wall's full height. They lead to narrow platforms on which the fort's defenders stood.

 

Through Sneem and back to home!

 

Good eating places en route are  The Bianconi in Killorglin, , The Ballinskelligs Inn or The Cill Rialaig Centre, Waterville Golf Course Club House,  The Skellig Inn (but arrive late after the coaches have gone).

 

Overnight at the Park Hotel in Kenmare

 

 

May 29th

Via Blarney Castle, whose stone gives the "gift of the gab"  Fota Island, with its wonderful gardens, historic house and wildlife park. Cobh Heritage Centre with its tales of emigration to America. Barryscourt Castle.  - See above.

Along "The Gold Coast" to Waterford via Sir Walter Raleigh's church at Youghal .   St Mary's, one of the oldest churches in Ireland, is a building of great beauty founded by St. Declan c. 450, rebuilt in Irish Romanesque style c. 750, and its great Norman nave erected c. 1220..Visit Waterford Crystal. Overnight at Waterford Castle, once home to the Fitzgerald family and now a charming 19 bedroomed hotel, set on an Island.  It was mostly built between 1850 and 1895, but incorporates early stone work from Castle Irwell in Manchester.  On the Island activities include an 18 hole Championship Golf Course, all-weather tennis courts, croquet and walks.  There is a Presidential suite, 4 Deluxe Suites and 14 double/twin rooms each with private bath. The location is uniquely serene - its quietness makes the castle a good venue for rest or romance!
The Presidential Suite A Deluxe Room A Double room

May 30th

The medieval city of Kilkenny, with its tales of ghosts and witches. Explore the 12th Century St Canice's Cathedral named after the town's founder. Known nowadays as the creative heart of Ireland, Kilkenny is where ancient history and contemporary culture meet.  There are medieval shops,  perfectly preserved Elizabethan houses and its breathtaking Norman Castle on the banks of the River Nore.      Kilkenny will take most of the day, but leave time to explore the village of Kells with its medieval priory.

Kilkenny

.

Alternatively explore the Waterford River valleys.  There are the craft workers of the river valleys of the Nore and Barrow-  some of the best craft workshops in Ireland. Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, Isetan, Nieman Marcus and David Jones are only some of the top stores worldwide who have found inspiration in these small, high quality Irish workshops.. Visit Nicholas Mosse Pottery who has been a potter since he was 7. Chesneau Leather Goods, a small and dynamic company that has a strong tradition in the production of high quality leather goods, particularly handbags with original designs. All these workshops, and others, are located in Bennetsbridge just outside Kilkenny. You could also visit Jerpoint Glass Studio in Thomastown to see for yourself how completely hand made glass is formed using simple hand made tools.  The famine ship Dunbrody in New Ross, the gardens of Kilmokea, the medieval abbey of Tintern, the maze at Dubnrody Abbey there is tons to see!

Kilmokea Gardens

  The Dunbrody  Tintern Abbey

Overnight at Waterford Castle

May 31st

Tour to Dublin  by way of Enniscorthy to Ferns with its Norman Castle On totheWicklow Mountains, to the valley of Glendalough where St Kevin founded his monastery in the 6th Century, exploring the Wicklow mountains.  Then onto Powerscourt House and gardens, where Barry Lyndon was filmed (now with an excellent shop and restaurant). Overnight The Merrion

 

 

June 1st

 

Dublin has long been a centre of art and culture. Stroll through the elegant Georgian streets of Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares, shop in the elegant emporiums of Grafton Street and Powerscourt Townhouse, explore the collections of the National Museum and National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and many fine small private collections. The range of art and artefacts is enormous, and you will have no problem spending many hours enthralled.. The city is over a thousand years old, and many of the towns and settlements that surround it are equally ancient. Successive centuries have left their distinctive overlays of character and architecture which means that Dublin has a wealth of historically significant and fascinating sights to explore such as Dublin Castle, where the Normans ruled from the 12th Century, St Patrick's Cathedral, of which Jonathan Swift was Dean, and Trinity College, famous for The Book of Kells and for its alumni who include Oscar Wilde and Oliver Goldsmith. And no visit to Dublin could be complete without visiting either the Old Whiskey Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse!  

 

A Tour of Dublin's Fair City

Bank of Ireland , College Green
The prestigious officesof Ireland's national bank began life as the first purpose-built parliament house in Europe . Completed in 1739 it served as Ireland's Parliament until the Act Of Union in 1801  
Trinity College
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth. Among many famous students to attend the college were playwrights Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett. Trinity's lawns and cobbled quads provide a pleasant haven in the hearth of the city. The major attractions are the Old Library and the Book of Kells, housed in the Treasury. Exit form the front of the Trinity complex and walk from College Green to Dame St and Continue west passing:
The Olympia Theatre - Dating back to the 1800s, this Victorian music hall-style theatre has a capacity of 1,300. It presents an eclectic schedule of variety shows, musicals, operettas, concerts, ballet, comedy, and drama. As a variation, for the late-night crowd, live bands are often featured after regular programs.  A brief diversion here will bring you into the trendy Temple Bar area. Across the Street is  
City Hall 
Erected between 1769 and 1779, and formerly the Royal Exchange. It is a square building in Corinthian style, with three fronts of Portland stone. Since 1852, however it has been the centre of the municipal government. The interior is designed as a circle within a square, with fluted columns supporting a dome shaped roof over the central hall. The building contains many items of interest, including 102 royal charters and the mace and sword of the city. Adjacent to City Hall is:
Dublin Castle
Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex represents some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city, and was the centre of English power in Ireland for over seven centuries until it was taken of by the Irish Free State in 1922. Highlights include the 13th-century record tower, the largest visible fragment of the original Norman castle and the State Apartments, once the residence of English viceroys and now the focal point for government ceremonial functions, including the inauguration of Ireland 's presidents. At this point Dame St takes on the name Lord Edward St , and leads to  

St. Patrick's Cathedral
 Ireland's largest church was founded beside a sacred well where St. Patrick is said to have baptised converts around 450A.D. A stone slab bearing a Celtic cross and covering the well was un-earthed at the turn of the century(20th). It is now preserved in the west end of the cathedral's nave. The original building was just a wooden chapel and remained so until 1192 when Archbishop John Comyn rebuilt the cathedral in stone. Much of the present building dates back to work completed between 1254 and 1270.  Cut back to  
Powerscourt Town House Centre
The townhouse of a famous Georgian family. Today the building houses one of the cities nicest shopping centres. In the 1960's major restoration turned it into a centre of specialist galleries, antique shops, jewellery stalls, cafés and other shop units. Carry on to Grafton Street down the narrow Johnson Court Alley  

 
Explore the Great Georgian Squares and Doorways.;  Visit the famous Phoenix Park, Home of our President Mary McAllesse;  See the delights of the city of Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Brendan Behan, Sean O' Casey, Oscar Wilde and Nobel Prize winners W.B Yeats, George B. Shaw and Samuel Beckett.; See Guinness Brewery, O' Connell Street;  The U2 Wall, The National Museum & Gallery

The U2 Wall

 

 

 And of course Molly Malone herself

"In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, through streets broad and narrow, Crying cockles and mussels,
alive, alive o!"

 

Overnight at The Merrion Hotel

 

June 2nd

 

Depart