Our Last Day on the Emerald Isle: Day 27 – Ireland 2014
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5 May 2014
It felt like mere moments from the second we first touched down in Ireland to our final day in the country. We had intended to spend our last day in Dublin hitting up some major sites, like the Guinness Storehouse, for example. Luck, however, was not on our side. Unfortunately for us, it was a bank holiday, and practically everything we had intended to do (if we’d had time, which we did) was closed. Womp womp. I had full intentions of going to as many antique stores as I could find, but every single one was shuttered.
Instead, we wandered leisurely down Grafton Street and took in the shops there. We bought souvenirs, gifts, and more bags of chocolates, making sure to get a few extra for ourselves this time. The atmosphere here changes so much throughout the day. On our first day in Dublin, we were there in the morning before things had really opened and kicked off. It was quiet and there were quite a few locals out. As the day goes on, it gets busier and busier. More tourists arrive, more street performers show up. The street totally transforms into something different.
Wandering
After shopping on Grafton Street, we just walked. There’s nothing like getting lost in exploring a city, and Dublin was amazing! We had wanted to see the Ha’Penny Bridge, so we made our way in that direction.
It’s a beautiful footbridge that crosses the River Liffey. When it opened in 1816, it was officially called Wellington Bridge after the Duke of Wellington. It was changed to Liffey Bridge in 1922, but it was, and is, widely known as the Ha’penny Bridge, no matter the official moniker. When it first opened, pedestrians enjoy 10 days of free crossings, but after that, the toll to use the bridge was a ha’penny. It was beautifully restored and reopened in 2001, and lucky for us, it’s free to use these days. If you’re interested in more history of the bridge or its restoration, check out this page.
We wandered around awhile longer before getting hungry enough for lunch. There is so much to see in Dublin!
The Brazen Head
We decided to have lunch at The Brazen Head, Ireland’s oldest pub. It rounded out our having lunch at the oldest pub in Belfast at the beginning of our trip (check out that post here). Some people say to skip eating here because it’s a tourist trap, but it was calm when we were there, and the food was delicious. With a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, we’re not the only ones who think so!
The Brazen Head has a history dating back to 1198. A hostelry has stood on that site from that date on. The current building dates back to 1754, and The Brazen Head appears in documentation dating back to 1653. The atmosphere here is welcoming and warm. In our opinion, it was definitely worth a stop. A touristy place it may be, but we couldn’t pass up the history of it!
A Small Church and Museum?
Yes, please.
On the walk back to our hotel, we passed by a church. The door was open and a fellow was standing by it to welcome people in. I don’t remember if we paid or not, nor do I remember the church’s name. But it was such a neat, random stop for the day! Billy was ecstatic to see the knight’s tombs, and Lord knows I love a cemetery.
Our Last Evening
We headed back to our hotel to repack a few things and make sure all was ready for the travel home from Dublin the next day. After getting everything sorted, we had a cheap meal out. Funds were starting to run low, bang on time to head home. Our night was spent reminiscing about the entire trip and talking about the things we’d want to see when we came back. Our hearts may have been heavy for leaving, but they were full to bursting for having been able to enjoy Ireland and all it had to offer. We closed our eyes on one last night in what felt like our home away from home.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy
