Off the beaten track, Dublin

Favorite thing: The area bounded between King Street at the south, Grafton Street to the east, South great Georges Street to the west and Dame Street to the north is, in my opinion, a spectacular neighborhood. The Castle Bar is located in here, where we met Lochlainn Tuesday evening, as are several other great pubs, Powerscourt, and an excellent chochoalte store. We spent a lot of time in this part of town.

The whole area is interesting and worth an entire trip to Dublin in itself. The following six or seven photos will show you bits and pieces of this neighborhood.

Favorite thing: Back Lane, almost in the Liberties, is a short stretch of path between High and Nicholas Streets, very near Christ Church Cathedral. Along this route is one of Dublin's better known Irish music pubs, Mother Red Cap's, and one of the few remaining elements of the origiinal Norman era walls, Tailor's Gate.

If you can read the signage posted on the wall of Mother Red Caps in the adjacent photgraph, the building was for sale during our visit. The location is not on any main thoroughfare in Dublin, which indicates to me that they have a hard time attracting customers. Too bad I suppose, as the pub has a recognizable reputation.

Favorite thing: Taxes. We have (and hate) them today, and so did our ancestors in the medieval times of early Dublin. Those who lived inside the castle walls paid for the additional protection with taxes levied upon them and rules governing their actions.

Those not within the walled confines however, were not as restricted or subject to taxation. They lived in what was then and still is called "The Liberties".

Favorite thing: Visit Ireland's Eye - a small island just off the coast of Dublin. The nearby Howth is also well worth a stroll.

I'm really just adding this tip to the general section because I'm so in love with this beautiful little island.

Seabirds such as Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and numerous Gulls regularly roost on the impressive cliffs of the island.

Favorite thing: Take a daytrip to the Wicklow Mountains. The area has some of the most beautiful gardens you've ever seen - within a short drive of dublin! Driving thru this area can take some time but its beautiful!

Fondest memory: We were driving thru the mountains in a heavy misty fog - you couldn't see more than a few feet ahead...We were looking for Powerscourt gardens. Finally we saw a sign indicating we were within 3 km of our goal. Driving on thru the mist, we drove, and drove, and drove...til we saw a sign for Dublin again! We missed our turn off for Powerscourt and in the fog came down the other side of the mountain approaching Dublin.
After a full day visiting gardens in the rain we spent the evening in the town of Avoca of Ballykissangel fame.

Favorite thing: Newgrange is a must see. It is outside Dublin city but is the oldest site in Ireland. pre dates the pyramids by about 1000 years!! It has been restored to a certain extent, but does have a false look about the entrance. Dont even bother to attempt to go there at the spring solstace as it is booked out for quiote a few years.

Favorite thing: NEWGRANGE
In the Boyne Valley (!!!)
A famouse passage tomb.

Fondest memory: This monumental tomb is to be seen, at December equinox the sun at midday reaches the center of the tomb, through a little window over the entrance, along the corridor inside, till the center of the hill on the ground.

Favorite thing: KILLENEY HILLS - Make a trip with Dart or bus in the villages north of Dublin - Dun Laghaire - Killeney - Bray and Greystone! I made this tour on one day and I hiked in the Killeney Hills (between Dun Laghaire and Killeney - excellent view and natural ways) and from Bray to Greystone (Cliffwalk - but on the one side you will see the mountains and on the other side the abyss and the sea) It´s a little bit stress to make this tour on one day but I can recommend it!

Fondest memory: We were sent off to the west coast of Ireland for a day & night. We went to the Dingle Penninsula, off of Tra Li. It was absolutely freezing and desolate. Our B&B was great though - Murphy's Pub. In the morning I had wild Dingle salmon for breakfast. It was the best smoked salmon I've ever had. Dingle is all fishing village, not much else to do besides drink and listen to the great performers. So we did.

Fondest memory: The most beautiful place I went to was Glendalough. In the 1500's (I think) St Kevin went there to live as a hermit. But people kept following him there. Eventually a monastery was founded and was world renowned as a place of great learning. In this picture is the round tower. It door is 9 feet off the ground so that when invaders came they could go inside the tower and pull the ladder in after them.