Touristy Stuff

Started off my weekend going to a "Beer Garden" starting at the Pav-the campus pub of Trinity College. There were posters up advertising it around Trinity College and so the only people I met at this event were people working in the labs. Some of them were in labs of some of the other SPUR ON students in my program. Caroline, Julia, and Alexa explained to me that a beer garden was similar to a pub crawl, but to pubs with outdoor areas (get it? garden?).

The next day (Saturday), I awoke to the sun shining through my window. The past week has been nothing but clouds, rain, and cold--I'm talking 50 degrees. So this sun, was a sure sign of a great day. I packed my backpack and left the apartment deciding I needed a day to myself (convenient because most of the others were out of town). I went first to the National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology.

The first section began with rocks from Ireland from the Paleolithic Era (~15,000 BC) in which they had not found any evidence of human inhabitants in Ireland.

 However, preserved in bogs, they found these nets from about 5300 BC used to catch fish. 

There were also axe heads- not very sharp and pretty crude from around 7,000 BC. 

This is known as the Lurgan Canoe. It was found preserved in a bog in Co. Galway in 1902. Dates back to 2500 BC. (12.5 meters in length).

 I know this is creepy, but I find burials from history interesting, so bear with me... This is called a cist burial and dates back to 2500 BC. The bowl next to the female was common during this era.. its known as a food bowl. Common also was the crouched position.

By 1400 BC swords and battle armor was surfacing in Ireland. And by 400 BC, someone decided the wheel was a good idea.... 

There was also a large gold exhibit dating from 2200 BC ..

to 200 BC..

After this prehistoric section.. I moved into a room known as "The Treasury" which held celtic art as well as relics. The relics began as early as AD 431, when the missionary bishop Paladius brought with him to Ireland relics of apostles Peter and Paul. Relics were believed to "have the power to cure illness and bring good fortune during battle"and were used also to swear oaths and seal contracts and treaties. Christian relics began with the veneration of the tombs of holy men and women and divided up and placed in protective containers (called relics). 

 St. Patrick's Shrine (6th-8th century AD)

 St. Patricks Bell (1100 AD)

The Cross of Cong. This is really interesting because in the center where the "glass circle" is.. there used to be a piece of the "True Cross" (Jesus's cross I am assuming). The Cross of Cong was made to enshrine the piece of the cross which was acquired in AD 1122 by the High King of Ireland (Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair). The relic (or the piece of the cross) is now missing...

This next part, is also really really cool.. There was a dark room where no flash was allowed because the objects in the room were incredibly light sensitive. In Ireland, many people use peat as a source of fuel for heating their homes. Peat can be harvested in bogs. A man happened to be collecting peat when a book fell out of his bucket. It is known as the book of Psalters or Psalms. It is a translated Latin version of the Book of Psalms that dates back to circa 800 AD. 

This was on display as well as  the cover...

http://www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/list/ten-major-pieces.aspx?article=220bc4b8-914b-4972-867f-47ca900ffea5

I continued making my way through the museum. I visited Viking and Medieval Ireland, as well as an Ancient Egyptian exhibit which had mummies on display.

I also saw some disturbing displays from the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibit. Again, bogs had preserved even people. There were 3 men on display who had been killed and thrown into the area where the bog was--men who died circa 300 BC. I couldn't find it in me to photograph these. It didn't feel right, but if you're interested, they are on google. These men still had skin, even facial hair. Incredibly weird... The scientists could explain how they were killed, what diet they had, and what their last meal was before they died...

After a light lunch in the museum cafe, I decided to head next door to the National Library of Dublin, but I didn't tour it or go through it, the sun had completely revealed itself and I decided to sit on the steps of the library and read.

Afterwards, I was on my way to Georgian Dublin area when I ran into a "zombie parade" which was raising money for cancer societies.

Pretty comical..

And finally, I went to tour Georgian Mansion Number 29. Its a house built in 1796 and restored with the same wall paper print and furniture. Unfortunately cameras were not allowed on this tour, but I found these online....

 lady's drawing room, where she had breakfast and changed.

governess's room, floor is stenciled wood.

 kitchen

 dining room

 family drawing room

 main drawing room, where guests were to be entertained. http://www.virtualvisit-dublin.com/gallery.aspx?dataid=533498&title=Museums+and+Galleries

I thought this house was absolutely beautiful. I was sad there was no picture taking allowed.

And finally, I ended the day laying in the sun in Merrion Park listening to the end of a park concert choir.

Sunday, Melike, Matt and I took the LUAS (dublin train) to Dublin Zoo. Now, I thought this was a bit silly.. the Zoo is pretty close.. and Dublin has rental bikes everywhere (including right outside our apartment). and we knew we wanted to ride bikes through Phoenix Park (where the zoo is).. but instead we took a train to the zoo? Heh.. wasn't my idea...  This zoo is pretty old (180 years), and I suppose you see one zoo, you see em all, but I still get really happy going to them..

type of macaque (like what I play with at school!)

 

My Favorite Part of the Day:

After the zoo, we rented the bikes to ride around Phoenix Park, which is a large historical park (6 km long and around 4 km wide). 

 Wild deer and animal just roam through the park.

 We came upon a magazine fort, haven't done the research behind what it was, but it was pretty.

 Part of St. Mary's Hospital..

St. Mary's Hospital

 The Prime Minister's house (he lives in the park, as does the president.. )

We finished the day by lying in the grass before returning the bikes and catching the LUAS back to our apartment.. 

I still don't know why we didn't rent bikes to get to the zoo..

Royal Dublin and Video Novice

I made a fantastic video, but now it is too large to upload..

