Ireland Said Yes - #IrelandSaidYES

My postal vote for the referendums arrived after my mother posted them up to me, so on my next day off May 12th, I went to the nearest Garda Station to me and got the required form stamped, so I could vote. Once I voted in both the Marriage equality and Presidential referendums I posted it soon afterwards at the GPO, to the Returning Officer in County Clare. I felt great being able to do my part for the cause.

With days to go to the Referendum, everyone was doing their part to get everyone involved. Especially the national and local groups of YES Equality, political parties and even certain companies such as +Ben & Jerry's who were promoting the yes vote with free ice cream at various locations around Dublin every day beginning with the One Family Day at Wolf Tone Square. A big help in the national canvassing by the YES Equality group was the bus that was raised by donations from ordinary people, which toured 66 locations around 26 counties with 27 days in the lead up to the vote. The amount of hard work that was undertaken during the campaign showed the heart and passion from all groups and both sides in this referendum. What got us to this moment, has only been possible thanks to people such as David Norris, Colm O'Gorman, +Katherine Zappone, +Panti Bliss, Grainne Healy, Brian Sheehan, Eamon Gilmore and various other politicians.

A pleasant break from all the referendum talk, was watching the +Eurovision Song Contest semi finals that was held in Vienna Austria, even if some of the acts were good, bad and plain weird. I somehow ended up in +TheGeorgeBar watching the results of the 2nd semi final on Thursday. Unlucky poor Molly didn't qualify for the final although it was a good laugh being out. It was surreal waking up to seeing and hearing about all about the #hometovote and the thousands coming home from abroad to vote especially on the most important civil issue of our generation. I was near tears reading all the hashtags and stories on social media, the extent people were going to vote. Waking up Saturday morning to all the buzz and excitement across every news outlet that there was such an early indication of a Yes result from referendum and that even the no side had conceded was amazing. After enquiring how my only local polling station at home in Clare did, I was beyond thrilled to hear that it was passed by 57.7%.

I decided after lunch to make my way towards Dublin Castle, where the crowds were gathered for the final official result was being announced. Soon after I arrived despite a mishap involving my water bottle bursting, I soon made friends with various people especially after the arrival of Panti and her interview by the press which was done just in front of me which itself was an unreal moment in time.


During the wait for the result, the atmosphere within Dublin Castle was getting more and more excited. Throughout the afternoon various important politicians and people arrived to be interviewed by the international press in particular Colm O'Gorman, Senators Katherine Zappone and David Norris who had such a warm welcome from the crowd when he arrived as none of this would have been possible without his 40 year struggle towards this day. +Niamh  got the bus up from Clare at lunch time and was trying to make it up and into Castle before the big moment. Luckily enough there was a slight delay, my phone died but people I was with were nice enough to let me use their phone to contact her. She was waiting to get in, as soon as she was off the bus with her suitcase and all, as she got nearer the phone coverage went into meltdown. Even from outside the castle, Niamh could hear the crowds from within booing when Roscommon-South Leitrim turned red on the map meaning they had voted against the amendment. I hugged her with relief and joy to see that she got in before the announcement. The poor thing had been queueing for over 70 mins trying to get into the castle. Come 6 O'Clock and even after the arrival of Minister Leo Varadkar, the most prominent gay minister, we were still waiting on the results from 3 Cork constituencies. The crowd were getting restless and antsy waiting for the announcement, when someone started singing the National Anthem   Amhrán na bhFiann, soon everyone joined in the singing including the politicians. Finally at 18.50, Returning Officer Ríona Ní Fhlanghaile declared that Ireland had passed the Same-Sex Marriage referendum by 1,201,607 votes (62.1%) to 734,300 (37.9%). We all within the grounds of the castle descended into cheers and celebration. It was an amazing moment and feeling to being actually present when such an important announcement was made and even more so that I was able to celebrate it with my sister. That moment cemented Full Citizenship to all gay Irish citizens. 

