Day 12 Dublin

September 14 2015 - Dublin Ireland

We are on our own today. Without Mick to get us going we decide to meet at 9:30. So after another filling and satisfying breakfast at the hotel we head out for the Hop On Hop Off.

The stop is steps away from the hotel.

The plan was to go around and only get off at Kilmainham Jail. However when we got there there was a huge lineup so we opted to stay on board.

Phoenix Park at 707 hectares (1752 acres) is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. The Phoenix Park was established in 1662 by one of Ireland’s most illustrious viceroys, James Butler, Duke of Ormond, on behalf of King Charles II.

The Wellington Monument is a 62 metres tall obelisk commemorating the victories of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. It is the largest obelisk in Europe and would have been even higher if the publicly subscribed funding had not run out.

Now the Residence of the President of Ireland, Áras an Uachtaráin, started as a modest brick house for the Phoenix Park Chief Ranger in 1751. It was subsequently acquired as an "occasional residence" for the Lords Lieutenants and gradually evolved to a large mansion. After Ireland gained independence, it was occupied by three Governors General between 1922 and 1937, prior to the first president Dr Douglas Hyde taking up residence there.

The Criminal Courts of Justice (Irish: Na Cúirteanna Breithiúnais Coiriúla) is the principal courts building for the criminal courts in theRepublic of Ireland.It is on Parkgate Street, near the Phoenix Park.

The court building, which officially opened in January 2010, replaced the Four Courts and other buildings as the location for most criminal matters before the Dublin Metropolitan District Court and Dublin Circuit Court. The complex also houses the regular sittings of the Central Criminal Court, Special Criminal Court and is home to the Court of Appeal's criminal division.

In a change from previous older courts buildings in Ireland, the building has facilities to hold up to 100 prisoners in the basement, with separate entrances for each court. Jurors are also based in a separate part of the building with their own court entrances after being empanelled, in order to keep them separate from the public. Victims and victim support organisations also have use of a suite of rooms.

We had visited Jameson last week when we were in Middleton.

James Joyce Bridge (Irish: Droichead James Joyce) is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey, joining the south quays to Blackhall Place on the north side.  The bridge is named for the famous Dublin author James Joyce, and was opened on 16 June 2003 (Bloomsday). Joyce's short story "The Dead" is set in Number 15 Usher's Island, the house facing the bridge on the south side.

The Ha'penny Bridge (Irish: Droichead na Leathphingine, or Droichead na Life), known later for a time as the Penny Ha'penny Bridge, and officially the Liffey Bridge, is a pedestrian bridge built in 1816 over the River Liffey

I posted some other photos of the bridge on our first day.

Going down O'Connell St.

GPO or General Post Office

We get off at O'Connell St. and do some window shopping.

I had read about The Church and had it on my list but never imagined we would trip upon it.

The former St. Mary’s Church of Ireland is one of the earliest examples of a galleried church in Dublin.Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it boasts many outstanding features, such as the Renatus Harris built organ and spectacular stained glass window.St. Mary’s closed in 1964 and lay derelict for a number of years until it was purchased by John Keating in 1997. Following extensive restoration over a seven year period, this List 1 building finally re-opened its doors in December 2005 as John M. Keating’s Bar.In September 2007 the building was acquired by new owners and renamed “The Church Bar and Restaurant”.

 A selfie beneath the Spire on O'Connell St.

 We decided to take the Blue Line out to Glasnevin and Croke Park.


Some random photos as we drive through the city.

Irish Government Buildings or Dail, in Dublin home of the office of the Prime Minister or Taoiseach

Around some of the Georgian squares.

Doorman at the Merrion Hotel 5 stars.

Dublin is famous for its doors.

Christchurch Cathedral

St. Patrick.

Glasnevin Cemetary

We then visit Croke Park. Croke Park has been at the heart of Irish sporting life for over a hundred years. Boasting a capacity for 82,300 people, the stadium is the home of Gaelic games and the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). 

Garth Brooks managed to cause controversy in Ireland last summer over five consecutive sold-out dates at Croke Park in Dublin. Following complaints from residents, the city council ruled Brooks could play only three shows and it became an all-or-nothing stand-off that reached the highest levels of government. Brooks pulled out, cancelling all 400,000 tickets.

 We get back to O'Connell St. and K and B decide to ride the bus back to the hotel. We decide to walk back.

The Brazen Head is officially Ireland\'s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. While it is unclear how much of the original 11th century coach house is still intact, there is a palpable sense of history within these timeworn walls.

The pub has managed to retain the charm and characteristics of it\'s past and in particular it\'s patrons, who have included such literaries as James Joyce, Brendan Behan and Jonathan Swift as well as such revolutionaries as Robert Emmet, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O\'Connell and Michael Collins.Today the patrons still include some famous faces, including some very famous musicians like Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers, Mary Black and Garth Brooks.

Back at the hotel and we get ready to go to my aunt's house.