Sunday June 9

We drove from Glendalough through Avoca and the Meeting of the Waters to Kilkenny, then to Cashel (Irish for Castle).
The meeting of the waters is where the Avonbeg joins the Avonmore to form the Avoca River, just up the road from the Ballykissangel Pub - or at least the Pub where it was filmed.

Meeting of the waters - looking towards the Avoca River

Bridge over the Avonmore River

The Rock of Cashel was the castle built in the 5th century by the Munster kings of whom the greatest was Brian Boru, the first and only High King of Ireland. In the 12thcentury it was handed over to the Catholic Church to be used as a cathedral centre.

The Rock of Cashel

St Patrick's Cathedral

Tapestry, Hall of the Vicars Choral

Bench and table, Hall of the Vicars Choral

Angel, Hall of the Vicars Choral

Hall of the Vicars Choral

Hall of the Vicars Choral

St Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral

Chancel & Sanctuary, St Patrick's Cathedral

When the Normans arrived they introduced a Romanesque style of architecture and added a second chapel in that style

Romanesque Chapel

St Patrick's Cross

Ardmore beach. We stayed near here

Enjoying live music, Round House Hotel Sunday afternoon. Note the blue sky

Saturday June 8th

Today we picked up a hire car and headed out of Dublin for Glendalough, via Sally Gap. The scenery was magnificent, from treeless moors to peat fields to pine forests and mountains.
Glendalough was the site of a monastic city founded by St Kevin in the 6th century and was a centre of learning until it was destroyed by the Normans in 1214.

St Kevin and the Blackbird

St Kevin's Church Glendalough

Entrance arches, Glendalough

Celtic cross, Glendalough

Ruins of the cathedral, Glendalough

Monks' tower, Glendalough

St Kevin's Church, Glendalough

Friday June 7th

Today we walked to Christ Church Anglican Cathedral via St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral. Christ Church was originally built by King Sitric Silkenbeard the Viking King of Ireland on the mid 11th century. The remains of his church can be seen in the grounds of the present building which was built in the 12th century and added to several times. The roof collapsed in 1562. partial repairs were carried out but the building wasn't finally rebuilt until the 1870s. There are now two Protestant Cathedrals in Dublin, Anglican and Church of Ireland.

St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral

St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral

Christ Church Anglican Cathedral

Christ Church Anglican Cathedral

Christ Church Anglican Cathedral

Monkey Final on one of the arches.

The floor of the cathedral is covered in a large variety of tiles. These include some that depict Foxy Friars, a Christ Church icon.

Foxy Friars

Christ Church has the largest crypt in a church in Ireland and the UK. It hold such treasures as a copy of the MagnaCarta, gold plate given by William the Conqueror following his victory at the Battle of the Boyne, along with displays of Tudor clothing, etc.

The Crypt

William III gold plated communion vessels

Thursday June 6th.

Today we walked to Trinity College via Merrion Square, which is surrounded by renovated Georgian residences, mostly now converted into offices. This square was the home of various famous residents included Oscar Wilde, who lived at 1 Merrion Square as a child, while WB Yeats lived at No 82, and Daniel O’Connell (one of the influential figures in Irish separation form England) at No 58.
Our visit to Trinity College was to see the Book of Kells Exhibition. This is a a 9th century manuscript that documents the four Gospels. Also on the floor above is the Long Room, the Trinity College Library that houses 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books.

St Stephen's Park

Fountain St Stephen's Park

  

Sculpture: Famine

 

Sculpture: Famine

Merrion Square

Merrion Square

Merrion Square

Oscar Wilde, Merrion Square Park

Image from the Book of Kells

Image from the Book of Kells

Irish Linen Display

Trinity College Library - Long Room

Book of Kells Volume

Brian Boru Harp - oldest existing Irish harp

Wednesday June 5th:
We arrived in Dublin after 17 or 18 hours travelling including an hour's delay at SingaporeAirport for some unknown reason. Grey sky, drizzle and 13 degrees is quite a contrast after Singapore! Oh and it's summer apparently. 
We visited the Chester Beatty Library this afternoon at Dublin Castle. The library houses Beatty's personal collection of books, manuscripts, & artwork. Beatty made his money as a mining engineer/ mine owner and he and his second wife spent 60 years or so collection texts and art work form around the world with a particular interest in oriental and middle Eastern works from 200AD through to the 19th century.
 

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle Coach House

Chester Beatty Library Atrium

Singapore Day 2

Dinner at a Turkish restaurant in the Arab St quarter last night, then today back to look at Haji Lane which has been renovated then decorated with street art and lots of modern shops - pop art clothes, food.
Parkview Tower is a recent building in Art Deco Style.

Sultan Mosque 

Haji Lane

Haji Lane

Haji Lane

Haji Lane

Haji Lane

Park View Tower