MJ Musical Journeys

Hi all!

I just returned from a fabulous trip to Ireland that I cannot wait to share! I did a great deal of planning and research as this was my first trip there, and I have so many experiences from this beautiful Ireland that I will cherish forever. If this post inspires you to take your own Ireland adventure, give me a call. I would be happy to plan your next unforgettable vacation.


Day 1: After flying for a combined total of about 11 hours (I had a 2 hour layover in London, but there are many direct flights available from hubs like Chicago), I landed in Dublin about 8am. My first stop was to the visitors desk at the airport to get maps, and to grab my Dublin Pass. The Dublin Pass works very much like a citypass here in the states, where it offers admission to many local attractions, plus discounts at restaurants and shops. I felt that the Dublin Pass was worth it. I got a two day pass and was able to see the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, Dublin Writers Museum, Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral without having to pay admission fees to each and every one. I even got to skip the line at Guinness, which was worth the card's price right there.

We checked in at the Bridge House Guesthouse in the Temple Bar area ( known as party central in Dublin- lots of pubs, including the famous Temple Bar, a very well known destination for tourists looking for that Irish pub atmosphere), which is a very no frills type of hotel. There are circular stairs that take you to the top (where my room was) which are a bit narrow, so it might be a point of concern for those who may have a lot of luggage. The beds were comfortable and it was clean, but bring your own shampoo and soap. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to stay that is near the excitement of Temple Bar, this isn't a bad choice. It was awesome hearing the bells from Christ Church in my room, especially at midnight on New Years Day.

After unloading our bags we went straight to Christ Church cathedral, the oldest church in Dublin, which is dated back to the 1000s. This place is remarkable for its history of being an active church throughout its long history, and is also the burial place of Strongbow, the Norman soldier who almost single-handedly conquered Ireland for the British, leading to 900 years of British rule. Legend has it that at one time the staff of St. Patrick was housed here, but of course something so precious would not be on display. I highly recommend attending a service there if you can. I participated in a small afternoon service and it was a great glimpse of Irish Catholicism as it is being practiced today. The priest is a delightful person and it was wonderful to have a small chat with him after the service.

 The next stop was St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is situated very close to Christ Church in the city center. St. Patrick's has a lovely park next door to it, which is a beautiful place to rest your feet and take in daily life in Dublin. Pigeons are everywhere, but you will see those in every old European city.

 The church is magnificent. It is a bit fancier than Christ Church as it was built a bit later (almost 200 years later), when embellishment became more popular. This is the largest church in Dublin, and you can see its 140 foot spire from a long way away because there are no skyscrapers in Dublin. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, held important office here, and his burial plaque is built into the floor of the sanctuary.

On our way back we stopped in the Dublin castle to take a look at the courtyard and grounds. We did not go inside as it is not included on the Dublin pass. The castle today is the seat of the President of Ireland and the national government offices, and its rich living quarters are used today for visiting dignitaries. It is quite an impressive structure!

After that we were hungry, and it was time to eat. We attempted to go to Temple Bar, but even at 7pm it was packed. There was no seat in the place, and it was unclear whether they served food because no one was eating. So we left and instead went to a place a few doors down called the Quays, which had some really great fish and chips. It doesn't taste like the stuff we get here. It is fresh fish and the batter isn't nearly so thick. Pair that with a pint of Guinness (the lifeblood of the city, and yes it does taste better there) and you are set for the night. A beautiful day in beautiful Dublin.