Last Step Dance in Dublin

Rince Céim Last i mBaile Átha Cliath

(Last Step Dance in Dublin)

Today we walked a section of the quays (pron. 'keys) along the River Liffey which runs right through the heart of town. The Liffey is a "tidal river" which means that it's essentially an estuary off the Irish Sea and rises and falls with the tide. I most liked one building covered on all four sides with posters from Labor. The side nearest to us read, "Solidarity. The solidarity of workers saved thousands of families from starvation." Remember that James Connolly, one of the central leaders of the rebellion of 1916 and tied to a chair and shot for his participation, was before all a socialist and leader of the IGTWU (International General Transport Workers Union). I'll try to post that photo tomorrow.

After another sally through the excellent National Museum with its collection of gold and bronze ornaments, weapons, and other tools of daily life, Kate and I returned to our hotel to rest and then head out to get the laundry done. Kate's got a funny story to tell about that experience and I'll let her do that.

Tomorrow we pick up our hired car (an automatic we hope) and head north to New Grange, an ancient "passage tomb" of pre-Celtic times. Should be really interesting. After that we'll head west and south to Athlone, a midlands town on the upper reaches of the River Shannon. Not sure what we'll find but one friend from Qualcomm says that he was born there and it has "the oldest pub in Ireland" and is near a very old observatory that we ought to see. Maybe I'll be able to get a photo for the Astronomy folks at QC! From Athlone our current plans take us to Galway for 2 or 3 days and then south to the peninsulas of Dingle and Iveraugh (read "The Ring of Kerry").

All for now. It's time for my bath and beauty sleep.  ;^D

MM