Dublin 1 (copy)

We got to Dublin by 10.30 am on Tuesday and picked up our hire care. It was quite chilly and overcast so we decided that we would go for a drive up the coast before locating our hotel. We went to a place called Rush and then on to Skerries (Na Sceiríin Irish). The little places we passed through were idyllic. Peaceful and quiet.

Skerries has a beautiful big bay with lots of lovely beach and on top of the cliffs a very large park known as Red Island, where we sat and ate fish and chops. The view was lovely.

We then had a slow drive back down the coast into Dublin and found our hotel. It was on the edge near the Phoenix Park. We checked in and ditched our luggage and decided to have a drive around. That was a mistake as it was rush hour and Dublin is easier to get around on foot. We ended up driving round a ring road and not seeing much of anything! We eventually gave up and got a Chinese meal and had an early night as we were both tired.

The following day saw us up nice and early ready to go and meet Verity and Adam. The arrangement was that we would meet them at midday at the bottom of the escalator of Connolly Station. This proved more difficult than you would think as we found the station OK but couldn't park! We went round and round trying to find the car park on the map but couldn't seem to get to it!

Whilst sitting in a side road studying the map a postman took pity on us and tried to help .... he told us that the car park was now closed! The postman was joined by three Irish men, who eventually gave us directions and we got parked in the station car park. We then had to work out how to get to the escalator!

We were directed into the station by an Irish work man who pointed us through a very large gate which said emergency exit only! It took us straight on to the platform, which was no good at all as the only way out to the escalator was through the ticket barrier! No good, as we obviously didn't have tickets since we had arrived by car!! We went back the way we had come and eventually found where we were supposed to be! Verity and Adam arrived shortly after.

Adam made an excellent tour guide although he is actually from Belfast not Dublin. He took us along O'Connell Street pointing out the sights. Then on into Grafton street and into St Stephens park. He knows lots of interesting history which he told us along the way. We had a mid morning coffee and cake in Bewleys restaurant in O'Connell street. We were very lucky as the only rain of the day was while we where there.

This is the statue of Daniel O'Connell the 19th century Nationalist leader who the street is named after.

We did a litlle bit of shopping and I got Verity a couple of tops. I also got a little green T shirt for Ellie in the tourist office, I wanted the one with the slogan saying "The Leprechauns made ne do it!" but they didn't have it in her size.

We saw lots of monuments and historic buildings including Trinity college and the statue of Molly Malone, who for some reason I had always thought was an East London lass. We then went to Temple Bar where we had a drink in a very Irish pub where there were some men playing and singing. We ended the day having a meal in a lovely restaurant where I had the Irish stew which was absolutely delicious. We walked back to the station to see off Verity and Adam and it was from that point on that it went down hill.

To be continued...........