Subscribe-Free!    Advertise    Calendar    Letters     Obituaries   

My Favorite Destinations: Dublin

by Diana M. Hechler

(December 2, 2003) Q. Is there life beyond the Book of Kells? What IS the Book of Kells? Does every Larchmonter visiting Dublin see the Book of Kells?

A. It’s a medieval illustrated manuscript from the town of Kells, now residing at Trinity College in downtown Dublin.

I admit it; we skipped it. But “Dublin’s Fair City where the girls are so pretty” held other charms for my husband and two sons this past summer, starting with the life-like statue of Molly Malone (see lyrics) right in the center of town. Dubliners have an epithet for just about every piece of art in their city and Molly Malone is “the tart with the cart”. You should hear what they call the gleaming spire on O’Connell Street. (Sorry, this is a family publication.)

Guiness
A view from the top of the Guinness Brewery
On a whim, we hopped off our Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour of the city (always a good introduction) at the Guinness Brewery. I’m not a beer lover and nor are my husband or kids, but we were there for 3 hours! Guinness has transformed a cavernous factory space into a state-of-the-art interactive exhibition on the Guinness story, suitable for all ages. After your self-guided tour, head to the top for a free pint; the bartenders will magically create a cloverleaf on the foam. Kids get free sodas and you can even eat a simple lunch among the clouds.

I particularly loved Kilmainham Gaol, also accessible by the bus tour. Every important rebel in modern Ireland was a political prisoner at the jail up until the 1920’s when Ireland gained its independence from Britain. Then, many of them became the new country’s leaders, including its prime minister. The Gaol illustrates Ireland’s complicated history without being macabre or grisly. Plus, you’ll get a lovely walk through the Royal Hospital Grounds on the way to and from the Gaol.

Power
The Powerscourt Fountain in the Rain

If you can imagine a place where rain and sunshine trade off 6 or 7 times a day, think how happy gardeners must be in Ireland. Just south of Dublin lies beautiful Powerscourt Garden. You’ll need a car and you’ll need to drive on the left, but if you make it there, your reward is a magnificent Italianate garden spread over multiple tiers. Although the great house suffered a disastrous fire in the 1970’s, the gardens have lost none of their incandescent beauty. You can enjoy a stunning great lawn offset by classical statuary, a beautiful reflecting pool, multiple smaller gardens with Dolphin, Japanese, and other themes, and a botanical garden, all framed by the great house. Lunch is available for the hungry (or the sodden), as well as an extensive craft shop.

For the Kids: Dublinia recreates life in medieval Dublin, complete with a live cat or two, not to mention some actors. Adjacent to Christ Cathedral.

Diana M. Hechler, D. Tours Travel
833-9411
www.dtourstravel.com


return to front page Front Page

printer-friendly version Print This Page
send to a friend Email this page



Click for Larchmont, New York Forecast
Today's Events: click on event for details

Recent Articles

Mam'k Schools & Teachers Reach Tentative Accord

TOM Hires Full-Time Comptroller

More Articles




Former Supervisor Vandernoot Reaches 100

Blight Resistant Chestnut Grows in Larchmont

MAG Invites Kids to Make Mom's Day Cards: May 10

LMC-TV To Honor LWV at Award Night, May 29

OP-ED: MORE State Aid for Mam'k Schools

BOOK REVIEW:
Three Cups Of Tea


LETTERS:
-Old Timers Should Vote Yes on Budget

-Today's Kids Deserve Chance to Excel & Learn

-Don't Use Fear to Sell School Budget

-Impressed with HMX & MHS, Vote Yes on Budget

-Budget Improves Services Cuts Costs for Special Ed

-Children's Librarian Assigned to Obits


OBITUARIES
-Palumbo
-Marshall
-Halley


Mayor Feld Weighs State Senate Run

VOL Final Tax Rate Up to 4.97%

Barish Replaces Ryan as School Board Candidate

Lawn Out, Rain Garden In for Mam'k Mayor


TECH TALK:Composting Is Easiest Way to Recycle

Sharehouse Launches "Mattresses for Moms"

Girl Scouts Share Spirit & Books

SEPTA Awards Grants For Mam'k Schools

MSF Gala on May 17 Begins Now Online

CAREER DOCTOR:
To Be A Doctor Part II

Mam'k Police Nab Man For Sex With Youth

Last Minute State Aid Will Cut School Taxes

Restaurant Owner Arrested for Assault

Latimer Gets $1.2M For Local Flood Mitigation

Hommocks To Improve Writing Curriculum

TOM Approves Temp Parking In Memorial Park

What's Been Done Since Last Year's Floods?

Rain Garden Takes Root During Green Week

MHS Senior Scores 100th Lax Career Goal

FBLA Takes Gold at State Competition

Growing Interest in Softball Fuels Changes

United Way Honors Local Flood Effort

MHS Seniors are "Seussically" Silly: Photos

LHS House Tour: Creative Artists Lived Here

TEEN HEALTH: Prom, Intercourse, of Course?

BIRTH: Audrey & Ozzy Andrews

Boy Identified as Making HMX Bomb Threats

VOL To Hike Taxes 4.79%; Hires Treasurer Full-Time

Schools Awards Tenure to 28, Adopt Budget

Selection Committee Picks 2 for School Board

Tiger Softball Wins On New Home Field

New Summer Choice: TOM Teen Escape

WJCS Gala Honors Larchmont's Rob Stavis

FOOD Q&A WITH LAUREN: Peanut Butter Muffins

Flint Field Now Set to Open in May

Myrtle Parking Deck Construction Starts in June

Schools Delay Capital Bond Vote to the Fall

Munis to Get 3% Raise in NY State Aid

Read-A-Thon To Support Redo at Children's Library

School Budget Drops to $116.9M & 5.75% Tax Hike

Eye on Sports: Squirts at the Garden

TRAVEL: Hamburg's New Immigration Museum

TMFD Spans 100 Years

Where is the Class of 2007?

Larchmont Calendar of Photos

Tax Calculator: Where Do My Property Taxes Go?

Larchmont Scenes for Desktop Screens
Front Page   |   Terms of Service   |   Contact Us   |  About Us   |   Guiding Principles  

LARCHMONTGAZETTE.COM - Copyright © 2002-2008 Larchmont Gazette LLC- All Rights Reserved