As I wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, I cannot think
of a better place to write about today than the emerald island of Ireland.
While I was not visiting during the past
weekend, I recently met up with a couple friends to enjoy what the city of Dublin has to offer.
With a vibrant nightlife and one of Europe's
most youthful cities, Dublin is the capital of Ireland,
and the economic center of the country.
Just south of the River Liffey lies Dublin’s cultural quarter, known as Temple
Bar.
The Temple Bar area, with its medieval street
pattern and cobbled stone streets, has a lively nightlife with multiple bars
and restaurants.
Ireland
has a unique history with during a period of political and economic decline,
the government was transferred to the United Kingdom at the start of the
19th century. After
subsequent attempts to reclaim their independence, it was not until Irish Civil
Ware that the Anglo-Irish Treaty established a “free state” (not a republic) in December
1922. The treaty provided for a self-governing Irish state in 26
of Ireland's 32 counties, with
the remaining six northeastern counties opting to remain part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland (to be written in a separate entry). Even after the signing of the treaty, the Irish
society was left divided and embittered.
Kilmainham Gaol played an important part in Irish history,
as many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the
prison by the British and in 1923 by the Irish Free State.
Built in 1796, public hangings originally
occurred at the front of the Gaol for all to witness.
Since the prison was seen principally as a
site of oppression and suffering in the struggle for national independence,
Kilmainham Gaol was decommissioned by the Irish Free State
government in 1924.
Finally, no trip to Dublin
is complete without visiting the most popular tourist attraction is St. James's
Gate Brewery. Originally leased in 1759 to Arthur Guinness for 9,000 years, St.
James's Gate was the largest brewery in the world up to 1914 and has been the
home of Guinness.
Now a Guinness
museum, incorporating elements from the old brewing factory to explain the
history of its production, you are still able to see the old brewing equipment,
as well as stout ingredients, brewing techniques, creative advertising methods
and storage devices.
The final floor is
the Bar, which has a panorama view over the city of Dublin, and where visitors can claim a free
pint.
Outside of Dublin and rising almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean on southwestern
edge of County Clare, Ireland, you will find the Cliffs
of Moher.
An estimated 1 million people
per year visit the cliffs to enjoy wonderful views of 300 million year old
shale and sandstone formations.
An
estimated 30,000 birds live on the cliffs, representing more than 20 species. The one place I did not get a chance to see was the famous Blarney Stone, which I will have to try another time.
 |
| Just in case you need a reminder of the drop |
 |
| Ironic - The Guinness Medical Department |
 |
| Temple Bar |
 |
| Gaol prison where some of the executions occurred |
As I wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, I cannot think
of a better place to write about today than the emerald island of Ireland. While I was not visiting during the past
weekend, I recently met up with a couple friends to enjoy what the city of Dublin has to offer. With a vibrant nightlife and one of Europe's
most youthful cities, Dublin is the capital of Ireland,
and the economic center of the country.
Just south of the River Liffey lies Dublin’s cultural quarter, known as Temple
Bar. The Temple Bar area, with its medieval street
pattern and cobbled stone streets, has a lively nightlife with multiple bars
and restaurants. 
Kilmainham Gaol played an important part in Irish history,
as many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed in the
prison by the British and in 1923 by the Irish Free State. Built in 1796, public hangings originally
occurred at the front of the Gaol for all to witness. Since the prison was seen principally as a
site of oppression and suffering in the struggle for national independence,
Kilmainham Gaol was decommissioned by the Irish Free State
government in 1924.
Finally, no trip to Dublin
is complete without visiting the most popular tourist attraction is St. James's
Gate Brewery. Originally leased in 1759 to Arthur Guinness for 9,000 years, St.
James's Gate was the largest brewery in the world up to 1914 and has been the
home of Guinness. Now a Guinness
museum, incorporating elements from the old brewing factory to explain the
history of its production, you are still able to see the old brewing equipment,
as well as stout ingredients, brewing techniques, creative advertising methods
and storage devices. The final floor is
the Bar, which has a panorama view over the city of Dublin, and where visitors can claim a free
pint.
Outside of Dublin and rising almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean on southwestern
edge of County Clare, Ireland, you will find the Cliffs
of Moher. An estimated 1 million people
per year visit the cliffs to enjoy wonderful views of 300 million year old
shale and sandstone formations. An
estimated 30,000 birds live on the cliffs, representing more than 20 species. The one place I did not get a chance to see was the famous Blarney Stone, which I will have to try another time.
Guinness Medical Dept?! Haha!
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