Summary

The author shares their experiences from three visits to Dublin over 20 years, highlighting the city's attractions, personal connections, and the joy of travel with family.

Abstract

The travelogue details the author's three trips to Dublin, Ireland, taken in 2002, 2009, and 2019, each offering unique experiences and adventures. The first visit included a comprehensive tour of Ireland, with Dublin serving as both the starting and ending point. The second trip was part of a longer journey that included Italy, with Dublin as a transit hub. The third and most recent visit was a family affair, with ten members exploring Dublin's landmarks, cultural sites, and enjoying local traditions. The narrative emphasizes the author's fondness for Dublin, the warmth of family connections, and the enriching experiences gained through travel.

Opinions

The author holds Dublin in high regard, considering it their favorite "D" city.
Dublin's attractions, such as Temple Bar, Grafton Street, and Trinity College, are praised for their cultural significance and charm.
The Ha'penny Bridge and the Famine Monument are noted as memorable landmarks.
The author appreciates the convenience of Dublin's transportation, including the DART and bus tours.
The EPIC museum is highly recommended by the author for its interactive display of the Irish Diaspora.
The author enjoys local cuisine, as evidenced by the mention of a farewell dinner at an Italian restaurant in Dublin and the combination of pepperoni pizza with a pint of Guinness.
Live music, particularly Trad music at Oliver St. John Gogarty's pub, is celebrated as a quintessential Dublin experience.
The author expresses a desire to return to Dublin, indicating a deep affection for the city.

My Favorite A-Z Travel Destination — Dublin

We visited my favorite D city three times in the last 20 years

Merrion Square Park, Dublin. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

Visit # 1–2002

We first flew to my D city in 2002. Then we took the train to Belfast and stayed in Northern Ireland for a week. Then we rented a car in Belfast and drove all over Ireland for three more weeks and ended up back in Dublin for our last week in the Emerald Isle.

Cousin Henry and his Geraldine drove down from County Down to show us around downtown Dublin. They took us to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, Stephen’s Green and Trinity College. And we strolled across the Ha’penny Bridge over the Liffey a few times.

Bennette, Henry and Geraldine on the Ha’penny Bridge over the River Liffey. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

Visit # 2–2009

We returned in 2009 and spent a few days in Sutton, near Dublin’s northeast corner. We walked to Howth one day and then rode on the DART to central Dublin. The next day Henry picked us up and we spent the next four days in Northern Ireland. Then back to Dublin where we caught our flight to Milan.

An island called Ireland’s Eye, just outside Howth Harbour. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

This was a four week trip: one week in Ireland plus three weeks in Italy. And we flew only on Aer Lingus that year. So, three weeks later we flew from Rome back to Dublin to catch our final flight home to San Francisco.

Visit # 3–2019

All ten of us — my wife and I, our two daughters, their husbands, and our four grand-kids — flew to Dublin in 2019 and grabbed the train to Belfast. After a week in Northern Ireland we returned to Dublin and jumped on a bus to Galway where we spent another week. Finally, we rode on a another bus back to Dublin, where we stayed for our final week in Ireland.

Our hotel was right on the Liffey, sandwiched in between the Custom House and the replica of a famine ship and it was a stone’s throw from the hotel’s front door to the famous famine sculptures.

Famine Monument, Dublin. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

We walked around town on Monday and took the sightseeing bus on Tuesday (the gals hopped off to visit Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals but the guys stayed on until we got to the Guinness Storehouse). On Wednesday we went on an all-day bus tour to Glendalough and Powerscourt in County Wicklow, south of Dublin.

The Round Tower at Glendalough monastic site. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

Our Thursday began with a tour of Trinity College and then we explored Grafton Street and Stephen’s Green before taking in the matinee of Riverdance at the world-famous Gaiety Theatre.

The Chi Rho Page, Book of Kells display, Trinity College. Photo by Jerry Dwyer

The day concluded with a farewell dinner (at an Italian ristorante, no less!). My older daughter and her family flew home the next day. The rest of us stayed on for two more days.

Our farewell dinner was at Carluccio’s on the corner of Duke and Dawson Streets. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

It rained most of Friday and so we spent most of Friday at the EPIC museum which was conveniently located right next door to our hotel. The museum presents a splendid interactive display of the Irish Diaspora and is highly recommended.

EPIC Museum exhibit. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

On our last day in Dublin we hung around Merrion Square for most of the day and then celebrated our last day in Ireland with a pizza dinner at Oliver St. John Gogarty’s, a Temple Bar pub famous for their live Trad music.

Oscar Wilde sculpture, Merrion Square. Wilde grew up right across the street. Photo by Jerry Dwyer.

Did you know that a slice of pepperoni pizza goes very well with a pint of the black stuff? Especially when everyone in the place was belting out songs such as Molly Malone at the top of their lungs?

In Dublin’s fair city, Where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone, As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, Through streets broad and narrow, Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!” — traditional Irish song

What a way to conclude a sensational three-week trip to Ireland! We flew home the next day. Hopefully, we will return someday to my favorite D city for visit # 4!

Onward to E! I am still way behind Sam Millichap, Adrienne Beaumont, Anne Bonfert and Michael Rhodes. And now I understand Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages, Nishan Fuard and Robert G. Longpré have joined the challenge. The more the merrier, as my dad used to say!