The Real Dublin

My entire reasoning in loading up our car and crossing from England to Ireland, back and forth, was to visit Dublin. I knew that our home in Ohio would be in Dublin, OH, with an entire Celtic theme throughout the town, from it's schools' mascots to it's well known and attended Irish Festival. We only had a day in Ireland's capitol, so we had to move fast. We started our time at Kilmainham Gaol, an old prison where many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned and some executed, including Michael Collins. The kids took on the role of one of the prisoners as they wandered through and our wonderful guide had them participate in their role on occasion.

We then hopped on the viking boats, an amphibious WWII boat that roared throughout the city, with a guide who told bits of history as we went.

U2 recording studios

The official language is still Gaelic. All signs are in Gaelic and students are required to take language classes in this obscure language.
We stopped to view the Book of Kells, which is Ireland's greatest national treasure. It is a decorated manuscript of the first four gospels written in about 800 AD. It has survived Viking raids, thieves and then being hidden in a cave. It manuscript was ornately beautiful.

We stopped to let the kids play at the city's beautiful gardens and to rest from a day of walking.

We found the monument to the victims of the potato famine, which helped connect various sites that we have seen throughout Ireland as well as put an image to the devastation in the 1800's.

We ended the day with a walk along Collins street, checking out the shops and restaurants that lined this fun thoroughfare. Dinner for the night was at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was fitting for this home to U2 and other great bands. While at the restaurant, our waiter seemed shocked by the size of our party. He looked at us and said, "So are you in some sort of show here?" He thought that we were a preforming group!