Dublin

The weather was against us when we were in Dublin. For three out of the four days we were there it snowed, was bitterly cold and the winds were so strong and biting that it was hard to remain out in the open for any length of time. We felt defeated, so spent most of our time indoors going from gallery to gallery from coffee shop to restaurant. I need to go back as it is a beautiful city that needs to be explored.

Northumberland Rd where our hotel was

Northumberland Rd again

the canal

The Treasury Building - I took these photographs early on before I was defeated by the cold and the wind and snow lashing at me, and they are the only photographs taken while it was snowing. Needless to say, I have very few photographs of the city

you can see it more clearly here

and here - the side of the building.

National Gallery of Ireland - I fell in love with this building, and there will be a separate post on it

City Hall

The side entrance of the City Hall

inside the building

another look at this wonderful dome

signs of Ireland's turbulent and heroic history are everywhere

and another plaque, also by the City Hall

We then walked on round the corner, along this amazing wall of the Castle, and the sun had come out: the sunshine lasted all of 5 minutes

inside the wall

amazing colours

Originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings, Dublin Castle is a legacy of British rule in Ireland and it functioned as a military fortress, a prison, treasury, courts of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years. Rebuilt in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, it is now used for important State receptions and Presidential inaugurations.

Chester Beatty Library, an art museum and library which houses a collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Beatty.

Inside the library, where we stopped for a cup of tea to escape the snowstorm that was raging outside

a water rill inside

The building of the Parliament House, better known today as the Bank of Ireland, College Green, was completed in 1739. In 1880 it was rendered redundant by the Act of Union with Britain.

One more view

The Spire, standing in the middle of O'Connell Street, across from the General Post Office. It is 120 metres high and 3 metres in diameter at the base.

and here it is again, as seen from Talbot Street

Jim Larkin with The Spire behind him

James Joyce on Talbot Street

I loved these - it is such a great idea, to mark the points in the city that are referred to in literature. This one was on O'Connell Street

and this one was on O'Connell Bridge.

The Print Museum

Anna Livia by Eamonn O'Doherty, in Wolfe Tone Park

The National Museum of Ireland

I wonder what these two are chatting about 

 

 

 

 

I can't remember what this delightful little bridge was called

but it led to this passageway

and then on to this street

some lovely old buildings

an Art Nouveau theatre.

The Garden of Remembrance opposite the Hugh Lane Gallery

gorgeous Georgian architecture that we didn't see enough of, this on Denmark Street

Merrion Square North

Merrion Square North

The National Library

Oscar Wilde by Danny Osborne in Merrion Square.

This was our last full day in Dublin and the weather had changed dramatically

this little robin came and stood by my feet as I was sitting on a bench in Merrion Square

one last look at the elegant Georgian terrace.

Pearse Street station.