The Ham Nomads

24 Jun 2014. <IE> Dublin —

Went in to Dublin. Dropped in to Trinity College to ask the student guides where they went to buy their stationery. When they said "Eason's, in Nassau Street" (very conveniently close to the College!), we went down there to look for the books Susie has started keeping her journals in. They had some on a display on the ground floor but, when we asked, they pointed us towards more in the basement. Susie was in seventh heaven! She now has enough books to write up the rest of this year, and then some!! We left our purchases at the store while we went off exploring!

Museum Foyer

Inside the Museum

Went down to the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, which had been closed yesterday, but was open and welcoming today. Not only were we able to explore the Neolithic and later periods of Ireland's history, the periods we had been dipping into as we wandered Ireland, and to see the Chalice of Armagh and the Brooch of Tara, but they had a special exhibition on the Battle of Clontarf (Cluain Tarbh), which took place in 1014, a thousand years ago. The first High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, fought in this battle against the Vikings for the possession of Dublin and its surrounding region. Although the Irish were victorious, Brian was slain in the battle. So important was Brian Boru in the history of Ireland and its psyche that the harp which you see everywhere as the official symbol of Ireland is the one attributed to Brian Boru himself, and we saw a replica of it in the Long Room of the Old Library at Trinity College yesterday. What people don't usually realise about the Battle of Clontarf was not that Brian Boru wished to evict the Vikings from Ireland, he just wanted to set up more favorable trading relations with them, but the Vikings were not amenable to such dealings.

Armagh Chalice

Tara Brooch

After spending about 3 hours in the Museum, we went for a delightful meal in its cafeteria — Susie had scones, jam and cream with her coffee (what else?), but Warren this time opted for cottage pie for a change.

Oscar Wilde Monument

We then went further east to try to find the Powerscourt Tower, for the Museum of Irish Dance. Well, we found Powers Court, but that had nothing to do with the place. Apparently the Powerscourt Centre is off Grafton Street, the pedestrian area we were in yesterday. So we started back. On the way, we went through Merrion Square, another fine park. This one has the honour of having had Oscar Wilde's dwelling at its northwest corner. The house is at Number One Merrion Square, now occupied and maintained by the American College Dublin, and in the park there is a memorial to Oscar Wilde at that point in the park. The park itself differs from the others we had visited in that it is more heavily wooded, although it still has open grassed areas for lying out and sunning yourself, which was certainly in order today!

Further on our walk back to the main drag we happened on the National Gallery of Ireland. Popped in for a short commune with the old masters. Noticed a lovely Vermeer that we're sure our friend Cathy Jones would appreciate!

After afternoon coffee, we continued on (picking up our shopping from Eason's on the way) into Grafton Street, and behind it to Clarendon Street, where we finally found the Powerscourt Centre and the Museum of Irish Dance — CLOSED!! It opens again for its next live show, next Saturday at 6pm. Unfortunately, we'll be in parts further north by then!

At this point, we decided to call it a day and adjourned to the van for tea, Macca's for internet time, then back to the Clondalkin Park and Ride to overnight.

Distance driven — today, 3 miles ( 5 km ); to date, 3,111 miles ( 5,007 km )