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| The Dublin Convention Center is just across the Liffey River from our hotel |
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| This night view shows how delightful our view was in the evening when we'd return to the hotel |
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| The Samuel Beckett Bridge & Convention Center |
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| The Samuel Beckett Bridge is a swing bridge meaning it pivots to allow vessels to pass. The cable-stays from the arched boom completely supports the bridge from the base end. |
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| Turns out Argentina owes it's Navy to this Irishman, Adm William Brown born in County Mayo |
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| This diving bell was placed on the floor of the bay and men would climb down the ladder in the center of the long neck to work on the floor of the sea below! By comparison, the street lights are probably 20-25 feet tall. |
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| This modern vessel is the James Joyce P62, a Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) |
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| MV (motor vessel) Cill Airne is now a restaurant but was one of two identical "tender ship" that took first class passengers to their liners. They were the last riveted ship ever built. |
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| The Jeanie Johnson was a "Famine Ship" that transported desperate people to other areas of the world to escape the famine in Ireland in the 1850's. We were told Jeanie Johnson had a perfect record in that they never lost a passenger to starvation (or any other malady) |
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| The Sean O'Casey bridge is one of several pedestrian only bridges linking the north side and the south side of Dublin |
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| This memorial remembers all merchant seaman who have lost their lives. |
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| The Liffey River bisects the city but is also one of the main the reason for the prominence of Dublin as a city. |
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| Another pedestrian bridge |
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| The Clayton Hotel was all ready for Christmas! We booked the Clayton through the Aer Lingus Vacation Club. We got the hotel for 3 nights for a very slight (less than $100) increase over the base air fare! |
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| Tuesday morning found us at St Andrew for daily mass |
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| The church was beautiful, especially the relief in the center o fthe ceiling that depicts the coronation of Mary |
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| The statuary was very beautiful |
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| The Stations of the Cross are paintings. |
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| The Gospel writers are prominent - here St Matthew |
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| Here St Luke |
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| St Andrew's is just across from Trinity College's back door. So we entered through a commuter gate next to the metro stop. Before long, we came to the athletic field with the Pavilion (left) and the Moyne Institute of Preventative Medicine (right) |
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| The Library (where the Book of Kells is displayed) |
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| The figures on either side of the Campanile are George Salmon (left) and William Lecky (Right) |
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| The Sphere Within A Sphere |
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| Atoms and Apples |
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| Didn't want to pop for $15 to see the Book of Kells, so we settled with shooting a photo of a poster of the Book of Kells |
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| After a bit of a walkabout, we came across St Theresa of Avila Church. St Theresa reformed the Carmelites and this indeed is a Carmelite monastery. |
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| The main altar is gorgeous with splendid statuary |
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| Including this Corpus of Jesus under the main altar. (Many non-Catholics do not understand why Catholics have so many depictions of the dead or dying Jesus. It is to remind us every time we look upon such a statue how much Jesus loves us.) |
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| St Terese of Lisieux was a Carmelite nun at her death |
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| The Infant of Prague |
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| Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth |
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| Looking across the church from the door where we entered. The main altar is on the right half way down. |
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| St Joseph with Jesus |
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| St Anne with her daughter Mary, mother of Jesus |
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| Mary |
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| St Patrick |
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| Beautiful stained glass windows |
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| This beautiful Pieta sits in the courtyard |
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| The Castle is just a short walk. It sits at the confluence of teh Liffey and the Poddle Rivers. A black pool (dubh linn) formed there and gave the city its name. |
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| The entrance to the gift shop sports some armor |
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| The courtyard |
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| The seat of British Government was in this castle and it represented oppression to the Irish |
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| The statue of Fortitude - the warrior and lion epitomizes British rule |
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| Even Justice - note she has no blindfold and is admiring her sword. Dubliners were wont to say "There she stands above her station, with her face to the palace and her arse to the nation!" |
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| But the sentry was very cute! |
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| The remnants of power |
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| Immediately behind the castle are the Dubh Linn Gardens |
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| Veronica Guerin Irish crime reporter murdered in 1996 by drug lords. Her death caused significant reforms in law enforcement. |
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| This monument remembers the Special Olympics Games |
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| The Light Shard sculpture |
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| The Glass Snake |
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| Just to the side of the gardens sits the Chester Beatty Library |
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| Chester Beatty was a wealthy American who loved to travel and loved antiquities. Upon his death, his collection was given to the Irish people in this library. |
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| This atrium cafe is a splendid place to day dream and people watch! |
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| A fragment from a 1st Century Old Testament |
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| Ancient Jewish scrolls and books |
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| A fragment from the Gospel of John from the 2nd Century |
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| Art depicting Christian symbols |
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| Ancient Korans |
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| Buddhism was represented as well |
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| Chester Beatty was awarded many honors by the British government |
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| Even though it was undergoing a huge renovation (only 25% of the Gallery was open), we spent and hour in the National Gallery |
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| This nice cafe is just inside the doors |
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| Wonderful religious art - here Jesus during his passion |
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| Here David slays Goliath |
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| This archway honoring the Royal Fusiliers leads into St Stephen's Green - one of the larger parks in Dublin |
