A great start to the St Patrick's Weekend, was watching the nail biting win of the Irish rugby team against France, to win the 6 Nations. The following morning, I went into town early to watch the Irish University Boat Races on the Liffey, between my Alma Mater UCD against bitter rivals Trinty. The 2km rowing course started at O'Connell Bridge at 11am and finished at St. James' Gate, I witnessed the race from the last bridge before the end. Unfortunately, however my Alma Mater UCD lost to TCD to win the Gannon Cup. After the race, I strolled towards St. Stephen Green to watch the start of the 5k road race at 12 noon. At the end of the race, I noticed someone dressed as Mickey Mouse making balloons animals, walking down Grafton Street.
As I had time to spare before Liam came into town after work, I strolled to Merrion Square to check out the street carnival, Big Day Out. Which was packed with street performers, music, SFI Discover Science Zone, Gaelspraoi and art zones. So by the time, I met up with Liam, I had the place well scouted out. We had some random photo ops, including trying to get back out of a massive beach style chair, which was hilarious.
As we walked through the festivities, we came upon superheroes, butterflies and other street performers, and then we stopped to watch the Imaginerie Menagerie, which was quite interesting and funny. After this open air show, we walked checking out the food carts/vans, rides and the Dublin UNESCO Literary Zone where we dressed up as superhoreos in the costumed photo booth and got some free photos. Next to this stand, we got our faces painted for the occasion for free at the FM 104 van and also got some free goodies from them too.
To end our time at the Big Day Out, we went to watch the Barren Carousal, the show I had seen earlier but dragged Liam to see, as with it's sense of unique humour, aerobatics and interaction was a particular highlight and probably the best show there. When I had seen the show earlier that afternoon, my legs fell asleep on the mats on the ground, got cramps and had hard time getting up, which funny enough happened Liam, this time despite me warning him, it might happen. After dinner, it was time for our Sunday ritual, Bingo in the G, which was busier than usual, in part due to the Bank holiday and €1,900 jackpot. After the pre-bingo drag show, the bingo got underway, the excitement was infectious. For ages I was waiting for just one number, however it seemed luck wasn't on our side, as the jackpot was won. After what seemed like a quite random fun night with both Liam and myself bumping into people we knew.
On the route to the bus and home, we got to see some of the buildings that had gone green as part of the Greening the City. To make things easier for the parade the next day, Liam stayed at mine, and we both joked that it was the quickest bus home. It was early to rise, the next morning even with Liam hangover in toe, lucky we left when we did for the bus, as the bus filled up very quick on route. Once we got food and coffee to take away, we stalked out a good viewing point for the parade at about 10am. We got lucky with our viewing point and got to enjoy the whole of the parade uninterrupted. The parade was quite colourful and captured the theme 'Let's Make History' with a particular highlight of the floats by Spraoi celebrating the Battle of Clontarf - 1000 years on.
To celebrate our alcohol free Patrick's day, we went exploring thru the quays and grand canal before lunch and finally relaxing in Accents for tea and festive cupcakes. Liam was after his herbal tea, out for the count, and dossed in the comfy chairs. The funniest thing of the day, happened soon after we left Accents, when somehow Liam fell hands first off the footpath on the road, slightly grazing his hands and knees. What's funnier is that he said, he probably wouldn't do it if he was drunk, and I say his right with that.
Both of us, were delighted with the tour and especially with our tour guide Richie, who made the whole experience. Despite some of the interesting setbacks at Glendalough, the scenic views throughout the trip made up for them.
As we walked through the festivities, we came upon superheroes, butterflies and other street performers, and then we stopped to watch the Imaginerie Menagerie, which was quite interesting and funny. After this open air show, we walked checking out the food carts/vans, rides and the Dublin UNESCO Literary Zone where we dressed up as superhoreos in the costumed photo booth and got some free photos. Next to this stand, we got our faces painted for the occasion for free at the FM 104 van and also got some free goodies from them too.
To finish off our Patrick's festivities, we decided to head on a Wicklow day tour in particular to Glendalough. We were lucky to get discounted voucher on Groupon for 13 euro instead of 24 euro each. We left from our departure spot on O Connell St approx, 9.15am. We barely had left the city when we witnessed 2 cars involved in a collision near Merrion Square and our driver Richie had us in stitches for the duration of the trip. After collecting the last of the passengers, we had a full bus and a variety of nationalities from 17 countries. After short drive into the Wicklow, We entered the Glencree Valley and first stop of the day, at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Now a centre for peace talks, previously was famous for housing children refugees after WWII in 1946 in an initiative known as Operation Shamrock. After hopping back on the bus, we drove through bog lands and heather fields before stopping at the PS I Love You bridge, for the required Photo, while the bus driver had Mundy's Galway Girl playing. A further little up the road, we got off the bus for a photo stop at the Guinness Lakes, although it was quite windy, it was quite beautiful.
After getting out of the wind, back on the bus, we headed towards Glendalough, situated in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains. Glendalough's 10th century monastic round tower settlement is located in a glacial valley and offered us with a leisurely walk to the lower and upper lakes. When we got to the upper lakes, Liam noticed the biggest rip on his chinos, that totally destroyed him, it was hilarious, he must have got caught on something on route. Luckily enough he was able to use my jumper around his waist. Before the trek back to the coach, we hiked up towards the Poulanass Waterfall, despite the hike, the view was worth it.
We departed Glendalough, making our way towards Avoca village for our lunch spot, on route passing through the Meeting of the Waters, made famous by poet Thomas Moore. The Meeting of the Waters is a spot where the Avoca rivers join together in the Vale of Avoca. We had lunch in Fitzgerald's Pub in Avoca Village, made famous in Ballykissangel, where Liam sampled the local Glendalough Poitin. Once back on the bus, we literally travelled about 200m to Avoca Handweavers, where we got a tour of the woollen mill, which is Ireland's oldest working woollen mill. After hopping back on the bus for the last time, we began the journey back to Dublin. Our first port of call after the tour was to get Liam new chinos and actually see how bad the damaged was, which was worse then we thought .
