It's All In The Name!

A Day At The Races

Punchestown Festival, County Kildare

Last Supper?

This wonderful life-sized mural is near Dublin city centre in a place known as "Italian Alley", which is a nice development of Cafe's, Restaurant's and small shops with apartments and offices overhead. It was built by a fairly eccentric developer named Mick Wallace from Wexford and the mural is fascinating because I am sure the "Apostles" are based on real life people - possibly friends of his. I must find out more!

YinYing Xue's visit to Ireland

My good friend Xia's mother recently came from China for a month's holiday in Ireland. Here are some photo highlights from her visit.

Evening Sun, River Liffey

Oh you cheeky bird!

Daniel O'Connell known as "The Liberator" was an Irish nationalist parliamentarian and lawyer who fought for and achieved Catholic Emancipation in 1829. His monument stands at the start of O'Connell Street - which is named after him (formerly called Sackville Street), but the seagull in my photo is perhaps being a little disrespectful to the great man.

Meanwhile at College Green...

On top of the Bank of Ireland building at College Green - formerly the Irish Parliament Building another seagull sits proudly on top of one of the sculpted figures. Incidentally Daniel O'Connell also fought an unsuccessful campaign to repeal the Act of Union of 1800 (which abolished the Irish Parliament) and to have the Parliament restored to this magnificient building.

Easter Sunday, Dublin Castle

Wishing visitors to my blog a Happy Easter wherever you may be

Dublin Castle

What to do in Dublin on Easter Sunday? I decided to become a tourist for a day, and so I visited Dublin Castle. The Castle is synonymous with English rule in Ireland and for many centuries was at the very centre of power. In fact one of my rebellious Chieftain ancestors, Aodh Rua ó Dónaill (Red Hugh O'Donnell) was imprisoned here but famously escaped.
Easter Sunday is hugely important in Ireland politically because of the Easter Rising in 1916. The uprising failed to achieve independence but ignited the flame which led to freedom for 26 counties which became the Irish Free State a few years later. That marked the end of Dublin Castle rule, so it was perhaps appropriate to visit here today.
And so, camera in hand I joined Italian's, Spaniard's, American's, English, Eastern European's and numerous other nationalities in exploring the Castle and it's courtyards and gardens.

Artist at work in the Castle