An early morning stroll uncovered the birth of the Unions and the part played by women in the fight for decent working conditions. I was also lucky to stumble upon the Steine – the landmark stone erected as a long since guide…now barely noticed.@

Then it was on to Trinity College reigniting the memories of our last amazing visit when we stayed in the accommodation on the College itself, and the queues for seeing The Book of Kells were just as long as then. This seat of learning and its impressive library gladden hearts from around the world and the illustrated manuscripts are magnificent!

It has always fasccinated me to see the impressive public buildings with no windows to avoid the window tax…….

Then a morning greeting to the Molly Malone statue of the song….Moved from its more public place to St Andrew street…. and listening to a father try to explain why her breasts were so shiny to his young son. A chuckle before tracking down some of the James Joyce Ulysses sites and the ever loved Temple Bar…too early for a Guiness though. Colour and creativity abound in this music and art quarter of the city.

Colour and creativty and lots of gems to smile about…

The serious concentration on the gps and the walk of a few kms to Kilmainham Gaol set in, but the walk along the Liffey, past the Guiness Storehouse, Euston Station, the supposed oldest pub in Ireland….The Brazen Head, the Museum of Modern Art and the old Kilmainham Mills made the time fly.

Just loved the pub street library in the suitcase 🤣🙋‍♀️

And on to the very emotional tour of Kilmainham Gaol…so fortified myself with an avo,salmon,egg scramble at the social Enterprise Loaf Cafe before heading in. Reminded me of all our wonderful social enterprises back in Toowoomba.

And the heart-wrenching history of the gaol, and those who lost their lives fighting for freedom from British rule, was really powerful against the backdrop of the echoes from the empty cells and the Stonebreakers Execution Yard. Very sobering, and very sad. A beautiful contemporary sculpture of the 14 first executed stands across the street. It reminded me acutely of the harrowing Famine memorial figures along the quay near the EPIC Immigration Centre. Highly recommend a visit to all these.

Then it was a local bus back to the hostel…and the inevitable stairs. A full, but filled day.