Each time I visit Ireland, I revisit favorite haunts and discover new places that delight. I return time and time again to the Vintage Kitchen, Howth (with a meal at Octopussy), and The Cobblestone. Most importantly, I also spend time with my large and extended family.
This trip was no exception. Some of the most memorable meals and moments are featured in the photo gallery below.
As always, the dinner we had at Vintage Kitchen was phenomenal, the lunch (Ok, lunches. I went twice) at Octopussy was incredibly fresh and delicious and the music at The Cobblestone was fantastic.
If you know me in real life, you probably know that I’m not often prone to tears, but I am inclined to get a little bit weepy when I’m in Ireland. On this trip, my tears were prompted by the beautiful harmonies during the evening’s session at The Cobblestone. Two Japanese women sat in, with one playing a flute and the other alternating between a harp and fiddle, and the reverence with which they played traditional Irish melodies made me cry. It was simply spectacular.
While I often stay in Ballsbridge, a beautiful neighborhood on the south side of Dublin, my usual spot wasn’t available and I shifted to a nearby area, Sandymount. I had two separate stays there, one for the two nights I was on my own and a second for the tail end of the trip when we needed room for four. Both were just off the green, in opposite directions, and within a five minute walk from the strand. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay in either again.
Sandymount is a beautiful village with easy connections into the center of Dublin by bus or DART or, in my case, on foot. The homes are tidy and neat with gorgeous gardens and there were plenty of places to eat, a good neighborhood pub and cute shops and food markets. I’d be happy to base a Dublin visit here again.
Since this was my son’s first time in Ireland, we hit a couple of well known tourist spots such as The Guinness Brewery, Kilmainham Prison and the Irish Museum of Modern Art. I booked the brewery tour in advance (and preordered a commemorative engraved pint glass for Q), scored same day tickets* for Kilmainham and needed no tickets (nor admission fee) for the museum.
The Guinness brewery is a thing unto itself with evidence of tremendous marketing. After taking the tour numerous times over the years, I recognized some newer features, but remain convinced that my favorite part remains The Gravity Bar, the tour finale which comes with a panoramic view of Dublin and the Wicklow mountains.
Kilmainham Gaol was a, pardon the pun, sobering experience. The history of the prison and the important role it played in the confinement and executions of rebellious Irish patriots, was presented in an interesting and captivating manner. Our guide was particularly strong voiced and did a wonderful job conveying the events and participants in the fight for Irish autonomy and independence. It’s well worth the price of admission, a more than reasonable €8 per person.
This was my first visit to the Irish Museum of Modern Art and I was really impressed with the artwork displayed. We barely scratched the surface on our visit, but a few favorite works are pictured below. Tap on the images for a full view. The gift shop, incidentally, was terrific with beautiful gifts, books and woolen goods, including my favorite, the Donegal made McNutt.
While each of these destinations are more than worthy of one’s attention, what I personally treasure most is time spent with my family. This most recent visit “home” included a gathering of more than 40 of my relatives. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
*Tickets are released each morning beginning at 9:15 for the same day. I was logged into the Kilmainham website by 9:10 and was offered numerous options for the day.
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