Ireland - Dublin

With the boat in Annapolis getting the needed repairs, I have flown to Ireland with Grace to meet my daughter Brynn and her husband, Matt, for a one week trip around the island.

We landed in Dublin. Our first stop was to our hotel to lose the luggage and park the car.

Hotel Lobby

Brynn arrange for our tour of Guinness, but we had a few hours to wait. So, we walked around the area.

It was a bit rainy. So, we ducked into a place to down a few pints...

SLÁINTE!

Kevin, happy to find Guinness

After the initial tour, we had our Guinness Connoisseur Experience. The four of us and a few others went into a private bar to  learn the magic of Guinness: history, tasting, and pouring.

The private bar was all newly refurbished; except the painting of the Founders and the ledgers on the bookshelf.

First, the Guinness History was explained; including how Arthur Guinness negotiated a 9,000 year lease of the land!

Then we were give a taste of an early Guinness dating back to 1796. They still have the recipe and make this beer in limited quantities. It was not a stout. It was an Irish Red Porter. It was Arthur's son who produced the first stout and solidified Guinness' future to outlast his father's lease.

A few of the bottled beers we tasted before moving on to the modern nitrogen tapped beers.

Irish Red Porter from 1796

The first Extra Stout

A modern Extra Stout

Guinness built a brewery in Nigeria. They sold the Extra Stout shown above in bottles and on tap. The beer was a commanding success. When a Nigerian man came to Ireland for a visit, he stopped to tour take the Guinness tour. He very proudly stated that he was surprised that such a small Island country as Ireland would have so much of his local Nigerian beer; Guinness. 

Guinness Tasting 

Guinness Connoisseur Experience Docent

The next morning, before departing Dublin, we went to the Trinity College Library to view the Book of Kells, and the Book of Armagh. No photos of the ancient documents were allowed.

Trinity College Library's Long Room 

Long Room

The Long Room of the Library at Trinity College

Long Room book shelves

Trinity College bookshelves

At the southern end of Dublin Bay, there is the swimming hole made famous by James Joyce called Forty Foot. Originally, it was for gentlemen only. Now, they welcome everyone.

Matt and I took a short swim; mine slightly shorter than his. We were told the water was warmer than typical.

A brisk entry

Kevin and Matt swimming at Forty Foot

Kevin exiting the water

Forty Foot wave

Later I checked and the Marine Buoy just off Forty Foot was reporting the water temperature at 57 degrees!  That may be warm to the locals who swim here year-round, but it's a bit lower than "warm" on my scale.

Matt and Kevin