Dublin

An easy drive to the Holyhead to catch the ferry to Dun Laoghaire where we are there early enough to have a bit of breakfast before boarding the ferry. Again these guys have it downpat and it all runs very smoothly. Once we leave the car on the car deck and make our way upstairs we realise that this is very different to the ferry we took from the Isle of Wight. This is a Norwegian company and this ship has it all. Shopping, a gaming room, bars and a decent cafeteria. We find a place and get set up to wile away the 2 hour journey.

Bar area on the boat

I have a look at the shopping and while tempted I do resist. It is amazing how these boats are set up. I decide that this is a good time to try and do some writing for the blog and it does prove a good idea as I get quite a bit done. It is a very comfortable journey and the time goes quickly. We have another one of these type of journeys so will probably spend my time doing the same on that journey as well.

We arrive at the port and program Doris and she seems to be taking us around the world compared to Peter's  written notes. But we persevere and she is right! The directions we had were from the opposite side of the port so Doris was calculating from the right side of the port to get us to our destination.

As we arrive at our hotel I am very happy it is in an actual castle rebuilt and extended to include the accommodation. A great use of a wonderful building. We make our way to our room and we are in heaven when we walk in as it is a very spacious room compared to some that we have stayed in lately. Room to actually have suitcases open and be able to walk around. Fantastic!

Clontarf Castle Hotel

In the Foyer

We go and have some lunch, did some blogging and had an early dinner. A pretty easy day.

Day 2
We decide with only one day here that we will do the Hop On Hop Off Bus so that we can see a bit of Dublin without too much hassle. The bus actually comes to the hotel so it is very easy. We arrive in the centre of Dublin and just have to change buses but that's ok. We start the tour and I really think I need to come back to the start point to take some photos as the main street has a lot of statues and history in just that street alone. But alas that wasn't to be. Never mind these things happen.

Our bus driver is also the live commentary on the bus and he is very funny. Great stories and had a good rapport with everyone who got on the bus. We stayed on for a few stops but Peter wanted to get off and see Temple Bar which is a renowned cafe, bar and restaurant area so we got off and worked out the way there. Unfortunately I think this area is one you have to see at night as by day it seems a bit dreary and it was probably a bit early for any of the places to be open. 

Temple Bar Street

So we continue walking along Dame Street to find where a free walking tour is meant to start. I like to find these tours when we are on holiday but they have been a bit thin on the ground on this holiday. We do find it but when I ask how long it goes for it is way too ling at 3 hours so we make our way to Dublin Castle.

Originally a defensive fort for the Norman city of Dublin. It was completed by 1230 and the castle was typical Norman design with a central square bounded on all sides by tall defensive walls and protected at each corner by a circular tower. After severe fire damage there was little left of the original design and it was rebuilt transforming it from a medieval fortress to a Georgian palace. None of the original buildings are with exception of the great Record Tower.

Chapel at Dublin Castle

Part of the towers

Courtyard of Dublin Castle

A bit of a connection to Australia is the incarceration of one of the participants in the 1798 uprising Joseph Holt before being transported to NSW in 1799.

Another interesting fact is that the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from the castle in 1907 and have never been recovered.

When the Irish Free State came about in 1922 the castle ceased to function as an administrative and then served as temporary Courts of Justice and after they vacated it was used for ceremonial purposes.  It is now a tourist attraction and a conference centre with the State Apartments the main attraction. The State art,wants are very grand and as we walk through it is interesting to see the beautiful colours that are used throughout.

One of the State Rooms of the Castle

There was one room we went through where James Connolly a member of the Easter Rising was kept and given first aid before being taken to Kilmainham Gaol and being executed before a firing squad. We learn more about this later in day.

Every room has it's own story but the one that struck me was this small room painted the colour of Wedgewood Blue. It was very calming and so nice.

The Wedgwood Blue Room

We left the castle and walked to St Patricks Cathedral. It is surrounded by a lovely park which has a lot of people enjoying it. At one end is a wall which is a commemoration of Irish literary figures. Another beautiful cathedral which is the largest church in Ireland was founded in 1191. It is another Gothic style with a lot of friezes which are around the church. One of the famous people who rests here is Jonathan Swift an author who wrote Gulliver's Travels. This is something that Peter particularly wanted to seek out.

The Park surrounding St Patrick's Cathedral

The Cathedral

Jonathan Swift's Grave

 From here we hop back on the bus and make our way to the Guinness Storehouse. Peter wasn't keen to go here but i said we couldn't go to Dublin and not go! He was very surprised as we made our way through looking at the history and story of making Guinness. A very well put together experience which we both enjoyed. At the end of the tour your ticket entitles you to a free Guinness which is in the Gravity Bar which has great views over the whole of Dublin. I had a half pint and I quite liked it.

We went downstairs to do a little shopping for the boys back home and then hopped back on the bus to go to Kilmainham Gaol. This gaol was first built in 1796 and was built to replace the old gaol which was just down the road. It wasn't a pleasant place to be as there was no segregation of prisoners, men, women and children were all together with up to 5 in a cell at one time. A lot of the children were imprisoned for petty theft while the adults were sent to Australia. Over time the women were segregated from the men but still suffered much worse conditions. Conditions did improve slightly over time but still a harsh place to be incarcerated.

Inside the Gaol

In the 1860 an east wing was built and it was felt that the design would help in the rehabilitation of prisoners as there was light coming in from skylights and the 96 cells were based on the principle of silence and separation. Very similar to part of Fremantle Gaol in western Australia. It was home to many famous Irish rebels who have been imprisoned in the gaol. Some of these were from the Easter Rising which took place in 1916. 14 men who took part in this were executed in the stone-breaker's yard of the gaol. The gaol was closed in 1910 but was used to house these political prisoners during the period 1916 - 1924.

After a period of neglect the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee was established in 1960 to preserve the gaol as a monument to Irish nationalism. This group was made up of volunteers and after 30 years the gaol was handed over to the State in 1986. It is now run by the Office of Public Works.

As we walked through with our guide Bernard it was an eerie feeling hearing some of the stories that he told. He was an excellent guide and ended up chatting to him at the end of the tour. A very interesting place to visit.

Back on the bus where we get off at the wrong place and find ourselves having to get a taxi back to the hotel. Another full day out so an easy dinner as we are back on the road again tomorrow to Killarney.