“Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.”
Psalm 135:13
Every year as St. Patrick’s Day approaches I tend to search for an article or book to spend a little time reading and refreshing my mind about Ireland and its history. I had always wanted to visit Ireland, even as a boy when I probably couldn’t find it on a map! Maybe it was because my Mom’s maiden name was Kennedy and there seemed to be an Irish connection a few generations ago. It was like a dream come true for Pam and me to be blessed with the opportunity to visit Ireland last year. It is an intriguing place, a place that we would like to visit again and stay a wee bit longer.
Today we will stop off in Dublin, a fascinating city with a lot to see and do. One striking thing to us was the helpful and friendly people we met on the streets of Dublin. It was as if we were old friends and they had known us forever. A couple of young Irish lads we met “cut loose to singing” (as we might say in the south) ”Sweet Home Alabama”. We felt right at home. Welcome to Dublin !!
Trinity College was founded in 1592 and is Ireland’s oldest university. It is one of the most esteemed universities in the world and one of the city’s most beautiful sights.
The Campanile of Trinity College is a bell tower and one of its most iconic landmarks.
Sphere Within Sphere by Italian sculptor, Arnaldo Pomodoro, is a bronze sculpture that stands outside the Berkeley Library on the campus of Trinity.
The Old Library is the oldest surviving building on campus. The Book of Kells, a renowned artifact, is housed in the Library. Created by Celtic monks circa 800 AD, the Book of Kells contains lavishly decorated copy in Latin of the Four Gospels of the New Testament. It is one of Ireland’s national treasures. No photos were allowed. The Long Room is the main chamber of the Old Library and measures 65 metres (about 213 feet) in length.
The Long Room houses around 200,000 of the Library’s oldest and rarest books. Marble busts are placed down either side of the room, a collection that began in 1743.
As an avid reader with a passion for books, I was overwhelmed with the Long Room of leather-bound books from floor to ceiling.
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. It is situated at the mouth of the River Liffey which flows through the center of Dublin and divides the city in two.
One of three foot-bridges, The Ha’penny Bridge was built in 1816.
Christ Church is Dublin’s oldest cathedral. Originally a wooden church founded in 1038, this building was started in 1172. Though restored in the late 19th century, the church retains much of its original structure.
The church’s nave contains high pointed arches and ornate decoration.
While we were visiting, we were excited to hear a concert by the First Christian Church Chancel Choir of Norman, Oklahoma. The acoustics were amazing and their arrangement of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” was magnificent!
The medieval crypt dates from possibly the 11th century and is the oldest structure in Dublin. It is most unusual in stretching under the entire church. It is a forest of rough-stone pillars which carry the entire weight of the cathedral and central tower.
At the west end of the cathedral is a fully integrated stone bridge, leading to the former synod hall.
On the south bank of the River Liffey just west of Trinity College is the Temple Bar area. This district is informally known as Dublin’s cultural quarter.
The Temple Bar area is known for its shops, boutiques, restaurants and pubs along its cobblestoned streets.
The Temple Bar is the most popular pub with its lively music. We investigated the many small rooms and then enjoyed a lunch of traditional Irish fare.
The flowers were prolific all over Dublin…with the moist climate, they thrive!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is Dublin’s other medieval cathedral. Founded in 1191, its present form dates back to 1220.
The weather was nice on the day we visited St. Patrick’s…its adjacent park was full of people enjoying the pleasant temperatures.
The architecture, sculptures, and meticulous carvings are amazing!
The grand church was fully restored in the late 19th century by the famed Guiness family.
Gorgeous mosaic floor in the nave!
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When we exited, the weather had changed…a heavy downpour of rain was falling. We walked for several blocks with umbrellas, but finally a taxi came to our rescue!
Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed our trip to Dublin!
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Thank you for this enchanting tour. I only wish things, today, were built with the pride and longevity as in days of old. I have always wanted to visit Ireland as my grandmother was from there. I remember the many stories told to me about her homeland and the town of Dublin. It was a pleasure to get a glimpse into the world she knew.
Bobbi, thank you and I wish you could visit your grandmother’s homeland! It really is green and the folks are so nice! Have a beautiful week!
Yes, I enjoyed visiting Dublin with you! I would love to visit Ireland for real, but your post will do for now. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kim…a beautiful and friendly country!
I enjoy this blog so much. Beautiful pictures. So inspiring and relaxing.
Thank you Carol…I appreciate you commenting!
