Day 9, A Travelogue of Christmas in Ireland, December 2005

Christmas in Ireland Tour, 2005

Day 9 - Joyce's "dear, dirty Dublin"... on foot.

Friday, December 9, 2005

Itinerary: We stopped at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square and the General Post Office on our way into the City Centre, our first tour of the day was at Kilmainham Gaol. Because of a labor protest in Dublin, no buses were running so we had a long walk back into town. On the way, we visited St. Audoen's Gate and the oldest city gate in Dublin, the Viking settlement outlined in cobblestones at Christchurch, the Powerscourt Centre. After dinner at Yamomori Noodles in Georges Street, we walked into Trinity College to see the campanile (bell tower).

The Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square encloses a meditation garden that surrounds a large reflecting pool in front of a sculpture of people turning into swans. This sculpture represents the legend of The Children of Lir, a myth central to Irish legend. The Garden is dedicated to all who gave their lives in the pursuit of Irish freedom. As we walked from Parnell Square to the city center, we stopped at the General Post Office (GPO). It was from this building that the Easter Rising of 1916 was launched. This rebellion against British rule ultimately led to the creation of the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. Since it was early enough in the day, we were able to take the bus to Kilmainham Gaol. This was a prison that housed both common criminals and political prisons. Leaders of many Irish rebellions were held in Kilmainham. Many, including leaders of the Easter Rising, were executed here. The Gaol museum gives a good background of Irish political history. When we visited the cellblocks, we found them to be cold, dark, damp and very like a dungeon.

Because of the labor protest march, buses were not running so we walked back downtown. As we approached the city center, we saw the remains of Dublin's original mediaeval city wall and the oldest remaining city gate. We also visited areas representing the original Viking settlements in the city. This area behind Christchurch Cathedral is about one block from the music hall in Fishamble Street where Handel's Messiah premiered. We visited a few high end shops in Grafton Street before splitting up to shop on our own. That evening, we all met for dinner at Yamomori Noodles, a Japanese restaurant in Georges Street. After dinner, we walked into the courtyard of Trinity College to see the famous campanile (bell tower.)

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