 After the announcement, the crowds started to disperse to continue the celebrations, however it was finally time to get Niamh home with all bags and charge our phones. However soon as I got home realised it was almost time for Eurovision, so decided to finish off the perfect day, rushed to get a bottle of wine and watch it. Even though neither of us went out, we were still up drinking celebrating at about 3 am and finding pictures of me in the background of the crowd during the Panti interview from around the globe. Finally getting up about midday, we decided to continue the celebratory tone of the weekend by going to +Brasserie Sixtysix for Sunday Brunch where I had Espresso martini, sure needed the cure as I was #hungoverforequality, when I noticed the Sunday papers and had a browse, what did I notice within the Sunday Independent, was one of the picture of me in the crowd. It was really the perfect end to such an amazing weekend, one that I will remember for years to come and where I was on the 23 May 2015 when the referendum was announced and passed.

Mallorca Sunshine and Darkness into Light

When our mother retired, she wanted to celebrate it by going on a holiday, I was only one who had time off around the time. So I booked a last minute holiday for both of us to Palmanova in Mallorca for the end of April. The day before the holiday, our mother got the bus up from Ennis, although it was raining when she arrived, once it stopped we made our way into town and showed her around. We finally managed to get her to House, a bar on Leeson Street and see if our cousin whose the manager there, was working and luckily enough he was on duty. It was great to catch up with him, we hadn't seen him in years. After a few disagreements on where to eat, we finally settled on a place our mother picked, a bar called Darkey Kelly's where the food, music and staff were great and the general atmosphere in the bar was brilliant. Although we only went into food, we ended up staying for hours as the night was so good.

After such a lovely weekend, it was a great way to start the holiday, the coach to Terminal 1 at the airport and through security went smoothly except me getting randomly picked for a pat down which was funny enough, the security guy doing was so nice bout it. As we waited for our flight, we made use of the chill out zone in duty free. Once we boarded the plane and departed the 2.5 hour flight over to Mallorca was so quick and painless, that my mother joked the flight over was quicker then the 3.5 hour bus journey up to Dublin from home. The coach bus to our hotel, Ola Hotel Bermudas which is an all inclusive one, was a quick enough one and our receptionist was kind enough to tell us that to go the bar first as there was food laid out and the bar was serving for 15 minutes more. Once we checked-in, and got settled int our room which we were very happy with, it was time to call it a night to the perfect first day. From the onset after breakfast, and sunbeds sorted by the pool, the hotel animation entertainment team were introducing themselves to us by the pool and what the fun events for the day ahead were. Through these events, we got to know several of the guests in the hotel, which was fun. Some how by the end of the Monday night, we ended up tagging along with a hen party into Magaluf. Although we some how ended up in Magaluf the following night as well, it was to check out the strip as a whole was like, it became obvious how dangerous Magaluf can be and this was not even high season yet.

By Wednesday morning and on our 3 different types of sun oil/lotion which I this time picked myself, we were onto a winner and stopped burning as easily. Life by the pool with the sun, drink and great company was starting to make this holiday into a great one. Later that afternoon, my mother won one of the activities and won one of the coveted entertainment diplomas. Before dinner we went for a stroll the length of the beautiful  beach not even 2 minute walk from hotel and back which built up quite an appetite. After that nights entertainment, I some how ended up going out again, which itself is ironic as I rarely go out from one week to the next and here I was going out for the 3rd night in a row. This time a group of us from the hotel decided to stay locally as we had our fill of Magaluf, so we tried Banana Joe's just around the corner from the hotel. We all were having fun and some how I was dragged up on by some random French girls up the stage and shown how to pole dance which was hilarious in itself.

