The last “museum” in my 100 Museums Challenge is a very special one, as it’s the shrine of a saint. In October 2019 I was lucky to tour Ireland in a group led by Stephen McPhilemy from Derry, Northern Ireland. On the day that we would go to Brú na Bóinne north of Dublin, Stephen …
Continuing from my previous posts (here, here, and here), these are four more Dublin museums I visited in October 2019. 1) Dublinia Dublinia, which was redeveloped in 2010, is a living history museum and not-for-profit heritage centre, focusing on Viking Dublin and Medieval Dublin. It was marvellously interactive, occasionally gruesome, and quite educational. A panel, …
Continuing from my previous posts here and here, these are four more Dublin museums I visited in October 2019. 1) National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology is delicious. Irish Bronze Age gold, prehistoric tools, Viking Ireland, Medieval reliquaries, Iron Age bog bodies, etc., etc. The silver-gilt Tara Brooch …
Continuing from my previous post, here are four more Dublin museums. 1) Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum provides a fine opportunity to reflect upon the realities of the disastrous famine in Ireland (also called the Great Hunger) from 1845 to 1849. I appreciated how the history …
The monastic settlement at Glendalough, located in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin, is certainly a place that has, as Anne of Green Gables would say, plenty of “scope for imagination.” The monastery was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. It’s said that he lived in a cave overlooking the upper lake, …
Visiting the prehistoric archaeological landscape at Brú na Bóinne, a bend of the Boyne River north of Dublin, was one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland. Map of Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site Source: World Heritage Ireland – Brú na Bóinne – Visitor Information Access to the passage graves at Knowth and …
As Heritage Ireland says, Kilkenny Castle is a “12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands which was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde.” Learning about the Butlers was quite interesting, as they came up over and over later in the trip. I confess that …
There’s a lot going on historically and architecturally at the ancient Rock of Cashel. Heritage Ireland calls it, “A spectacular group of Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored …
It is a very fine thing for world heritage that something like The Great Blasket Centre exists as a model. As the brochure says: A picture is worth a thousand words, and a video even more, so have a look at “The Last Islandman Returns to his Birthplace, the Great Blasket,” to get a feel …
Seek out the stunning stained glass windows at the Díseart Institute of Irish Spirituality and Culture in Dingle, located in a chapel of the former Presentation Sisters’ convent. A set of six windows created by Harry Clarke (1889-1931), Ireland’s famed stained glass artist, was installed in 1924 and illustrate the life of Christ. I was …
