It has been a busy week. After getting back from a long weekend in Prague my new history course started on Wednesday. This one is an in depth look at modern Ireland with a large focus on the ‘troubles’, that being the conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. To my surprise I have learned that although the paramilitary forces of both sides have decommissioned their arms, animosity and fear stills exists among the people. Some of it is not just below the surface as ‘peace walls’ are still present to divide Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in multiple places of the principle cities in the North. The barriers are high walls with razor wire on the top and often murals on both sides. In 2008, a public discussion began about how and when the peace lines could be removed. A study was released in 2012 indicating that 69% of residents believe that the peace walls are still necessary because of potential violence. I thought we were way past that but apparently the fear and the animosity are still very much alive. Next week our class will travel to Northern Ireland for 3 days and I will get a better understanding of the situation and some pictures.
On Wednesday morning my daughter Katie, with her husband William, and my son B J, with his girlfriend Whitney, arrived in Dublin for a one week visit. I was great to see them and we met for breakfast and after that I went to class and they got some sleep. Then they came to DCU to see the college and my ‘spacious’ living quarters. We did spend some time in the Temple Bar district and drank a few pints before an early dinner a nice Italian restaurant. I had planned to take them on the Kilmainham Jail tour but when I tried to get tickets it was sold out for the next few days. I had also planned to take them on a tour of Dublin Castle but as luck with have it French President Hollande was in the city for talks with Irish Prime Minister Kenny about Brexit and closed the Castle to tours while they held some kind of an affair at the Castle in conjunction with his visit. Oh well, more time for pints! We then had dinner at my favorite steakhouse in Dublin, The Bull and Castle, and it did not disappoint.
This weekend the 5 of us are off to Killarney for a Ring of Kerry tour and a visit to Skellig Michael. After that on Sunday we are going to visit the Cliffs of Moher and then a trip to the Aran Islands off the coast near Galway. They return home Tuesday and I return to class. Lots of fun between now and Tuesday!
Irish language lesson:
Jinking = change direction suddenly
Banjaxed = wrecked, destroyed, rubbish
Pictures: Michael Collins’s grave at Glasnevin Cemetery. He was the first leader of the Irish Free State and my personal favorite Irish Patriot; my visitors this week at the Guinness Storehouse; Dinner at the Cork and Castle Steakhouse with Katie, Wiliam, B J, and Whitney.
Sounds like lots of fun . I was in Northern Ireland when I visited Kristen and there is definitely a fear. We took a bus ride. Remember to bring your pounds. They don’t always accept the euro.
Have a great time and thanks for sharing your journey.
Hi Bill
I am enjoying your trip vicariously- glad you are starting your new journey this way. Cheers!
Hi Bill,
This is Terry’s brother Brian. He said you are going to Skelig Michael tomorrow. I attempted to get out there when were in Ireland but the weather was too windy for the crossing, at least that is what the boat owner said when I called him in the morning to confirm the trip. Terry said he was probably just too hung- over from celebrating county Kerry’s victory over Cork in the Irish football championship the night before and in no shape to operate a boat. I hope you have good weather, it sound like a magical place.
So glad you got to see some familiar faces this week. Hope y’all have fun and I know you will. Enjoy your trip together. Wish I was there! Thinking of you and missing you.