Loved the pictures and Butch’s comments. My maiden name is Collins. So when my husband and I visited I felt right at home as every other shop was named “Collins”. Would love to go again. The thing that stands out in my mind is the taste of their potatoes. I like them, but they had the best I’ve ever tasted. I loved visiting the antique shops and had Staffordshire dogs shipped back home. I found them in a very old shop. When I got them home it took hours to clean them. I think the smoke, fly specks, and grim is what held them together. We also found the people very helpful and friendly. It’s good to see Ireland throught others eyes.
Alice, sounds like you had a wonderful time! Their potatoes are really the best and they are a very friendly country! I love that you bought Staffordshire dogs…what a great treasure to have from your trip! Wishing you a wonderful week!
I did enjoy your tour of Dublin. My husband and I hope to visit Ireland one day.
I love the beautiful baskets of blooming flowers everywhere and appreciate the history you shared. Timely post around St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks, I enjoyed learning about Dublin.
Bonnie, you would love all the flowers, they were unbelievable! Hopefully you can go!
Hi Butch and Pam, I love this post! Got to share that my grandparents all came from Ireland and the same area the Kennedy’s are from, plus we are distant(very distant)relatives to them-so we could also be related. We went to Ireland last summer for the first time-so I recognize some of the sites you’ve share in Dublin. However we only spent one night there since we don’t like big cities. We loved it but crammed so much into our stay there that I feel we saw everything(except the Cliffs of Moor because it was foggy). I’m not sure we’ll go back or not-lots of other places to see as well. Thanks for taking me back to my roots with your post.
Noreen
Noreen, we could be related! Dublin was so enjoyable to me! Loved the food, the history, and I could have stayed days in the Old Library at Trinity College! We didn’t stay as long as we would have liked to, but saw most everything we had planned to see! Have a beautiful week, Noreen!
That library is incredible! I’d love to go to Ireland some day. Thanks for the tour!
Leslie Anne, the library was truly amazing!
Reminded me of our visit to Ireland many years ago. I was struck by how green the grass was. Such a beautiful country, and shown very well through your eyes
Patti, we loved Ireland with its rich history and friendly people!
I did enjoy it. The architecture is simply amazing ; how beautiful!
Yes, Deb! Ireland is beautiful and Dublin did not disappoint!
My gosh! How beautiful…your photos and post just make me want to visit Ireland that much more. All of the photos are just stunning, but I was most drawn to the mosaic floor and its incredible beauty and to the long library. I can only imagine how good it must have smelled to be surrounded by all of those wonderful books. That’s a beauty all unto itself. Thank you for sharing your trip with us!
Regina, Ireland was wonderful and Dublin was a great city! I could have spent a week in the Old Library with those rare books! It was all beautiful! Blessings, Pam
Thanks for these beautiful pics… I really love Dublin
This is really a lovely and timely post. I would love to see all of this architecture in person.
Thanks for sharing this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. 🙂
Stacey, Dublin is a beautiful city as well as the entire country of Ireland
Thanks for the visit to Dublin – on my list of “still to visit” places.
Everything is gorgeous, but the library amazed me.
Thanks for sharing at SYC.
Carol, the library was truly magnificent! Hopefully, you will travel to Dublin, one day!
Thank you for this wonderful tour Butch! Perfect for St. Patty’s. I love the flowers tumbling from the windows. We hope to make it to Ireland someday!
Jann
Thanks, Jann. Ireland is a beautiful country!
It’s been many years since I was last in Dublin and have been to all the places you showed, so it was a lovely to see them again – I went with a camera that didn’t take good pictures so seeing yours has been just lovely, thank you.
Thanks so much, I am thrilled that it reminded you of your trip to Dublin! Blessings, Pam
Thank you for the tour of Dublin. I have never been but is on the bucket list. I would be a pagan if not for St Patrick. God bless St Patrick and my ancestors for having the good sense to listen and believe. Mary Beth
Mary Beth, thank you so much and hopefully, you will be able to visit Ireland! Blessings, Pam
These pictures are amazing and what a beautiful city! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate Your Story link party. Have a beautiful weekend!
Sandra thanks so much for the opportunity to share! Blessings, Pam
Thanks for taking us to Ireland! BEautiful! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Thanks, glad you traveled with us!
That architecture is stunning! The ceiling in the library – wow! My parents have been to Ireland by I haven’t traveled there yet although with a golfer husband, we should! I love all the stone and the charming streets. Thanks for sharing at my Take Me Away party again!
Shelley
Thanks so much, Shelley! Ireland is beautiful and we especially enjoyed Dublin! Happy Tuesday!