Basically I went to the Temple Bar Market...

So I made that video Saturday morning. I bought fruit, broccoli, and 3 onions from the market. The onions I used in my first attempt at homemade french onion soup for lunch. As I was making it, I was thinking "this really is a lot of butter". As I was eating it, I was thinking "this is REALLY a lot of butter". But I ate it anyway because it tasted like french onion soup, and before I knew it, I was in bed taking a sleeping pill trying to forget I ate it. I didn't get much else done Saturday.

Sunday, the weather was miserable. Misty cold and rainy. But I didn't want to let that stop me from getting out and doing something since I had lost Saturday night. So Alexa, Milike and I took a very uncomfortable walk (due to the weather) to Dublin Castle.

We had an hour to kill before our tour began, so we stopped into a very tiny french cafe. Alexa is very french-ish (from Montreal) so she was able to understand the waitress and translate the menu for Melike and me. I had a strawberry tart (tarte aux fraises) and a cappucino (cappucino). 

State Corridor, originally built in 1758, but during reconstruction of the state drawing room, was also rebuilt in 1960. It contains exact plaster casts of the original arches and detailing.

What used to be the queens bedroom. Smaller now when they added an en suite to accommodate guests.

Jonathan Swift stayed in this room for a time while he was entertaining the viceroys/royalty and started a fire. The last dignitary to stay in the royal bedrooms was Margaret Thatcher.

Ceiling of the dressing room of the Queen

State Drawing Room originally built in the 1830s for the Lord Lieutenant, but was reconstructed in 1963 after a fire from 1941. Mirrors on the right were used to reflect sunlight to make the room brighter. The canvas sitting upright was always placed next to the ladies, whose make up was made of wax. The canvas worked to absorb heat in order not to melt the make up. Today it is still used as a meeting place for foreign dignitaries (such as Queen Elizabeth II Duke of Edinburgh two weeks ago).

opposite the kings throne

The royal throne. The legs have been "crudely" cut perhaps for 

corner of the Throne Room to the right of the Throne

General Cornwallis (British General from the American Revolution)

St. Patrick's Hall dating back to 1740. Originally used as a Ball room, now used for presidential inaugurations.

Ceiling painted by Vincenzo Valdre (c. 1742–1814). Composed of three panels, St Patrick introducing Christianity to Ireland...

This is the central ceiling panel which depicts King George's coronation in the presence of the old British Flag and Ireland's harp along with Justice and Liberty.

and King Henry II receiving the submission of the Irish Chieftains.

The banners along each wall are the family crests of the Knight's of St Patrick

8 pointed star above each entrance to St Patrick's Hall. Symbol of Knights of St Patrick.

Court Yard. Still in the spot of the original courtyard.

Represents Justice. Sits up over the couryard, facing away from the outside of the Castle, signifying justice can only be seen inside the castle. The irony is that when she was originally positioned, the rain caused her scale to tip unevenly. Holes had to be drilled into the scales in order to drain the water to keep them even.

Cathedral and one of the 4 original tours (the only remaining one standing from 1204). This one has survived because of its incredibly thick walls-it was the prison. Legend has it only one man has ever escaped, and the queen was convinced it was an inside job because he used a rope to climb out of the window.

Lay out of the original city from 1204

first glimpse of something down below... everyone gasped when they saw it..

This is the inside of one of the original towers from 1204, not reconstructed. It is below the city.. over time it was built over and forgotten. It was not rediscovered until 1980!!!!

Known as the Powder Tower... Scientists are able to carbon date it back to 1204 because the cement used contained ox's blood and various animal hair.

Back entrance into the castle. Very narrow to keep invaders out. Also, the door would have open outwards also for defensive reasons.

Outside of tower, if you look at the  picture on the right, you can see I would have been standing in a moat. Also the picture on the right shows the stairs entrance from the picture above.

Arch from the picture that the moat used to go through, has been stoned up to keep the river from flowing. Some historians believe it was stoned up around the time of the Plague to keep the water from carrying in the disease. However, holing it up would have just kept the disease in. Other historians believe it was holed up just to keep the structure more sturdy.

Going underground to see this part of the castle was by far my favorite part. I could not believe it took archaeologists until 1980 to rediscover it.



In the gift shop, I found book marks containing family crests and information of old Irish names. Because my ancestors are Irish, I looked for the names of my great and great great grandparents: Dunn, O'Hanley, and Farrell.

Dunne: "The name derives from Gaelic "Donn"a personal name for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion. It also occurs as "Dunn". This sept originated in Co. Leix. In the mid 16th century, it was declared as hostile to English interest. Gillananaomh O'Dunn (1102-60) was a historian and poet. The motto for Dunn is "Mullie A Boo".( or Mullac Abu meaning Victory from the Hills)


Hanley: "This is the Anglicized version of the Gaelic "O' HÁinle", derived from "Aluinn" meaning "beautiful" and the modern Irish "Ainle" meaning "swallow". It is now found principally in 3 areas, namely, Co. Roscommon, Co. Galway, and Co. Cork. Donal O'Hanley was bishop of Dublin from 1085-1096. The motto for Hanley is "Saigeadoir collac a-bu". (meaning "valiant archer forever".

Farrell: "This is the Anglicized version of "O'Fearghail" meaning "descendent of Fearghail". This personal name is composed of "Fear" for "man" and "Ghail" meaning "valour". The majority of bearers of the name came from Leinster, mainly Co. Longford. The cheif of the sept is Lord Ánnaly. The motto for Farrell is "The hound broken loose".

And then I went to the cathedral connected to the prison tower....

and then my camera died... I wish I had gotten more pictures of this church because it was so beautiful.