Trip to Ireland and France,
November 2002

Part 3: Dublin

Although the principal attraction in Dublin was seeing Cormac, we found other things to do too.  On Saturday (our first full day in Dublin) we headed towards the Museum of Natural History with Grandma Callaghan.  Granddad went to Mary's to watch the day's big event on TV - a rugby match between Ireland and the visiting world champions, Australia. The match was being played at nearby Landsdowne Road Stadium and Ireland was very much the underdog.

The weather was overcast with scattered showers. The rain held off until just before we arrived at the museum;  then it started pouring. As you can see from the picture above, this is a very old-fashioned museum.  Walking inside is like stepping back in time to the 19th century.  Thousands of stuffed animals are packed into a long and narrow building.  Old wooden floors creak beneath one's feet and small, steep staircases connect the upper story balconies to the main floor.  There are no computers and no fancy lighting.  Simple typewritten tags are mounted near most animals.  I came across an old jar tucked into a shelf under a window near the back of the ground floor.  The jar contained a salamander found in the River Slaney near Enniscorthy in the year 1932.  The greedy creature had expired when he attempted to swallow too large a frog.

Abigail began feeling weak and dizzy in the museum - probably as a result of jet-lag and the long walk from the hotel - so after about two hours we left in search of a place to get some mid-afternoon lunch. We found a small Asian-run sandwich place where we had tea, soup and pasta while watching the end of the rugby match.  Ireland won the match, which was played on a field that seemed to be covered in almost an inch of water.

Walking back to the hotel, we passed many groups of fans headed for the pubs.  The Irish fans were, of course, jubilant and the Australians looked disappointed.  Some hours later, we headed back up Lesson Street with Granddad in search of a restaurant.  Every one was either full or very expensive - or both. Finally, we ended up at Bewley's on Grafton Street where I had eaten many times on our trips to Dublin when I was a boy.

On Sunday, we attended the Latin Mass at St. Audoen's and then returned to the hotel.  Granddad and the girls took a taxi to Leopardstown for the races while I walked with Patrick to St. Stephen's Green to play in the playground there.

Dinner that night was at Mary's apartment where we met Dave's mother and one of his sisters.  The mothers got along well and a good time was had by all.

The next morning I took all the children back to the playground at St. Stephen's Green again while Grandma and Granddad Callaghan went shopping near the Green.  They met us back at the playground an hour later and we took a taxi down to the Holy Ghost Fathers' seminary in Kimmage Manor to visit Fr. Farrally.  Before we left, he took us down a hall lined with photos of Holy Ghost Fathers who had become bishops.  Fr. Farrally had served with most of them in Africa during his long stay there and had stories to tell about them all.

We split up for dinner that night. Grandma and Granddad Callaghan went to an Italian restaurant with our friend Sheila, and I went out with my old school friend from Enniscorthy, Sean, who is taking a two-year break from teaching Math to teach other teachers how to teach Science.

Tuesday was the day we had chosen for our departure to Wexford. I rented a Mercedes minivan (the only vehicle I could find that would seat the six of us). Our last act in Dublin was to stop by Mary's place to say goodbye to her and to Cormac before heading south.