This post includes three bird references, including a robbery. See if you can spot all three.
Today we all moved a little more slowly but got ourselves ready for our first activity – a tour of the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship, a replica of the real Jeanie Johnston, one of the many ships that Irish people took to escape the famine in the mid-1800s for better lives in Canada and the U.S. What made the Jeanie Johnston unique was that it was Irish-owned and no one ever died on the ship.
After the ship made 16 round trip voyages and the famine had ended, the owner repurposed the ship for cargo. On that first journey, the boat sank in a storm, but the crew, the captain and his family were rescued. It was a great, informative tour of what the Irish suffered. Several of us became emotional with the history.
On deck, the weather was delightful.
The tour guide, Claire, was engaging and passionate. She kept a fairly large group at rapt attention, and encouraged little ones to touch the exhibits.
The keepsakes below are from previous passengers who thrived in North America and a Choctaw beaded medallion. One survivor who was born just before sailing became a successful owner of three bars in Minneapolis. The mother was so grateful for the care of the crew and passengers, that she gave her baby son 19 first and middle names in honor of the captain, the ship doctor and crew. More than 20 of his descendants have visited the Jeanie Johnston in the past decades. The beaded medallion is a recent connection to a Choctaw tribe that sent aid during the famine. Then during the pandemic, the Irish sent aid to the Choctaw nation.
You see what I mean by how we got emotional!
After that, we split up for lunch, with the families heading back to the hotel for rest (and the catch up with Austin).
Given where we were at the Jeanie Johnston, Will, Nezzie and I did the reverse version of Rick Steves’ South of the Liffey walk. The first thing we saw was this striking Famine Monument.
As our walk continued, we enjoyed the scenery along the River Liffey.
The first bird photo …
We crossed the ha’penny bridge, so named because prior to the bridge, you had to pay a ferry to cross the river. When the pedestrian bridge was built in 1816, it only cost a half penny. Hence the nickname. The actual original name is the Wellington Bridge. It’s one of the oldest surviving cast iron bridges in the world.
We meandered through the Temple Bar area, now some what touristy, but nonetheless delightful. A couple of weeks ago, an NCAA college football game was held in Dublin – Iowa State vs. Kansas State. There was still an Iowa State flag outside one of the bars.
One odd thing we saw was Handel’s Hotel, named for the famous composer who wrote the Messiah choral and instrumental masterpiece. Its first public performance was in Dublin. The bar is called “the Messiah.”
An odd discovery in Dublin, but what was even weirder was the statue of a very buff, naked Handel nearby, close to where the original theater stood.
Very unexpected.
Continuing our walk, we noticed tiles embedded in the sidewalk in places. Apparently, when a big office building was being built for the Dublin City Council in 1978, a Viking settlement was discovered. The building was built anyway, and these commemorative tiles were embedded as a way to acknowledge the history.
Will, Nezzie and I stopped for lunch at a lovely bistro/bakery down a quiet side street.
The clientele included the avian variety … and the second bird reference …
We next headed to Trinity College and meeting up with Austin. Right before this photo was taken, Maddy and Austin had stopped at McDonald’s. One of the very aggressive seagulls landed on Maddy’s head and grabbed the cheeseburger from Austin’s hands!!! He was telling us all about it:
We saw the Book of Kells and the Gaia sculpture. Most of us were a little underwhelmed with the Book of Kells. Somehow we missed the fact that it would only be two pages. The book was open flat in a glass case, with two facing pages showing. But at least they picked two important pages: Jesus’ death and resurrection. The resurrected Jesus was often displayed with peacock feathers because they thought peacock flesh did not decay.
However, the displays before seeing the book were interesting.
The Gaia sculpture was very cool to see in person.
Doug, Hannah and Luke went to some fun shops nearby while we spent time Ietting Teddy stretch his legs on the grass for a while at Trinity College.
Our walk continued on towards St. Stephen’s Green, but not before being nearly hit by a tram for not looking the right way. I may have dropped a choice word in shock. At least the scenery was pleasant.
We reunited with Doug, Hannah and Luke at St. Stephen’s Green and enjoyed the playground there. Poor Austin was incredibly tired from traveling and had a nice nap in the grass.
For dinner, we went to a fancy food hall and selected some treats to enjoy for a casual meal.
Followed by the famous Murphy’s ice cream. Mine was Chocolate Whisky and Strawberry cream. Yummy!
At the end of the day, Teddy enjoyed some play time in Mimi and Grandpa’s room, which has a really fun mirror above the bed.
Then Luke came in for a bedtime story with Grandpa and Aunt Nezzie.
It’s been a joyful trip so far!
Tomorrow, we leave Dublin and head west, with a planned stop at the Rock of Cashel. Will and Doug will each be driving our car rentals, except Doug’s will be a big van. Yikes!
Travel Buddies 
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