Ireland - Day 4
Today was Museum Day. It was time to learn about some Irish history and folklore. We started the day at the Dublinia, the Viking and Medieval museum in Dublin. This museum reanimates the city's past through immersive exhibits and interactive reconstructions. My Norwegian heritage made this a must see as I was interested in learning more about how the Vikings played a role in Ireland’s history. I was surprised to learned just how much of a connection these two countries have. Dublin became the Vikings’ largest and most powerful base in Ireland. By the 10th century, it became a major trading hub for the Viking world, especially in slaves, silver, and luxury goods. It was also the most important “Norse” city outside of Scandinavia during that time. The museum has a large collection of Viking relics and gives the history. I learned quite a bit about the Vikings at this stop.
Next up was a visit to Dublin Castle. We opted for the self-guided tour which only provided limited access to the castle. Originally built by the Anglo-Normans in the early 13th century on the site of a Viking settlement, it served as the seat of English/British administration in Ireland until 1922. Though much of the medieval fortress was destroyed by fire in 1684, it was rebuilt as a Georgian palace with only the Tower surviving from the original castle. Today, Dublin Castle hosts state ceremonies, including presidential inaugurations. It was interesting to walk through, but not all that impressive.
By the time we left the Castle, it was lunchtime and I had found a nearby pub called “Lundy’s Foot” that was highly rated and close by. It’s name after an influential Dublin tobacconist and snuff maker famous for the “Blackguard Snuff” brand. The food was good and it had a great atmosphere. A perfect stop during our day of history.
Our next stop was the National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street, which is the Archaeology branch of the museum. It is home to some of the country’s most treasured artifacts. Inside we explored Ireland’s story from prehistoric times to the medieval era. Some noteable items were the world-famous Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch and their large collection of Bronze Age gold. The museum also has Viking and medieval relics as well as early Christian relics. This museum was free to visitors. After the museum we took a walk through the Trinity College area. The architecture is amazing and it was such an interesting mix of students sitting on the lawns reading and relaxing (it was a Sunday so I don’t think they were studying) as tourists taking photographs and walking the grounds. We did not see the Book of Kells or the library on this trip.
Our final museum stop was The Little Museum of Dublin. This is a charming, award-winning local history museum dedicated to telling Dublin’s story through the century‑by‑century lives of its people. I heard through my research that is was a really fun museum to visit. It is by guided tour only and last just 29 minutes. The tour is infused with humor and historical fun. Guides bring artifacts and moments in Dublin’s history to life. Our guide’s name was Mark and you could tell that he loved his job. The museum is housed a beautifully preserved 18th-century Georgian townhouse at 15 St Stephen’s Green. There is an amazing dollhouse on one of the floors called “Tara’s Palace” that is incredibly intricate. Built around 1980, it took more than 20 years to complete.
After our day of history, we stopped to pick up some wine, cheese and meats and went back to our flat and made a charcuterie board which we ate while watching a series on Prime Video we found called Bob and Dom Eat the World. The show features the pair from Lord of the Rings exploring different countries and their food cultures through a "hobbit-style" approach, getting involved in local work to earn their meals and discover hidden culinary aspects of cities and towns. The first two episodes were in London and Scotland which were perfect!