Temple Bar

Dublin is an ancient settlement. Evidence of human habitation in Dublin Bay dates back 6,000 years.
Ptolemy's map of Ireland (c. 140 AD) mentions a settlement near Dublin. When the Vikings started raiding Ireland in 795, there were two parts of the Celtic town, Áth Cliath (secular) and Dubhlinn (the religious). The Vikings settled in the area and established a fortified city in 841. By the 10th century, Dublin had become the largest city in the Viking world.

Following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, Dublin became the capital of the English Lordship of Ireland. By the 16th and 17th centuries, Dublin became a center for silverwork, wool, and silk weaving.

Ireland had campaigned for their independence from England many times throughout history, but the Easter Rising in 1916 was the turning point. England put down the rising, but their mass executions of those involved swayed the opinion of the world, and Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State in 1922 and later the Republic of Ireland in 1949.

Today's Dublin is a vibrant city with a delightful mix of ancient history and modern everyday life. There are parks, pedestrian streets, outdoor cafés and pubs everywhere, sprinkled with ancient churches and castle remains.

Our guided tour started in Dún Laoghaire, where our ship was anchored in the harbor, wound through the suburbs, and through the city streets, ending at Saint Patricks Cathedral.

It was built as a Roman Catholic church in 1192 on the site where St. Patrick is said to have baptized converts. It changed between Protestant and Catholic and was expanded or neglected, depending on the religious beliefs of whoever wore the crown in England. It is now the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It was fully restored to its current glorious state with funds from the Guinness family. It is the largest church in Ireland, with a 43-meter spire. Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels," served as a Dean of the Protestant Cathedral and is buried there. The cathedral's organ is one of the largest in Ireland, with parts dating back to 1695.

We decided to leave our tour group after seeing the church, as they were heading back to the ship. We spent the afternoon wandering Dublin, checking out buildings, monuments and statues, reading plaques, and soaking up the flavor of the city. O'Connell Street is lined with monuments dedicated to pivotal people, including Daniel O'Connell, who was the leader for Catholic Emancipation 1829, Sir John Grey, who was the physician who established a clean drinking water system, and The Spire, a multi million dollar steel needle representing an enlightened new age of Ireland. The locals aren't happy with the amount of money spent erecting the Spire, and refer to it as the Stiletto in the Ghetto.

We stopped for a pint at The Duke Pub and ended our day exploring the National Gallery.

Back on the ship, tired and happy, we are ready for dinner and a good night's sleep.

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