We decided the following morning, to get the local bus to Palma to check out the Cathedral de Mallorca. Despite the early start, I had yet to suffer a hangover on the holiday which was itself a promising sign. After waiting a small while for the bus, the journey itself to Palma was quite an interesting bumpy ride. However once off the bus, which was right across the road from the Cathedral, it was smooth sailing. The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma is a Gothic Roman Catholic one built on the site of a pre-existing Arab Mosque. The entrance fee into the Cathedral, museum and Cloister was 7 euro which comes with a audiobook for self guiding. My mother at start was taken back by the cost but once inside she immediately said it was worth the money. The cathedral is 121 metres long, 55 metres wide and its nave is 44 metres tall. The construction began by King James I in 1229, but only finished in 1601. In 1901, reforms of the Cathedral were carried out by architect Antonio Gaudí and his influence is seen everywhere from the huge ceramic mural, stained glass windows and even down to the furnishings especially the wrought-iron canopy. The cathedral has a tower with nine bells with the size of one called N'Eloi weighing 4,517 kilos. Besides the cathedral itself, the museum and cloister are both worth visiting during your visit. The museum has several artifacts dating back to the 13th century and cloister which is a covered open arcade had a photo exhibition showing the differences and development of Palma over the years from the same vantage point. The Cathedral of Light is worth a visit if visiting Palma and you will not be left disappointed.

After leaving the cathedral, we explored around the ground outside and the palace next door before making the short stroll to the Poor Clare's Nunnery, which was not anything neither my mother or myself expected and totally complimented the tour of Cathedral we had just done. My mother said leaving the convant that she nearly enjoyed the visit to convant more than the cathedral. Walking back towards to the port we came across the old Arabic Baths and the entrance fee in was 2.50. The baths are situated in the narrow streets of the medieval quarter of the city and is the only remaining Moorish-built building in Palma. It was such a random find that there was a peaceful and quiet columned garden next to the Cupola or dome in the otherwise bustling city. The dome has various round apertures to allow steam to escape as the surviving room was used for hot baths. The Arab bathhouse is such a rare unique building thought to formed part of the palace of a noble Moslem,
from the time of the occupation of the Moors and is worth a visit. Once we left the baths, we made our way to the port to have a wander, the port just seemed to go on for ever. We decided it was time to get the bus home, when finally found the bus stop bout a 20 minute walk along the port, it was another 40/45 minutes before the bus finally turned up and as is typical not just one bus turned up but two. At least the journey back to Palmanova was quicker and a lot smoother. When we got to the hotel, the sun was just getting hotter, so we timed it well. As it was so hot, I finally gave in and tried out the pool, although it was freezing at first, it was exactly what I needed with that heat. That night we enjoyed the night time entertainment at the hotel, which was running Mr Ola Bermudas which ended up being quite funny. As my mother was wrecked from all the walking,  I ended up meeting people for a drink, at the bar near the hotel, it was a perfect end to the day.

  

The following morning, the Friday and last full day and night of our holiday, we decided to make most of the sun, drink and pool. I somehow finally managed to get my mother into the pool, still not quite sure how I did as it was quite the ordeal but once she finally got into the coldish pool, she started to enjoy it and cursed herself for waiting so long to get in. When the clouds were blocking the sun,  a small group of us did the afternoon entertainment activity indoors, a movie themed version of charades which our team won by a Point which was a fun but tough game at times. After dinner we went to go sort out our boarding passes for the way home however it just failed epically, luckily I was able to contact +Niamh to do it for me and email it to the hotel who were able to print it out for me, the stress of it all. Despite the hassle, we were able to enjoy the other parts of Palmanova. We made it back to the hotel for the evening entertainment which is so had to explain but was so much fun which involved answering the questions and running the stage first. In the final came down to me and other guy and somehow I managed to win it. I was so embarrassed with all the fuss but was so entertaining. 

