Double Dublin

Back into Dublin the next day after Belfast, Liz had a few more wedding errands to complete before the big day, and I took the chance to go into town for some shopping and another look at the main city of Ireland.

When we got in from Wicklow, we had a great lunch stop to start the day at Green 19, before wandering into the shopping streets. Liz and I then met with her friend Kerry, and we found a comfy table at the homely feeling Grogan's. Here Steve also met with us after work, and Andrew happened to be in the pub, and joined us for beers and Bulmers.

Now Steve had been given a reading for the wedding, and after first questioning a couple of the words, and then phrases, started creating a new masterpiece. And it turns out that on this day in the pub, he had it there in his coat pocket. He'd had it with him all day at work, and frankly, I don't think he had slept ruminating over it for days. What a funny lad!

The next day, it just happened that Jonesy was in Dublin for work, and so I managed to coordinate to catch up with him. A bus into town, I met him for a pint at Paddy Cullens, near the rugby venue - where else! We got to catch up about the end of the night back in Beijing, and all of the bits of life since. Was great to see him!

Getting back to Greystones on the train, I finally caught up with Claire, as I was staying at Claire and Paddy's new home that night. Kate picked Claire and I up, and we popped over to Katherine's to have a few drinks with Liz, as she prepared for her big day the next day. Many of the girls called in for a pre-wedding drink, as the excitement of the following day built.

Wicklow and Dublin

Cathal was at the new terminal at Dublin airport to pick me up when I landed, and take me out to Liz and his new house in Wicklow. Once Liz was home, we made plans for the night, and Peter come over before we walked to the local, for many pints of Guinness. Fighting fatigue, I managed to push through, and we actually had a large night. A tiny dance on our way out, we finished the night at the chipper!

Waking surprisingly ok the next morning, the 3 of us went out to Devil's Glen, to meet the girls for Kate's birthday. A walk up to the waterfall was the chosen activity, and we met up with Kate, Niamh and Kate, and we made our way through the fresh country air.

Back into Greystones, we then went to Sandra's for afternoon tea, and my first chance to catch up with the girls. A pregnant Sandra, who had prepared all the treats of the afternoon with a toddler running around under her feet, along with Anna and her 2 children, and also a pregnant Ruth, showed me that this little group is really growing up. Also here was Rowena, and Ailbhe, and Andy and Alex. Was great to see this crew again, after something like 4 years.

Going into town the next day for some wedding errands, and being Valentine's Day, Liz and I stopped into the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church to light a candle to St Valentine, whose remains are said to be in this chapel.

A pretty non-descript church from the outside, the church was really lovely and warm inside. There were many people milling around the alter to St V, as we read that he was executed for not renouncing his faith - by being beaten with sticks and then beheaded! Melissa had actually sent me an article about it, and it turns out that Liz had never been inside before, even though she went to college nearby.

A stop for a Bento Box for lunch at Uykio, we then wandered the streets of Dublin, crossed the river, braving the chilly wind. This gave me the feeling that I was actually in Ireland, seeing the main cityscape of Dublin.

With the day's tasks complete, we walked back towards the car and stopped for an Irish Coffee at the Library Bar in the Central Hotel. Such a cute pub! Before driving back to Wicklow, we stopped to see Laura and Cian, in their cute apartment, talking all things study, Social Work, and the wedding in just a few days.

Irish Rules

After trekking up to Norwich on Friday, and showing a trainee how not to do our job (!!), I rushed out to Gatwick to board my flight to Dublin. Greeted at the airport by Liz and Cathal, it was so good to see them again, before I head back home this month.

A few pints at The Beach House in Greystones that night, and a catch up with the lads from Greystones. The following morning, Liz and I took the DART into Dublin, and wondered around for a bit. We stopped in at the National Museum of Ireland for coffee, before heading to Mulligan's. Stopping here for the best Guinness in Dublin, the old man pub feel was alive and well.

We then headed over to the Porterhouse in Temple Bar, for a range of different beers, and an Irish Stew. Following this, and walk through the cold streets of Dublin to a bar called Here in gaelic, and to meet Cathal and a lads for the night. A celebration for Cathal's birthday, the night became a fun and crazy night out - as they all are in Ireland!! We finished the night at Whelan's, before we were all kicked out.

The next morning we awoke in Greystones, and worked on getting into Dublin for the match. Arriving just before quarter time, and just after all the biff action apparently, we got settled for the Australia verse Ireland battle for the International Rules, at Croke Park. The game quickly became Australia's, with the Ireland players seeming intimidated by the pace and bustle of the Aussie team. More agro from the crowd, given the recent history of these clashes,

After the match, we headed to Mulligan's again for more Guinness, and to defrost. Cathal disappered at one stage, and we had started to wonder where he had gotten to, only to see him reappear into the pub, having gone to the chipper and got me a battered sausage! Bless! One of the nicest things anyone has done for me!! It was so good! Hee hee.

I had had no luck in tracking Anne down in Dublin, who has recently moved there, Cathal spotted another of many Hawthorn shirts walking into the pub, late in the evening...and it was Anne! Was so cool to meet up with her, and talk footy and work and all things moving to the other side of the world.

Liz and Cathal walked me to the bus to get out to the airport, and say our goodbyes. Who knows where and when we will see each other now! Meeting a mate from work at the airport, and proceeding to the bar, and then the bar services on the flight back....was a large weekend, in true Irish style!!

When Irish Pints Are Smiling

Charles and I meet out at Gatwick Airport for a cheeky couple of pints before boarding our delayed flight across to Dublin on Friday, for a boozy weekend with the lads. Hungover and struggling after the night before, the only thing to do was to get back on it, and another on the short plane ride over was in order.

Consulting Cathal about how long it will take to get to their part of the world told us that in half an hour he would meet our bus from Dublin airport. This turned out to be in Irish time! An hour and a half later, and a tour through Dublin, we got out to the other side of the city, and finally caught up with Cathal in Greystones.

Another beer or two and Liz was home from work and ready to go out! We headed out in Bray Friday night, and braved the cold - although it actually wasn't as freezing as London had been for the last two days.

Saturday we headed into town (that's Dublin for the non-locals!) for a bit of an Irish pub crawl, and a quick check on the match scores (Australia happened to be playing Ireland in the rugby - what do ya know!). The Porter House, The Globe, and then Hogans (scene of St Paddy's day for us back in March).

As it started getting dark, we decided to head out to Enniskerry to meet up with the rest of Liz's mates, out at a pub in the little village. When Liz first said we could go to "Anna-Scary" for Anna's birthday, I did think it was a bit mean to be calling her "scary" on her birthday - but it was just the pronounciation of the village's name! Opps!

Catching up with the lads once we had servived the cab trip of through little village roads, things eventually go a bit out of hand and crazy. Anna was delighted that we had come out, and it was cool catching up with Claire and Paddy, Ruth and Eugene, Niamh, Alva and the rest of the lads.

The rowdy group ended up back at Anna's for a way out of control house party, before we all eventually crashed there. The ride back in the taxi to Greystones the next morning was very dodgy indeed!

After some much needed sleep we headed out to The Beach House in Greystones for recovery pints and dinner, before Charles and I needed to head back out to the airport for our late flight back to London. It was so good catching up with Liz and Cathal again, and the rest of the lads. Ireland and the Irish are just gorgeous, if a little nuts!!

Looking forward to a week in detox, with a focus on catching up on sleep!