All Over Dublin!
Click here for Day Two pictures!
I thought I'd post a map of all of the places we went today, but I can't find an image big enough to send! Yep, we went all over today.
After breakfast, we stopped at Trinity College again. This time, we saw the courtyard/square. It was absolutely beautiful! Cobblestones, pillars and very old buildings!! Of course MJ got some great pics!
Next, we tried to go on the tour of the 1916 Easter Rising (the battle that MJ's great-grandfather had a part in that eventually allowed for Ireland's independence from Britain. Well, the tour had been cancelled because the guide had to attend a funeral. We're definitely going back tomorrow to check it out.
So we went on our own tour all around the city. First, we crossed the Liffey River (the river that divides the city...kind of like Woodward Ave. in MI, or the Mississippi River in TN). On that side of the river, we just happened to pass the GPO, the post office where the great 1916 Easter Rising began. I hear my Grandpa worked there as well. We went in to buy postcard stamps and check out the place.
From there we stopped by the Spire. A huge tall pointy needle that really has no "point" other than to be an attraction. So of course we sat down at the base of it and took pics. We kept walking and walking and walking seeing lots of different areas. Our goal was to find where MJ's Grandpa McEvoy was born (again, thanks to my cousin, Brian). We traveled down some pretty sketchy streets, but kept going. Eventually, we found Fitzgibbon Street. We knew that his house was torn down to erect apartments, but across the street were some homes that would give us the idea of what the place looked like in 1898 when Grandpa was born. After taking more pics, we ventured to a "local" pub for lunch. We found Phil Ryan's and were told to go upstairs to eat. Very cool place. Definitely for locals.
We were very close to Croke Park. That's the huge stadium where they play football (soccer), hurling, camogie (female hurling), and rugby. The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Match was yesterday. We learned that it's a huge deal, kind of like the SuperBowl for the US. So, we checked it out. We took a tour of the stadium and museum. We learned about what the heck "hurling" is. We likened it to playing lacrosse, but with a short hockey stick and hitting the ball like a baseball. It was very cool to check it out and learn about the huge tradition. What was even more interesting was the fact that these guys (lads) are all amateurs. They have weekday jobs and don't get paid for playing at all. They play for the love of the sport, not huge contracts like we know the NFL/NBA/NHL/etc. receive.
Anyways. We decided we had enough of the walking so we figured out how to take a bus to the Jameson Whiskey Distillery. We weren't super successful by bus, but we ended up figuring out where it was once we got off the bus and journeyed by foot. The tour was very cool. Of course both of us are whiskey fans (Matt made MJ into one). The tour ended with a glass of whiskey for MJ. Matt volunteered to be one of four people to sample whiskeys from America (Jack Daniels), Scotland (Scotch), and of course Ireland (Jameson). Of course he decided he liked the Jameson best! He was awarded a certificate for being a connesseur.
We had to put our rain jackets on as we left the Distillery. Next we decided to find a pub and restaurant to take pictures for some people back home. MJ had done some research on the Internet for a few last names. We headed to yet another part of Dublin towards Darkey Kelleys' Pub for MJ's coworker Jack Kelley. Um, the Internet had the spelling of the name incorrect. Yep, it was spelled Kelly (without an "e"). Go figure, everything else was spelled "Kelly" as well. Jack, you're right, your family must be better known in Sherwood Forest, England. By now it's pouring down rain. We decided to keep going to find the Bucci Restaurant (for MJ's brother-in-law & sister's last name) in yet another area of town. Long story short. Rain. Wet map. Flannery's, not Bucci's. Yeah, Bucci's closed down and it's Flannery's now. Sorry Jack and Anne/Mike, we got pics of the two places anyways.
So now we're soaked. Feeling like true Dubliners now. We're wet and hungry. Every pub where we stop is only serving beer, no food. UGH! We think Dubliners only drink their dinners! We ask where we can get a good dinner. We find a cool, modern place. This girl ends up coming over to talk to us because of Matt's red "fro." Go figure. She was so enthralled with it! I guess his curly red hair isn't as popular over here as we thought! She talked to us for a long time. Yeah, she did all of the talking. After a yummy dinner (pretty much food like what we'd get in the US...Dubliners are a lot like us), we headed downstairs and another young guy talked to us. He was friends with the girl from upstairs, but from County Cork. He was very interested in talking with us, and we loved talking to him as well!
Finally, it stopped raining. We made our way back towards our hotel (still walking!) and stopped in for dessert at the bar we went to last night. We saw a dessert on the menu that was a Belgian waffle with ice cream and chocolate on top. MJ's favorite dessert! We told them that when we special order that dessert back home, we get weird looks. I think this waitress just thought we were weird because we came in just for dessert and coffee...not a pint or two of beer!
It was time to head back to the hotel. We've made friends with the receptionists and the one on duty tonight actually recognized us out last night and offered to buy us a drink. Tonight, we talked to her for a long time just wanting to know more about what it's like to live here. She was so much fun to talk with!
Now, it's bedtime, yet everyone back home is continuing their BBQs and Labor Day picnics. Matt's asleep again. Something's wrong with this picture. I'm usually the one in bed and Matt's on the computer. Oh well, I love letting you all know what's going on. Please feel free to look at the pics I've attached. I hope they work.
Oh, and by the way, we received wonderful news today from MJ's brother, Mike, out in Park City, UT! He and Dana are engaged! We are so happy for you, Mike and Dana, and can't wait to hear the plans!