 

Our final morning, we packed up and did some last minute shopping before checking out at 12 as we were not able to get a late check out. Luckily enough one of the people we got to know offered to mind our bags in their room for the day which was so kind of them. As we enjoyed the 31 degree sun by the pool for a while, we decided after lunch  to go play mini golf as we noticed the place on one of our walks. The course was very well done, and it got quite competitive between myself and my mother. In the end she somehow managed to win the game by 1 stroke. When we got by to the pool to enjoy some last bit of sun and drink, my mother fell asleep I had To wake her up as she beginning to burn. We were able to use the couresty room which was funny enough as it was one of the gang we got to know old room. Not long after we finished people started to depart for the airport. We were the last to leave for the airport at 8 pm didn't take too long to get to the airport. The coach just before the airport passed by the cathedral in Palma one last time. After we got through security and duty free, we actually met most of the gang from the hotel in our terminal. We said our good byes and waited to board our plane. The Aerlingus flight only had 14 people on the flight home although I heard the flight the following day was full, it's was so empty as it was Aerlingus first flight of the season from Palma. The flight itself both of us slept most of the way back to Dublin. Once we exited the airport at 1 am, we were met by 8 degrees and rain what a welcome home. The taxi journey was quick which was great as I needed to get home to bed as was up at 7 am for a full day at work, sure no rest for the wicked. The holiday was an unexpected gem, the people we met were so nice and were great to interact with, the bar and entertainment staff were so much fun and helpful and sure the sun and drink helped too. I've made some friends from this holiday that I'm still chatting with since. 

The Saturday morning at 2.30 am both Niamh and myself got up to get ready for the +Pieta House +Darkness into Light 5km walk in the Phoenix Park. The money raised for the Pieta House charity is used in the prevention of suicide and self harm. Over 10,000 people did it in the Phoenix Park and 80,000 nationally and internationally as far a field as Sydney and New York. The atmosphere and buzz in the park was electric which was great to see and be part of. Through out the 5km there were lights and music provided by a choir between the 3-4 km mark which was a pleasant unexpected surprise. After the end of the 5km there was a great feeling of accomplishment but we both had to rush up as I needed a nap before work and Niamh did before her exam. Despite the tiredness I had during work I felt great having done it. 

Right Place Right Time

After the holiday to Lanzarote, I decided it was about time to check off the remaining churches that I wanted to see and had eluded me so far, around the city. In particular the insides of the Pepper Canister church, St Paul's Smithfield which is the church Eamon de Valera got married in and  University church near St Stephen Green which I didn't know much about before hand. It was during lent when I was able to visit the church so waited until after it's lunch time service to have a proper look around. The church really was quite an unexpected gem with its beautiful wall decorations and elaborate sanctuary and nave.

 

At the end of February, on one of my usual random walks checking out historical buildings and monuments, I happened to stumble onto the remains of the Isolde's Tower, a 13th century medieval tower that was part of the old city walls, however the remains are obstructed from view, as the remains have been incorporated into an apartment complex. To finish of the month, I was lucky enough to get tickets during presale for Ed Sheeran concert in July, worth getting up a tad earlier before work to get them. However my crowning moment came later that night when I made my first ever dairy free spelt bread, which to my relief and culinary delight turned out perfectly.

After a hectic start to March, I decided on my day off for once to do some retail therapy and enjoy myself and take a break from my usual historical wanderings for a week. I purchased a Tayto Sandwich that I got from the Tayto popup shop, which was set up for a few weeks and proceeds raised were donated to the Simon Community, so that was my snack sorted for later. On my way home, I tried a different coffee place for a change called Kaph and attempted my first almond mocha which I was pleasantly surprised by.

As soon as the next day, I was back to my old ways of exploring museums and historical buildings, I realised that morning, I hadn't been to the IMMA and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham grounds since I last lived in Kilmainham years previously. Luckily enough the day I was there, which is only about a 10/15 mins walk from our apartment, it was sunny and peaceful. I was able to enjoy the walk around the grounds and gardens before I checked out the new OPW exhibit called the Old Man's House which tells the history of the Royal Hospital. On leaving I notice a poster for a free guided tour of Bully's Acre for later in the month. Luckily I emailed the guide whilst having coffee and trying another almond infused food item, gluten free chocolate brownie, in the museum coffee shop, as there wasn't many places left.

