Day 6 - Dublin

Breakfast is a rush, due in part to the fact that it is scheduled for 7.30am and no earlier, and they run out of hot food and some of us have to wait for the second serving. The breakfast room itself is beautifully presented with lounge chairs and tables, soft lighting and a glorious view of the courtyard garden outside. This is normally one of the hotel bars.
We are on the bus at 8.30am ready for our scenic tour of the city. Dublin has a beautiful river, the Liffey, spanned by numerous bridges, new and old. Many buildings are Georgian, and they call a building complex a square, as they do in London. We heard about the Guinness Family and how they were generous philanthropists and benefitted the city and its people over many years. They even formed a Georgian Society way back when these buildings were under threat, so as to have some weight in defending their view.

Our optional trip to see the ancient monastic site of Glendalough is one of the highlights of the whole tour. It is located in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and its Gaelic name is 'Valley of Two Lakes' as there are lakes nearby in this U-shaped glaciated valley. Glendalough became a famous early medieval monastic settlement after St. Kevin in the 6th century lived in a cave there as a hermit for years. Later he founded a monastery and subsequently a church was built. Pilgrims came and the place was sought after and known as a centre for learning.
When we arrive, the overhanging mist in the surrounding mountains gives the old hand-worked stone church and outer building remnants a surreal feel. I could easily imagine the dozens of monks and pilgrims who lived, worked and prayed here. The graveyard surrounds the church and there are many old headstones bearing celtic crosses.

The Round Tower (or Bell Tower) is about 100 feet high, and was built between 900 and 1200AD. This one is typical of early Irish monasteries and was used to summon the monks to prayer. The tower has six floors, each with a window. The top storey has four windows. The main door is twelve feet above ground and they presume it was reached by means of a ladder thrown down. Afterwards, the ladder would be pulled up to prevent an enemy from entering the tower.
On our coach trip to and from Glendalough, our guide Peter points out a number of what they call 'Fairy trees' - in fenced fields and near roads. These trees, sometimes hawthorne, are presumed to hold supernatural powers, for example, protecting the animals, and so they are never cut down. It is bad luck and foolish to do so.
In the evening, we trot down from the Mespil to our favourite restaurant, Zakura and enjoy another delicious dinner there.