Travel Log: Ireland
April 17: So excited to be on my second trip to Ireland, and of course, I began with a tour of "Dark Dublin," led by this eclectically dressed gentleman, who, despite his scary looks, was quite hilarious, regaling us with stories about "The Pig Man of Dublin," Ireland's answer to Jack the Ripper; about how the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen by a cabal of gay partiers; and about unusual forms of torture (like men being forced to wear metal shoes filled with water who then had their feet held over an open flame. Great fun! We also heard about Jonathan Swift's famous essay "A Modest Proposal," satirically suggesting that their British conquerors roast Irish children alongside potatoes and eat them. My favorite story, though, was of a mummified rat and cat found inside the pipes of the organ at Christchurch Cathedral, which are now on display. Their names, of course are "Tom & Jerry." More darkness and more fun are on the schedule today!
April 17: This is the infamous Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) in Dublin. Wouldn’t this be the perfect setting for a lavish musical revue? Can’t you just see a cavalcade of drag queens bedecked in boas and feathered headdresses descending those stairs and blowing kisses? U2 and Sinead O’Connor have filmed music videos here, but I’m sure their productions were total yawns compared to my proposal.
April 17: This is Tom and Jerry, the mummified cat and rat that got stuck inside one of the pipes in the organ at Christchurch Cathedral. I learned about them during my “Dark Dublin” tour yesterday. You don’t know me very well if you thought I wouldn’t come back to see them in person. The cat still has its whiskers!
April 18: Have you ever wondered what drove Oscar Wild(e)? This pub is where he held his first job at age 14, and when he died many years later, they apparently bronzed him and sat him on a bench outside. That would drive anyone wild.
April 20: This is the Titanic Museum in Belfast, the city where the ship was built. Doesn’t it look a bit like an iceberg? I’m so intensely excited. The Titanic, hands down, is my favorite disaster of all time!!! They’re going to have to drag me out of this place!
April 21: This is the Titanic Museum in Belfast, the city where the ship was built. Doesn’t it look a bit like an iceberg? I’m so intensely excited. The Titanic, hands down, is my favorite disaster of all time!!! They’re going to have to drag me out of this place!
April 21: Now we’re off on the northern coastal road with a stop for afternoon tea (in the morning) here at Glenarm Castle, home of the Earl of Antrim. (We met him briefly). It was very posh and Downton Abbey-ish on the interior, but we weren’t allowed to take photos. But really, the earl and his family are just folks like us. Beside the Steinway piano was a pile of board games like Tiddleywinks and Pictionary.
April 22: What a crushing disappointment. It appears that this Derry Girls duck is the extent of the homage to the TV show at our Derry Girls lunch. If you don’t recognize her, it’s Michelle.
April 22: LOOK!!! So now I’m happy. You can’t hear me but just like James, I’m shouting “I’m a Derry Girl!”
April 23: Well , of course, I had to buy a wee tweed cap, sure and begorrah.
April 24: Just arrived at Ashford Castle for our conference, so no more fun and games for now. But at least we have a scenic site for our meetings!
Rich holding a chimp!