A walk around Dublin, Ireland

Our ship came into port in Dublin around 11 a.m. today. On the way in, we passed this lighthouse. I snapped a picture of it because I've never seen one in the water before.

 

beware, shallow waters

 

This afternoon we did a talking tour in the city of Dublin, Ireland’s capital which boasts a population of 1.5 million people. Unlike the moderate temperatures we’ve been enjoying for several weeks now, the high today was only 65. That’s cold to us Texans! Additionally, it was overcast and windy with occasional sprinkles. Our guide said this kind of weather is typical at the height of summer.

 

one of 21 bridges across the River Liffey which runs through the city

Hughenot Cemetery (1693)

 

ancient fountain for horses and people

Convention Center

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was our first time in Ireland, and we had a very nice guide, but between the weather and all the walking, I must confess that it was a bit disappointing (to me, anyway). Also, I had chosen this particular excursion because it’s description gave the impression that we would visit Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest library. Known as The Old Library, it houses one of the world’s most famous manuscripts - the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is a hand written copy of the 4 gospels of the New Testament. Unfortunately, we learned that we would not be going there. We would have needed a ticket and an appointment to visit, and that was not included of our tour. Supposedly, the library itself is something to see. https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells-experience/

 

green buses, green mailboxes

Boston College

The Mansion House (former mayor's house)

Department of the Taoiseach (government building)

Linzer House (now Parliament Building)

St. Ann's Cathedral

bellmen at the Shelbourne Hotel

Our guide told us lots of stories as we passed by St. Ann’s Anglican Church, the Mansion House where Dublin’s Lord Mayor lives and Merrion Square, one of Dublin’s grand Georgian squares. We also walked by St. Stephen’s Green Park, the Hughenot Cemetery, some government buildings, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Leinster House which is now the House of Parliament. We didn’t go inside any of these. 

National Museum of Ireland

almost all houses had boot scrapers

hole through which coal was dropped

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

statue of Oscar Wilde

 

women's fashions

 

men's Irish flat caps

  

Later we stopped into one of Dublin’s famous pubs for a cold drink, after which we had about 45 minutes of free time to shop before meeting our guide back at the bus pick up location to ride back to the port.