Tour Ends - Dublin
Dublin - City Centre
We continued on to the heart of Dublin where we checked into our hotel and said farewell to our expert driver, George, who transported us across Ireland safely and efficiently. We then set off on a brief orientation walk of the city.
Free Time - National Gallery
At the conclusion of the walk, we were free until the following morning and decided to take advantage of the National Gallery’s Thursday evening hours to visit their extensive collection of art from the Middle Ages to the present, including a few Harry Clarke stained-glass windows.
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We returned to the hotel later that evening and were surprised to notice that in the lobby umbrellas were available for rental. We hoped that we wouldn’t need them but it was nice to know that they were there.​
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The LUAS (LUAS is Irish for speed) tram conveniently ran right by the hotel.
Walking Tour with local guide
Our walking tour commenced on a glorious sunny Friday morning. We wandered through the streets of Dublin and the Castle courtyard on our way to Trinity College.
The Book of Kells
This illuminated manuscript, a masterpiece of medieval art, has been kept at Trinity College since the mid-17th century and has been on display at the Long Room since the mid-19th century. The colors, with pigments harvested by monks from natural minerals, are still vibrant, even after 1200 years. Also found in the Long Room is one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic which was read outside the General Post Office on April 24, 1916 by Patrick Pearse at the start of the Easter Rising.
Free Time - St Andrew’s
Meandering from Trinity College towards EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, we found St Andrew’s Church, where my great-great-grandparents were married in 1858.
Free Time - EPIC
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (a totally digital museum) is in the Custom House Quay building on the River Liffey. There we learned the stories of some of the 10 million people who left Ireland (many during the famine), where they went and what they did, bringing their heritage with them.
Farewell Dinner
We purchased tickets for the LUAS tram and returned to the hotel in time to freshen up before our tour farewell dinner at a lovely pub, the Legal Eagle.
This had been a great group of people with whom to tour, have meals and share experiences. No one was ever late so we were able to keep on schedule the entire week.
Some of our fellow travelers would be leaving Dublin after breakfast Saturday morning but others would be staying on a little longer. We would be staying until Tuesday morning.
End of Tour – Saturday
Our outstanding tour guide, Gearoid, left after breakfast. He was our historian as well as our guide. He knew when to talk and when to be quiet. He answered all questions and gave advice when asked. He did a great job. We wished him a safe journey home.