On Tuesday February 12th, we left York train Station with 4 large suitcases in tow on our way to Manchester airport for our flight to Dublin, Ireland.
No, we did not travel with all of these bags. We left all but one in Left Luggage at the airport and caught our plane to Ireland.
Oh look! A golf course off the coast of Ireland.
Flying over Dublin, that fair city where the girls are so pretty.
The Jeanie Johnston tall ship on the River Liffey.
We took a stroll on the campus of Trinity College and checked out the Trinity Book Shop and the Book of Kells Souvenirs.
We also had a good time walking around downtown Dublin and checking out the shops and stores.
Amazing what you see on the streets of this very big and historic city.
Dublin Castle was lovely, fashioned after the palaces of France.
Home of the Viceroy of Ireland, and visiting residence of the Kings and Queens of England when they were here on state visits. Up the stairs to the Battleaxe Landing then on up to the State Apartments.
This is the Grand Hall, called St. Patricks Hall, with a beautiful painted ceiling and curtains and decorative interiors. It is the grandest and one of the oldest rooms of the State Apartments.
These painted ceilings were completed in 1790 by Vincenzo Waldre'.
You can see the banners of the chivalric order of the Knights of Saint Patrick on the walls.
During the 18th & 19th centuries, and the end of the Social "season" a Grand ball was held in this room on St. Patrick's Day.
It is now the most important ceremonial room in Ireland and is used for State Banquets and presidential inaugurations.
The painting above is called "The submission of the Irish Chieftains".
This room was originally the supper room where banquets were held often comprising 16 - 30 courses served on a long extended table the length of the room.
Throughout the castle they have posters that tell of the rooms and their use and pictures from a century ago. This one shows the table set for one of the grand banquets.
What used to be the throne room is now used for official events by the Irish President.
This was no small throne either, it was made for King George IV for his state visit in 1821.
Ireland used to be part of Great Britain, so the palace would have been used by the Kings and Queens of England until the Irish revolution and gaining of independence in 1922. Northern Ireland where Belfast is, is still part of the United Kingdom today.
The drawing room.
Although this room was largely destroyed by fire in 1941, it was faithfully restored using surviving remnants and photographs.
Although this room was largely destroyed by fire in 1941, it was faithfully restored using surviving remnants and photographs.
During the 18th & 19th centuries when many people would come to the banquets and grand balls, the ladies would retire to this room between dances.
Above, the ceiling in the Wedgwood room. Below, work goes forward on restoring the drawing room after the fire.
Below is the state corridor of Dublin Castle.
I love the plaster work on these ceilings.
This is the chair used during the inauguration on the new President of Ireland every 7 years. Embroidered on the chair is the official symbol of Ireland, the gold harp set against a blue background.
It is quite a large castle and the complex is right in the middle of Dublin.
From Dublin Castle we walked over to Christchurch Cathedral. Founded in 1028, in the 1180s Strongbow and other important Normans helped to fund the complete rebuilding of Christchurch, this time in Stone.
Look closely at the feet of this modern sculpture.
This arch over the road is still part of the Christchurch Cathedral complex.
Oh look! Darryl and Cindy enjoying Dublin.
I'm not sure why there is a statue of a monk on top of this building on the main street by the River Liffey.
The River Liffey in the center of Dublin.
The sun was starting to set as we finished our walk about and found a quiet Spanish restaurant where we had a delicious meal before calling it a night.
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