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| The Three Fates - Past Present and Future |
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| James Joyce memorial |
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| Theobald Wolfe Tone, the leader of the 1798 Rebellion against British rule in Ireland who is widely regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism |
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| Famine - a sculpture just behind the Wolfe Tone |
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| Back to the Liffey - in the background is the main bridge - the O'Connell Street Bridge |
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| The O'Connell Street Bridge has the distinction of being one of the only bridges whose width exceeds its span |
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| Daniel O'Connell, one of the great leaders of Irish Independence, often called the Great Liberator |
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| Just across the bridge on the south side is the Lafayette Building |
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| Continuing north of the river on O'Connell, we next encounter William Smith O'Brien, an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament and leader of the Young Ireland movement |
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| Next, John Gray Knt MD JP, active both in municipal and national government for much of his life, he had nationalist ideals |
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| Big Jim Larkin - Labor activist, he founded the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, the Irish Labour Party, and later the Workers' Union of Ireland |
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| At the very north end of O'Connell Street is this beautiful monument to Charles Stewart Parnell - an Irish landlord, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He was one of the most important figures in the 19th century United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
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| At the center of everything is the Spire of Dublin soaring nearly 400 feet in height! |
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| The Main Post Office |
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| Rotunda in background - Ambassador Cinema in front |
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| Gate Theater |
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| Parnell Heritage Pub |
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| Further north yet, the Abbey Presbyterian Church |
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| But just south of Abbey is this somber memorial to those who died in the cause of Irish independence |
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| This animated sign is titled Suzanne Walking in a Leather Skirt |
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| Further north yet, alerted by maps.me. we found this statue of Mary in a housing project |
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| James Joyce Center (it was closed by a computer problem) |
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| I grew up listening to radio with my Mom. She always enjoyed Fibber Magee & Molly. |
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| Have no idea what this building is but loved the murals! |
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| Continuing the walkabout on the South Side of the River (keep in mind, these are not in chronological order) we find Grafton Street - a pedestrian only street where Theresa found a delightful gift shop! |
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| The Irish National Bank (right across from Trinity College) |
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| On a building top nearby "Erin go Bragh" meaning loosely Ireland Forever |
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| St Patrick's and the "Liberty Bell" so named because it is in the section of Dublin known as the Liberties (at least that's what it said on the internet!) |
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| Tombs line the walls of St Patrick's Park |
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| Dublin City Council Hall |
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| These odd pieces were embedded in the sidewalk around the City Council - no idea what they are |
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| Nice amphitheater behind City Council building |
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| Christ Church Cathedral right up the hill from the City Council building |
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| Christ Church Cathedral from other side |
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| The former residence for the Bishop |
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| We chatted with a traffic cop across from Trinity College and he recommended O'Neill's if we wanted Smithwick's |
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| Irish Stew with sides?? But it included soda bread so Theresa was happy! |
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| Our barkeeper |
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| Please note - Bob DID NOT TAKE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS OF THE LADIES LOO! |
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| The French Association with the Tricolors at half mast - this was shortly after the Paris terrorist attacks |
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| Just liked the name! |
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| What's not to like about a confectioner named Hansel & Gretel! |
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| Oscar Wilde reclines in Merrion Square |
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| National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces_An Dun Cuimhneachain - Merrion Square |
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| Did you know an Irishman named John Field is credited as Creator of the Nocturne? |
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| Countess Constance Markievicz and Poppet, Irish Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil politician, revolutionary nationalist, suffragette, socialist (the Countess, not Poppet) |
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| Viking Longboat Sculpture - I found this piece fascinating! |
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| Boston College - Dublin It supports study abroad students in Ireland and offers summer study and internships |
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| This set of row houses was fascinating in that they each had a relief above the door sets. Very nice touch. |
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| D'Olier Chambers building |
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| The Smock Alley Theater |
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| We're in the Temple Bar area, so why not find the Original Temple Bar? |
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| Turns out is has nothing to do with a temple, but was started by Sir William and Lady Martha Temple! |
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| I must admit, I was a little partial to "Bad Bob's Temple Bar" |
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| Gogarty's made a big thing about James Joyce - I figured it was like "George Washington Slept Here" ads. |
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| So we ended up at O'Shea's Restaurant - not even a bar! |
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| A pretty little hole in the wall where we could get a meal and a pint for 10 Euro. |
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| Theresa had Irish Stew while I had my last Irish fish & chips! |
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| It looks dark but its only like 8PM! |
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| Theresa spotted this pub and suggested one last pint o' Smithwick's! |
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| Tomorrow, it is all history. We fly back to Chicago. |
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| We bid farewell to the "Emerald Isle" |
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| As we catch one last glimpse of the west coast where we were just 3 weeks ago! |
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| We cleared US Customs in Dublin (very nice) and boarded the flight right on time! Landed in Chicago a tiny bit early. We'd parked in a Hilton by the Convention Center near O'Hare for $7/day in a covered garage! |
We headed south and cleared the region before the traffic hour. Stopped in Lafayette for a light snack and were home in bed by 10 PM!
I hope you have enjoyed this blog as much as I have enjoyed preparing it. Leave me a comment if you enjoyed it. Skip that if you hated it.
Until next time - au revoir
