A Walk Around Dublin

August 31, 2018

Apparently, one does not easily find a cup of coffee early (early!) in my neighborhood here in Dublin. Indeed, there are plenty of people and plenty of people who drink coffee, but the cafes do not open until say, 8 am on the weekdays and later on Saturdays. But, I found one.

One of the gems of this city is Trinity College. I will tell of The Book of Kells in a moment. But, as I walked around, I noted the following two signs...the first was from Christchurch Cathedral down the street. They were doing archeology work around the church building and were obviously spending a lot of money to re-discover the history of the place. In one spot I saw this sign...below.

Walking across the campus of Trinity College, I spotted the other sign...below.

Think about both signs, and you'll have to wonder and smile.

It should be noted that at Trinity College, they have the sports fields....tennis courts, football pitch, rugby pitch....inside the surrounding college buildings of classrooms and dorms. That is quite the opposite of most American colleges that relegate sports fields to the parimeters. Yes, there are exceptions and many colleges grow to overtake and then surround the sports fields, but you understand.

The Book of Kells

The Book of Kells is Ireland's greatest cultural treasure and the world's most famous medieval manuscript.The 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ.

I ordered my ticket online at home and selected a 10:30 a.m. Time slot. I arrived at 9 am, saw few going in, showed my ticket and was waved on through. They barely looked at me and not at all at the ticket. I was out of the exhibit at 10:30 and walked across the quadrangle to get a cup of tea. I sat outside and watched the 10:30 group snake their way slowly into the exhibit. I smiled.

The exhibit is a must-see for anyone visiting Dublin (I wonder what percentage of Trinity College students ever take the time to see the exhibit in their own college?) The Book of Kells is part sacred, part art, part history. How the manuscripts were written and preserved is fascinating. We saw a detailed exhibit of life in a monastic community in the 9th century.

Some wrote, some drew, some wrote and drew with a flourish and others were a bit more reserved in their craft. Mistakes were made and covered over. It was a very human, monastic endeavor. And at the end of the exhibit we got to see actual copies of the original Book of Kells. (No photos please!!)

No visit to Dublin, or the Book of Kells would be complete without the obligatory stroll through the Old Library Exhibition just upstairs. The vaulted ceiling is probably one of the most photographed in Dublin.

And then, look to the side windows where the bookcases frame the Windows themselves in alcoves. I doubt that OSHA would approve. Can you imagine reaching for the works of Aristotle on the 12th shelf on the left? Can you imagine evening finding Aristotle in the library...let alone wanting to read him?

It's all worth your while....and be sure to stroll around the Trinity College grounds.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

The patron saint of Ireland and a man to emulate, Saint Patrick is immortalized in the cathedral that bears his name. Patrick was a humble man of whom there is no description of his looks. The statue above is a modern depiction of a young Patick caring for the poor. I must admit he looks like a young James Dean. (If a description of my face is lost centuries hence, I wish to be depicted to look like George Clooney.)

The present building dates from 1220 and over the centuries it has experienced wars and the Reformation and yet survives. The stone above is an early Christian grave slab that was discovered in 1901 and is approximately 1,000 years old. It was originally covering a well. "Some believe this well may have been used by St. Patrick himself to baptize local people into Christianity."

The term "some believe" is best kept as meaning....it may or may not have been used by Patrick but that is the possible story and so they are sticking with it!

The flooring, you ask........(Above)

Entrance stairs to the church organ?........(Above)

Military Regimental Flags.....from the 19th &. 20th Centuries cover the area during certain times of the year when the military is remembered.

A walk through the heart of Dublin reveals the River Liffey, with its Ha'penny Bridge. I took the time to stroll along the side of the river...noting the rushing traffic beside me on one side.