July 5 - Academia and Historia

(John) Today was a day full of walking, looking, and listening. The highlights that I will record are The Irish National Museum of History and Dublin Castle, the seat of British rule for hundreds of years.

The national museum covers two separate buildings. We only toured the History and Archeology building. It's located next to the Daile (the Irish parliament). It started as a wonderful trip through prehistoric Ireland and then worked it's way through time to the war for independence, culmenating in 1922 - the Irish free state and civil war. I loved every second and every artifact. Some of the prehistoric relics are shocking in their beauty. Gold and bronze artifacts are ubiquitous. Even the building in which the museum is housed is a historic and arctitectural wonder.

Dublin Castle was also a terrific adventure. It isn't really a castle. It's actually a Georgian building that surrounds a central courtyard. A thousand years ago, it was a traditional castle until it caught fire and was blown up to prevent the fire from expanding into the Norman old city. Later, when rebuilt as the home of British rule, it was constructed on the old foundations. Today, the buidling is used as the ceremonial home of the Irish President - the head of state. The Prime Minsister and Parliament work out of Leinster House - located just a few blocks away.

Our tour of Dublin Castle included all the best state rooms: the state dining room, throne room, and private apartments. We had a wonderful guide - a young man well versed in the history and decor of the building. We were even able to walk below the foundations of the current buildings and see the ancient wall of the original Viking castle and the city wall. 20 feet below ground, the old Poddle river continues to flow into the Liffey. It was a grand experience.