Dublin pulls out all the stops - welcome to Joan's homeland

For a girl who has travelled a lot of countries, Ireland has never come on my path. I remember been invited by some friends when I was in Wales however decline the weekend invitation to Dublin. So years later, here I am landed in Dublin to put images to the many stories of Joan’s homeland. 

Dublin has its own European sophistication and connection, and its own Irish charm and welcome - plus of course history. I read recently it has been recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature, and it is the subject and setting for plays, poetry, song, and story from its own sons and daughters and from those who have never yet walked its streets. 

There are as many ways into the life and stories of Dublin as there are people who come to visit and people who live in the Fair City. 

It is arriving here that I got to meet the Sisters of Clare Road. They have been for so long my connection to the ‘wider’ congregation. Each Sunday Anne phones through to talk to us, informing us of the happenings of the wider community and to her of ours. 

Above this though, it is Joan home place, where she grew up with her family, living not too far from the Sisters, School and city. I have heard so many stories leaving my imagination to fill in the gaps. Here though the gaps were filled with reality and what a reality it was… 

Trying to write this blog on Joan home place, I have wondered how to approach it, It would be easy for me to just post photos of Joan school, home street, Sisters etc. Yet first impressions can tell a lot about people and their culture if you take note. Being in Dublin and also meeting other Sisters from Dublin there is a sense of their character, that of friendly, open, patient, detail - oriented, sense of the importance of history and an infectious charisma that just makes everyone happy. Therefore, what a better way to do this through pictures that represent those qualities. Keeping an eye open for the hidden details of this city as we spent two days immersing ourselves into the culture. 

Here are some examples of what we discovered…. 

Spire

The pavement shining like silver after the rain! We are in the middle of summer however the sun plays peek a boo very often. It is easy to appreciate the beauty beneath a rain drenched landscape in Dublin. Rain is refreshing, calming, renovating after all we are in a placed called ‘Emerald Island’ there is a reason why nature is so green here!!

Located in the heart of the city, having a diameter of 3 meters at the base and reaching 120 meters tall the Spire is the tallest sculpture in the whole world (so I read). It was useful as a reference point if you get lost too…. The huge, striking and innovative monument of the Spire is in the middle of O’Connell Street just across from the famous GPO. It breaks above the roof line with as slender and elegant a movement as it technically possible. A piece of modernism in a very historical city, a sign of a transformation occurring with the centre I would guess. 

We drove through the city the day before to meet Joan and her sister. Going over one of the bridges B announced that she learnt to drive on the bridge - now we are talking about an average bridge over the cannel, not a great long bridge. So I was a little struck that driving over a bridge holds great significance in learning to drive. However, in this city I see that the Liffey is of great importance. This beautiful river divides the city into two very recognisable areas; the north and the south side. It also gives the city its particular atmosphere. Dublin has a myriad of lovely bridges, most of which have a peculiar history of their own. The Ha’Penny Bridge has a very interesting story - instead of me writing out the history go to this link if interested… http://www.bridgesofdublin.ie/bridges/hapenny-bridge

 While we journey around the city, I was aware of the birds flocking about. The ubiquitous seagulls, flying mainly around the Liffey. The pure look and sound of them makes me always think directly about the seaside. This reminds me that Dublin is one of those few lucky capital cities around the world that is located directly on the coast side. One evening, we went for a drive out to the harbour to watch the sunset. It was a nice drive, much activity happening and sights to be seen. 

  

Oh and while we are all touristy … who can not forget to mention the double - deckers! It reminds me always of England I have to admit. When we adventured to the city it was with great excitement we got to sit up top looking at the streets in a new perspective as we weave in-between the streets. The buses though offer something that I loved - Irish lesson - all the stops are spoken in Irish then english. We were returning back from the city and I was practicing my Irish, with a few people on the upper level looking to see who is trying to speak Irish with a foreign accent. 

B and Me on the bus - just after B haircut, look at that Irish cut!

View from up on the second level of bus

  

We decided to spend the afternoon exploring the city, going to Trinity University first, which holds The Book of Kells which is on display. We can see only one page of it, however still a national treasure that over 500,000 people flock to the university to see, making it a mixture of students and tourist! 

  

After here we had a decision to make of going on a open top bus tour or going to the art gallery. We decided it be more interesting to explore the gallery. On the way we stopped in a shop that I can not remember its name, however sells only Irish items, very interesting. 

Once we got to the gallery we roam around looking at different display. Two displays worth mentioning, both from one couple - the Clarke!

Helen Clarke was a painter and drawer manly of people, therefore her drawings and paintings of people are well known. However her career was sadly over seen by her husband who did glass work. This is the first gallery I have been in that has an extensive range of stain glass windows on display. I really enjoy seeing them, very pleased at the decision to explore for the day. 

We visited the Sisters which gave me an opportunity to see where Joan grew up. On the street she talks about with fond memories of a childhood of joy, adventures with her siblings. We saw the school she went to - which we were a little uncertain of which one was the girls and boys - both look the same sitting side by side. 

Joan's Street

House on Joan Street

School 

Being an avid traveler I have noticed that many of the memories you take home with you after visiting a new place are based on the little things that make up the big picture; a detail, a smell, a sound etc. It is hard to put all this into words and limited by a few images. Yet hopefully I have done justice to Joan beautiful city that is forever changing, changing in its people who live there, in its street construction the people who live and call Dublin home. I loved my stay here, it gave me deep insight into Joan life, one day maybe Joan will give me a personal tour of different places as there is nothing like a tour by a local. For now there, I have images to put to the stories, have places that match names. It is with great delight that I am able to return here for another 24 hours on the journey back to Australia in a few weeks. Until then... Dublin you have delivered a very rich alive culture...