Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground

Thursday August 15 2024 I saved The Book of Kells Experience for Thursday morning because there was rain in the forecast and I figured the exhibit would take several hours. Housed in the space under the Trinity College Long Room Library, the tour actually begins in the Library. Most of the books have been removed…

Wednesday August 14 2024 Rising early wasn’t a problem and I was ambling around the courtyard of the Castle well before the 9:30 time advertised for the opening. My hope was to sign up for a guided tour . I was in luck, there was one available at 10. The Castle has literally been the…

Tuesday August 13 2024 My first full day in the city and it wasn’t raining! – yet! the River Liffey is a feature of the city that cannot be ignored. It divides the city contained within human made stonewalls with bridges at convenient points to cross the waters. It’s not the only rivet in town:…

Monday August 12 2024 Exploring Dublin was an ongoing experience of visiting the usual historic sites, museums, libraries and exhibitions. Sussing out it’s character, it’s loves, it’s tragedies, it’s secrets, now that’s a different kettle of fish. Someone once said, the Irish always discuss things; sometimes very loudly, sometimes violently. I didn’t witness any violence,…

Sunday August 11 2024 Kildare is actually all about thorough bred horses. The Irish National Stud & Gardens is located slightly outside the town limits to the south. A town of close to 11,000 inhabitants, besides horses, I would guess civic interests focus on football, hurling and possibly St Bridgid. There is the Cathedral of…

Saturday August 10 2024 The Giant’s Causeway was the main reason for my trip to Northern Ireland. It’s approximately an hour and a half drive from where I was staying to its location on the northern coastline of the island. I booked my entry ticket online which included an arrival time, parking and a group…

Friday August 09 2024 What would a road trip be without a sudden unscripted detour for no apparent reason? I was travelling north from Galway towards Strabane and was in total awe of the countryside. There was nowhere to stop and get a good shot of the scenery on the two lane highway I was…

Thursday August 08 2024 Galway City is a modern, bustling metropolis with a population of close to 80,000 inhabitants plus tourists. It has a lively music and arts scene and has put time, effort and money into preserving its history and telling its own story. Perhaps Galway’s most famous writer : Pádraic Ó Conaire (28 February…