Much love to all!
I thought I'd post a map of all of the places we went today, but I can't find an image big enough to send! Yep, we went all over today.
After breakfast, we stopped at Trinity College again. This time, we saw the courtyard/square. It was absolutely beautiful! Cobblestones, pillars and very old buildings!! Of course MJ got some great pics!
Next, we tried to go on the tour of the 1916 Easter Rising (the battle that MJ's great-grandfather had a part in that eventually allowed for Ireland's independence from Britain. Well, the tour had been cancelled because the guide had to attend a funeral. We're definitely going back tomorrow to check it out.
So we went on our own tour all around the city. First, we crossed the Liffey River (the river that divides the city...kind of like Woodward Ave. in MI, or the Mississippi River in TN). On that side of the river, we just happened to pass the GPO, the post office where the great 1916 Easter Rising began. I hear my Grandpa worked there as well. We went in to buy postcard stamps and check out the place.
From there we stopped by the Spire. A huge tall pointy needle that really has no "point" other than to be an attraction. So of course we sat down at the base of it and took pics. We kept walking and walking and walking seeing lots of different areas. Our goal was to find where MJ's Grandpa McEvoy was born (again, thanks to my cousin, Brian). We traveled down some pretty sketchy streets, but kept going. Eventually, we found Fitzgibbon Street. We knew that his house was torn down to erect apartments, but across the street were some homes that would give us the idea of what the place looked like in 1898 when Grandpa was born. After taking more pics, we ventured to a "local" pub for lunch. We found Phil Ryan's and were told to go upstairs to eat. Very cool place. Definitely for locals.
We were very close to Croke Park. That's the huge stadium where they play football (soccer), hurling, camogie (female hurling), and rugby. The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Match was yesterday. We learned that it's a huge deal, kind of like the SuperBowl for the US. So, we checked it out. We took a tour of the stadium and museum. We learned about what the heck "hurling" is. We likened it to playing lacrosse, but with a short hockey stick and hitting the ball like a baseball. It was very cool to check it out and learn about the huge tradition. What was even more interesting was the fact that these guys (lads) are all amateurs. They have weekday jobs and don't get paid for playing at all. They play for the love of the sport, not huge contracts like we know the NFL/NBA/NHL/etc. receive.
Anyways. We decided we had enough of the walking so we figured out how to take a bus to the Jameson Whiskey Distillery. We weren't super successful by bus, but we ended up figuring out where it was once we got off the bus and journeyed by foot. The tour was very cool. Of course both of us are whiskey fans (Matt made MJ into one). The tour ended with a glass of whiskey for MJ. Matt volunteered to be one of four people to sample whiskeys from America (Jack Daniels), Scotland (Scotch), and of course Ireland (Jameson). Of course he decided he liked the Jameson best! He was awarded a certificate for being a connesseur.
We had to put our rain jackets on as we left the Distillery. Next we decided to find a pub and restaurant to take pictures for some people back home. MJ had done some research on the Internet for a few last names. We headed to yet another part of Dublin towards Darkey Kelleys' Pub for MJ's coworker Jack Kelley. Um, the Internet had the spelling of the name incorrect. Yep, it was spelled Kelly (without an "e"). Go figure, everything else was spelled "Kelly" as well. Jack, you're right, your family must be better known in Sherwood Forest, England. By now it's pouring down rain. We decided to keep going to find the Bucci Restaurant (for MJ's brother-in-law & sister's last name) in yet another area of town. Long story short. Rain. Wet map. Flannery's, not Bucci's. Yeah, Bucci's closed down and it's Flannery's now. Sorry Jack and Anne/Mike, we got pics of the two places anyways.
So now we're soaked. Feeling like true Dubliners now. We're wet and hungry. Every pub where we stop is only serving beer, no food. UGH! We think Dubliners only drink their dinners! We ask where we can get a good dinner. We find a cool, modern place. This girl ends up coming over to talk to us because of Matt's red "fro." Go figure. She was so enthralled with it! I guess his curly red hair isn't as popular over here as we thought! She talked to us for a long time. Yeah, she did all of the talking. After a yummy dinner (pretty much food like what we'd get in the US...Dubliners are a lot like us), we headed downstairs and another young guy talked to us. He was friends with the girl from upstairs, but from County Cork. He was very interested in talking with us, and we loved talking to him as well!
Finally, it stopped raining. We made our way back towards our hotel (still walking!) and stopped in for dessert at the bar we went to last night. We saw a dessert on the menu that was a Belgian waffle with ice cream and chocolate on top. MJ's favorite dessert! We told them that when we special order that dessert back home, we get weird looks. I think this waitress just thought we were weird because we came in just for dessert and coffee...not a pint or two of beer!
It was time to head back to the hotel. We've made friends with the receptionists and the one on duty tonight actually recognized us out last night and offered to buy us a drink. Tonight, we talked to her for a long time just wanting to know more about what it's like to live here. She was so much fun to talk with!
Now, it's bedtime, yet everyone back home is continuing their BBQs and Labor Day picnics. Matt's asleep again. Something's wrong with this picture. I'm usually the one in bed and Matt's on the computer. Oh well, I love letting you all know what's going on. Please feel free to look at the pics I've attached. I hope they work.
Oh, and by the way, we received wonderful news today from MJ's brother, Mike, out in Park City, UT! He and Dana are engaged! We are so happy for you, Mike and Dana, and can't wait to hear the plans!
Much love to all!
posted by greens at
6:05 PM
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