Travelog for: Éireannach

Hi Mom, it's Winter in Ireland and Ireland has had it's COLDEST Winter on record. I thought it was pretty warm 
We woke Christmas morning to a blanket of snow covering the city. It looked very beautiful!

Molly and I pose with the city in the background.

My host decided to bring us on a walk around Kilmainham - a very historic district in Dublin.

There are lots of lovely red brick houses like this one in Dublin and Kilmainham!

This is Kilmainham Gaol - one of Ireland's most famous  and important historic visitor attractions. After the 1916 rising  the men responsible for the rising were imprisoned and put to death by firing squad. Also many Irish people were kept in this gaol before being transported to Australia as punishment in the 1800's.

This is Kilmainham Courthouse!

Nice Pub across the road from Kilmainham Gaol. Sadly it was closed  or we would have gone in for a pint of Guinness!

This is the entrance to the Museum of Modern Art. Sadly it was also closed but I may get  a chance to revisit!

We walked to the Phoenix Park which is the largest enclosed park in Europe..................it looked so beautiful in the snow 

Welcome to Narnia!!! 

This is a very famous monument called the Wellington Monument and can be seen from many places around the city!

Here's Molly and I in the snow!

We both needed a rest from all the walking 

I liked this house in the snow!

After the Phoenix Park my host brought us to the War Memorial Gardens which were designed by  a famous architect called Sir Edwin Lutyens .





I had a fun day walking in the snow and very glad that I brought my hat and scarf to Ireland!

I enjoyed my day out walking even though it was the coldest day in Dublin since records began!

Today was the last day of Christmas and is called "Little Christmas" or Nollaig na mBan (women's christmas).
It was the last day of the Christmas tree. I was sad to see it come down 




Molly and I with Winston the Cat!

Hi Mum! Today my host had to get her NCT done (National Car Test).
We drove the car to a big warehouse where a mechanic took the car and tested it for all sorts of things.

I was able to watch the whole thing from the viewing windows upstairs 



The car passed it's NCT test so we are going to take a drive when the weather picks up!

Today I got to visit The Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham,Dublin.
We walked up a very long avenue to the building. It  is also known as "The Royal Hospital,Kilmainham" because it was  a hospital for old soldiers!



There was a very important and interesting exhibition on of Irish Modern Art.

We were not allowed to take pictures but I got this sneaky one inside 

Here I am looking at some press cuttings about what the critics said about the exhibition!

An underground cellar now a shop and cafe 

An old statue!

This plaque is to commerate Irish man and women who died in all wars!

Look a  red bus .....used to transport tourists around the city!

In the background you can see Dublin's New Criminal Court House.
It looked very cool with the sun shining on it!

GUINNESS!!!!!! The Brewery is behind me 

Meet my new best friend!!!!!!!! He's  very famous in Dublin and is all over the billboards 

This is Heuston Station one of Dublin's 2 main railway stations. You can catch trains to all parts of Ireland, Galway,Cork,westport and Killarney!

Here I am on Heuston Bridge with the River Liffey behind me.
It's called after  a famous Irish rebel called Sean Heuston!

After our visit to The Museum of Modern Art we walked to The National Museum at Collin's Barracks. I spotted  "The Luas" known by local as "the Louie" 


Guinness Time!!!! 

Collin's Barracks only recently became a museum. It was a working army barracks up until very recently. It was here that the British Soldiers handed over the barracks to Michael Collin's and the Irish Freetstate Army after Ireland got Independence!





There was an exhibiton of Celtic High Crosses on. we were not allowed to take  photos but got  afew sneaky ones 




There is a very good Military Exhibition there but we did not have time to see it all as they closed the museum 


It was dark when we came out. the lights behind me is of the Guinness Brewery at night!

Another Luas Tram!

My host then said we could pop into the pub for  a pint 

Look at all the drink behind the bar!!!

I decided to have Guinness!

Today I visited  the town of Drogheda which is about an hours drive from Dublin.
It is a very historic town with lots of churches and old shops. The old city walls can still be seen.
Here I am with the famous River Boyne behind me!


Another Irish Pub!!!! 


I liked this Guinness drawing on the side of the pub!

I really liked this pretty house!

......and these red brick houses. 

Sweet Shop............YUMMY!!!!!!!!

Here is part of the old town wall.


We found this old abbey which had been destroyed may years ago.


This is my hosts husband....he is always up to mischief 


A pretty church!

Inside the church.

There was some story about this door .........but I wasn't paying attention when my host was talking 

More cute Irish Post Boxes 


After visiting Drogheda we drove out to a very famous Irish ruined abbey called Monsterboice. It has some beautiful High Crosses. When we arrived it was getting dark and a fog had descended over the whole place. It made the place very atmospheric!!!! 

The High Tower in the Fog!

The Famous "Monsterboice High Cross"

Hello from County Wexford!
I travelled with my host to Wexford for 2 days. It is in the sunny south east of Ireland.........however we saw no sunshine whilst we were there. 
I visited this famous abbey called Tintern Abbey.







Molly and I with Tintern Abbey behind us!

Hi Mum. Today was my scond day in County Wexford. My hosts decided to drive down to the Hook Head Peninsula. There is a famous lighthouse there called Hook Head Lighthouse! It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world!
It was  a wild and stormy day and the sea was crashing all around. I really liked it!! 
You can see the Hook Lighthouse behind me in the distance!

Look at those waves!!!!!


Arriving at the lighthouse!


Molly and I pose for the camera!


Peek- a-boo!

I met this lighthouse keeper inside. he didn't say very much 

Lots of nice books to buy .....in aid of the lifeboats 

We drove on as far as a small fishing village called Duncannon but the weather was so bad we could not see the beautiful scenery 

Fishing Boats tied up in Duncannon!

After  a long day we  had a nice rest in our hotel bed 

Hi Mum todaywe went on  a trip to a town in County Kildare. My host got  a new  camera lens and wanted to try it out. I got  ago too!
It was a very cold day but we got to see the Grand Canal and some very nice bridges! In the last one a train went over the bridge!

Heres me taking some photos 

I loved this old petrol pump!