I was woken up by the sun on Sunday morning.
It was such a beautiful day and no clouds in the sky that I got straight up as I didn’t want to waste any of it!

Tanya ready for an open-top bus tour

I put my bag in the storage room and headed off to jump on an open top bus.
I was told that was the best way to get to places as the Guiness Storehouse was a little way out of town…probably too far to walk.

Mum will like this bit…the places I wanted to go - Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol didn’t open until after lunch and as I had to leave for the airport at 3.30 - 4.00pm I had to do the Guiness Factory first…at about 10.00am on a Sunday!!

Entrance-- Foyer-- The Guinness trademark Harp

The brewery (three photos)--- Inside

A river of booze!!! (three photos)--- Gallons of the stuff!!!

I wandered around a bit down in the displays.

The bar from outside--- Inside the bar (two photos)

The bar area (two photos) The attendant - with Guinness on tap!!!

But I just really wanted to get upstairs and check out the view from the Gravity Bar.

Tanya and a glass of Guinness!!! (three photos)

And have my pint for morning tea!
Which I did.

(three photos) Views over Dublin (two photos)

The view was awesome and the beer was just as good.

The entrance......... (postcard from Tanya)

.........and the walls (two photos)

After that I got back on the open top bus and went to Kilmainham Gaol.

They filmed “In the name of the Father” there and the shots of the inside look just like they do in the movie.

(two photos) Inside a cell block

Tanya - not looking too happy about being in gaol!!!

Interior of the East Wing (postcard from Tanya)

Anyway - the jail was built to hold 200 people and at one point during the famine times there was 9000 people held in the jail.

The cells (three photos)

The youngest recorded was an 8 year old girl and she was in there for stealing a coat in the winter to keep herself warm!
It was just so sad.
There was a lot of history there.

(two photos) A Plaque and Crosses in the yard (two photos)

The old gallows area

We also went into the execution yard.
There was a cross where a whole lot of Irish rebel leaders were killed.
There was one at the other end of the yard to and our guide said that only one was killed there as he was too wounded to make it from the gate to the other end so they sat him in a chair next to the gate and shot him.
It was very very sad.

---------- (two photos)

After that it was to Trinity College to view the Book of Kells.
The college was lovely.

------ The Long Room (postcard from Tanya)

The College library was awesome too.
There was a wrought iron staircase going to the first floor which stopped me in my tracks.
It was lovely.
You can’t actually touch the books.
There are very old but well preserved.
The library was a beautiful old building.

Brief details and information on the Book

The Book of Kells was well worth it.
It was written in 800 AD.

An image of the four evangelists---- The Arrest of Christ

The Beginning of St. John's Gospel---- The Crucifixion

It is so beautifully illustrated.

After that my alarm went off and it was time to head back to the hostel to get my gear and go to the bus stop then the airport then home and my bed...very very tired!

It was great fun and Ireland is a well worth a visit!

Belgium is next - chocolate and more beer!