As both Niamh and Myself were off on St Patrick's Day, we said we head in for the parade and we got a nice viewing spot on Dame Street. The theme of the parade this year was celebrating the present and the Grand Marshal was Brendan O Carroll, famed for Mrs Brown Boys. Although the parade started a tad late, it was so worth the wait, especially the floats from Spraoi being a particular highlights for  both of us. We were both ravenous ,so went to Bakehouse which just over the Ha'penny Bridge, from which we saw the crowds trying to get into Temple Bar. We both were never so delighted to be no where near the place.  

 After the food, we decided to have a quiet drink on the route home, it was a lot more relaxed which was nice and seeing the buildings going green for the day, on the walk home was nice.

As the weather was so nice on the Thursday after St Patrick's Day, I decided to make a theme for my walk and explore old military graveyards and buildings, beginning with old British military cemetery at Grangegorman, a place I'd been trying to visit for years. The graveyard is maintained by the OPW, who do a fantastic job with the place and during my visit the groundskeeper was so helpful with information and answering my questions. The Cemetery is place worth visiting. After exiting here, I continued on towars Arbor Hill, the final resting place of 14 of the executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

To round off my military filled themed day, I finished it with a visit to Collins barracks, a former military barracks now a national museum with exhibitions on various military events and experiences throughout the years including a temporary one called Recovered Voices, describing the stories of the Irish at War 1914-15. As I was leaving the museum and passing through Clarke Square, I stopped and watched a reenactment of drills by soldiers before they left for the War during 1914-18. On my way out, I was able to get a lovely view of Croppies Acre, is a memorial to the rebels or Croppys boys of the 1798 rebellion. As you can imagine I was wrecked after such a day. 

Before I knew it, it was the end of March and time for that free tour of Bully's Acre. Although it was a rainy type Sunday day, there was a great turn out for the tour. Bully's Acre is the oldest cemetery in Dublin and our guide Paul who is the resident OPW historian in the RHK. The cemetery is located within the grounds of the RHK, the former retirement home for soliders who served in the British army. The tour consisted of visiting various different graveyards, beginning with plot for soldiers and then Bully's Acre itself which was a large public area used as a burial ground right up till the Cholera epidemic when Bully's Acre was closed down. The tour concluded with the Officer's Cemetery. Our guide along the way gave us information and interesting stories about the place. The total area comprises of 3.7 acres and is hidden behind locked gates and high walls within the ground of RHK. Despite the weather, the tour was quite interesting and our tour guide Paul was funny and made the whole experience quite enjoyable. If ye get the chance try and do the tour. 

Going on the advice of a mate, on my next day I decided to strolled and check out the new DIT campus out at Grangegorman, which was cool especially how they converted the old church there into a new lecture hall. Easter Sunday as we both we off work, we enjoyed our Easter eggs watching movies, only way the day should be spent. That night we booked our tickets for the Pieta Darkness into Light 5 km walk at the start of May. As the sun was out on my next day off, I decided to do a practice of the 5 km circuit in the Phoenix Park, as I was finishing near the Papal Cross it was 17 degrees and there was a herd of cute deer all around the place.

 

Later that week on Saturday, Niamh, her friend Clodagh and myself were getting excited on the Luas towards the +3Arena Dublin to see +Olly Murs. Once we all were inside, we made our way into the Neon Bar that Niamh got passes for online and we got a booth upstairs in the bar. While we were enjoying ourselves there, a psychological Magician called Shane Black performed a few tricks for our booth. He had given Niamh something to hold and had thought nothing more about it. Then at the end, he said to me think of a name and see if he could guess it which he did and opened the wallet that Niamh had been holding and the name was on a card in it. We all had a laugh over it and definitely was a great way to start the night. Soon after that, we made our way out to our seats. Olly Murs got the whole audience singing and dancing and all had a great night. After the concert  I made the short walk to Ballsbridge where work was having a party to celebrate 10 years. Was a great way to finish the night even if it was struggle to get up at 7 am for work.