Throughout the State Apartments, where my tour in Dublin Castle begins, you can see the symbol of the lyre (or harp) as above. You will find it everywhere in Ireland from the euro coin…  to all things Guinness:  The State Apartments were formerly quarters used by the Viceregal Court. Today it plays host to State functions:  …
The Great Courtyard
 Today we begin in the Great Courtyard or Upper Castle Yard of Dublin Castle.  It dates back to 1204 and was once the enclosure of King John’s Castle.  It is an immense rectangle that, for today at least, is displaying some very cool sand art:  The most eye-catching building in this courtyard is Bedford Tower:  Just …
Can Life Get Any Better!
 If I could live in a museum I would. Yesterday I mentioned we’d visit the interiors of Dublin Castle so let’s begin with the Chester Beatty Library, which was once an army ordinance office on these grounds:  The most striking thing about Dublin Castle is what a hodge-podge of architectural styles it is. But that is a testament …
We’ve Come A Long Way From The Early 1200s
 Before I left on this trip I watched a few episodes of Bite Me With Dr. Mike on the Travel Channel. It made me want to burn my passport, yet here I am. And before I sat down to write today’s entry I read an email from my mom. She’d forwarded me an article in Vietnamese about some deadly …