Sláinte! from Dublin

July 25, 2013

The raindrops bounced off the roof of the Kangoo through the night providing the perfect drumming sound for a solid night’s sleep. After breakfast we decided to tour Trinity College and check out a few famous pubs in Dublin.

At Trinity College the main attraction we wanted to see was the Book of Kells; an illuminated manuscript Gospel book written by a Celtic monk in 800 AD.  It is regarded as Ireland’s most prized national treasure because of its complexity and extravagance.

The book is a blend of ornate swirling motifs used in insular art combined with Christian iconography and Celtic knots.  The pages are laid with vibrant colors and images of humans, animals and mythical beast jump off each page.

The Long Room at Trinity College, also
the largest library in Ireland

Our pictures are not that clear because photographs were prohibited but Ross managed to snap a few without anyone noticing.  The book is beautiful, even though we only were able to view two pages from it.  If you are interested in seeing more google has a nice collection of pictures of it.  

Typical exterior of a pub in Dublin,
I'm in love with the brilliant colors

                          

After seeing the book we wanted to get a taste of Dublin pubs, so I picked out a couple more notable locations and the pub hop began.  First we walked to the Temple Bar district and visited the Turkish Head.  The décor is done in mosaic tiles with female faces painted at the top of four vertical banisters.  We drank a pint and went on to the next location.

Kind of scary but
pretty awesome at the same time

Uniquely Irish lamp post

The next bar worth mentioning is “The Church”, which is a bar/restaurant located inside a renovated Presbyterian church.  Arthur Guinness was married in this church as well as his first son. 

   At one end of the bar is a memorial to Arthur Guinness, literally a statue of his head. This area would have originally been the pulpit of the church.  Just above the other end of the long double sided bar sits a cathedral size golden organ.  In the basement of “The Church” crypts were found during the remodeling process.  

Some would find it uncomfortable to drink in a church…..but I was raised Catholic so I have been drinking at the pulpit since the age of 9. A pint and a prayer seemed like the appropriate way to end our day. 

Stained Glass above the pulpit in
"The Church"