Irish Scenes Finale

The final days of our Irish trip seem somewhat of a blur now and I didn't keep a very good record of the many interesting places we visited. Perhaps I was too enamored of our bus driver/guides blending of history and locations. Especially about the centuries of British rule, its consequences and the long division of the country into a Protestant North and a Catholic South with attendant strife. Our crossing the border into Northern Ireland was a day I well remember.  Our final 2 days in the Irish Republics capitol in Dublin was also a great highlight. 

The food and adult beverages in the Irish pubs were excellent.


























Indeed. Though we didn't "pass by" the Guinness brewery, their product found my favor ...:)

One of Mrs. T's favorite venues and yes she did make several purchases in addition to the handmade wool sweater I bought at Blarney.

Being a flower gardener I was envious at more than one stop...





















It didn't take a lot of imagination to see how much our two parish priests (one from Rochester and the other from Spring Valley) enjoyed celebrating morning mass whether it was in small rural churches like this or in big city Dublin...

 

 

And then on the last day in Dublin, I had to go to the library to check out a book.  The library was located in Trinity College.  The book was simply  known as The Book of Kells.

Going back to the ninth century this amazing collection of the Gospels, richly illustrated, survived Viking raiders and time.  Needless to say a world famous artifact couldn't be checked out but what a moment just to see it.  And Ireland too........