A visit to Cobh, County Cork We travelled from Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, formerly known as Kingstown, to Cobh, County Cork, formerly known as Queenstown. I’ve heard of sister cities and twin towns. Perhaps we could stage a town royal wedding between these two. Cobh is my kind of town. A seaside town of course, and what a location! It’s on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour, supposedly the second largest natural harbour in the world. Whether…
Poolbeg and Sandymount Strand Dublin I can’t believe my luck! Just when Austria was being blanketed in deep snow, we flew to Dublin, arriving to mild January weather. Naturally enough, we headed straight for the sea. This time the Oldies brought me to Sandymount Strand, an old stomping ground of theirs, but one they hadn’t visited in years. The soft, lapping ripples in this sheltered bay are certainly a sharp contrast to the crashing waves of the Atlantic shores of…
The Liberties, Dublin After our jaunt along the coast, we are now back in the inner city. In the Liberties, to be exact, the heart of dear old Dublin. With emphasis on the old. At Wood Quay we are literally standing above the site of an important Viking settlement. Her Ladyship still remembers the huge controversy over the building of the Dublin City Council offices on this ancient site back in the late 1970s. I sincerely hope that city planners…
Hollywood, County Wicklow, Ireland Fame at last! First I make the Irish Times. Now I’ve made it to Hollywood! Oh. Her Ladyship has just knocked me off my pedestal by pointing out that this is the Irish Hollywood. Hollywood, County Wicklow. Hollyw… whoops! Must be windy around here. Hang on a sec, though. This Hollywood is apparently the original one. It is documented as being over 800 years old, so it pre-dates its famous American cousin by centuries. Furthermore,…
Bull Island, Howth, Malahide, County Dublin Whew! The skis have been packed away for another year. We certainly don’t need them now as we are at sea level again. Yes, we’re back in dear old Dublin! North County Dublin is actually new territory for me, but I instantly feel at home here. We are on North Bull Island, watching flocks of various wading birds, ducks, brent geese, and of course countless gulls, feeding on the mudflats. His Lordship and I…