I was out the door early to make the most of the morning before i had to collect my hire car.
I walked into town, bought an extensive Ireland roads map then walked to Dublin Castle into the H'penny Bridge that goes over the Liffey River (use to cost a h'penny to cross), and walked through Temple Bar (Dublin's most visited cobbled neighbourhood, especially well-known for the numerous Irish bars).
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| Temple Bar |
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| Temple Bar art |
Once at the Castle I went straight to the Chester Beatty Library (collection of very rare manuscripts, books, paintings etc that hold religious significance for a number of the religions - Christianity, Budhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism etc). I loved the collection but only got to see a small bit of it in my 1.5 hours so will return on the weekend.
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| Colourful section of Dublin Castle |
I caught a taxi to collect my bags from Nicola's place then went to collect my hire car. This isn't the cheapest way for me to get around Ireland (despite the great deal Julien got me) by any means but it will allow me flexibility and control over my travels. I have been upgraded from a Ford KA to a Fiesta....yippppp, more grunt for my money.
Managed to get out of Dublin, find a petrol station, but then got a little confused and ended up back out the motorway heading back to Dublin. Sorted it out quickly though.
Drove north, visiting Newgrange (part of Bru Na Boinne), which is a neolithic necropolis 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. It really is an amazing place and you enter a narrow passage to go into the mound that was built so that at summer solstice, the sun shines directly up the passage. Amazing!
I then went to Old Mellifont Abbey (built in the 12th century by the Irish monastic order), and Monasterboice (monastic site containing a cemetary and 2 ancient church ruins).
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| Mellifont Abbey |
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| Monasterboice |
I didn't get to my B&B for the night in Carlingford til about 6.30pm because I kept having kodak moments on the drive. I checked in, dumped my bags then headed into Carlingford (10 minute drive), stopping for more snaps on the way (can't help myself!) I had dinner at a pub recommended by Nicola - lovely beef and guinness pie. I'm trying to keep costs down but I'm more likely to meet the locals if I'm out for dinner. The pub was lovely, roaring log fire and soccer final on tv.
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| Local curious wildlife |
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| Carlingford town |
I then went to Old Mellifont Abbey (built in the 12th century by the Irish monastic order), and Monasterboice (monastic site containing a cemetary and 2 ancient church ruins).
Hi Tami,
ReplyDeleteThe pub you have pictured in Temple Bar, is where Annie worked (for all of one night). It was absolute mayhem, and when i came to walk her home at half two in the morning it was interesting to see the last minute pairing off that occured outside as people staggered off. Let me just say that age difference was definitely no barrier.
I then watched them hose the pub out ready for the next day...