Day 02 (September 16) Dublin
Today, we woke refreshed and headed down for breakfast around 7:30pm. Breakfast was buffet style and was quite impressive. Bob and I both had scrambled eggs, sausage, grilled tomato (my favourite) and black pudding. I also had a delightful yogurt and jam dish.
We were on the bus by 9am and off to our first stop - St. Patrick's Cathedral - the national Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It had the characteristics of some of the Anglican churches we have seen in Canada, but much much more elaborate. The stained glass windows were amazing. Jonathon Swift once served as Dean of the cathedral. Again, the stained glass was spectacular and ornate construction was breathtaking. You can learn more about St. Patrick's here: https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/
Our next stop was Klmaiham Gaol, a prison first built in the 1600s. Initially it held 1000 prisoners, mostly for crimes of poverty - begging and stealing food, but later became a prison for political prisoners of the Irish Rebellion. We learned about the history of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the mistreatment by the British. This was a fascinating visit. There is so much I did not know about Irish history, particularly in its relationship with England and its subsequent independence. There is more information here: https://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/
Next, we visited the Epic Museum, a museum about the Irish diaspora and emmigration of the Irish. This was an utterly fascinating, amazing display of the reasons why the Irish left their homeland throughout the years. I was truly moved by this museum, and the challenges faced by Ireland through the years. More info here: https://epicchq.com/
In the evening, we enjoyed an Irish Cabaret, with complimentary wine, scotch, and Irish coffee. The performers were excellent and a lot of fun. They put a whole new meaning to "dancing on the tables".
We arrived back to our hotel around 11pm and settled in for what we know will be a good sleep. Tired, but a great day all around.
Hotel - Samuel
Weather - sunny - 19c
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