Dublin
Dublin is another European city that can be visited on a day trip from Stansted Airport and I believe Manchester Airport, although I've never flown from there. I travelled there back in September 2019, but depending upon the day, the flights out can change, but the flights I took departed around 07.45 in the morning. On arrival in Dublin, the best way into the city is by bus. Depending upon where in the city you need to get to, will determine which bus you need to catch. The 747 is the more frequent service and travels through O'Connell Street to Huston Railway Station and the 757 travels through Trinity and Merrion Square to Camden (Charlotte Street). I believe that the bus numbers and pricing have changed since Covid, so best to check in advance if you are not sure on times and locations. Purchasing a return ticket cost €12 and can be used on either service for the return trip but bear in mind that at peak times O'Connell Street can be very busy in terms of traffic and passengers boarding, so always leave plenty of time in order to get back to the airport.
There is so much to do in Dublin so planning ahead is preferable to maximize your time if you are there for a day. The popular attractions of the Guinness Brew House and Kilmainham Gaol would be better enjoyed with more time to spare, perhaps over a long weekend. Merrion Square is nice to walk around and there is a large monument dedicated to Oscar Wilde, which is worth a look. Across from there are the three museums. The natural history museum is spread over two floors, and contains hundreds of taxidermy displays. The National Gallery contains an array of artworks, the inside of which is split into numerous galleries. For me, the most interesting is the Archaeology Museum. There are many fascinating displays within, including the 'bog people, ' who were people who died and their bodies have been preserved by the peat bogs. One in particular is Gallagh Man, who was discovered in 1821 and lived between 200 - 400BC.
The Dublina Museum tells the story of Dublin over the past thousand years and tells the story of Dublin through some amazing diorama displays which really brings the history to life. There is also an old bell tower which dates from 1667, connected to the museum with superb views looking over the city and the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral, which is across the road. The cathedral has the largest crypt I've ever seen, and that alone is worth seeing, especially for the numerous displays and exhibitions it contains. Saint Patrick's Cathedral is a short walk away and is another popular tourist venue, although the cathedrals can be closed due to services.
Another popular attraction is the Corke Hill Gate and Dublin Castle. The Corke Hill Gate was where in 1916, the first fatalities of the Easter Rising occurred. The castle contains many state rooms, a large courtyard and the Dubh Lunn Gardens are just behind. There are also two museums, the Garda (police) Museum and the popular Chester Beatty containing rare artifacts. All these attractions are located within a short walk of either the 747 or 757 bus routes.
No trip to Dublin would be complete without sampling some Guineas. Pubs are plenty in Dublin and I've been to two so far. Oscar's Bar on Fishambles Street by Christ Church Cathedral served good food in their upstairs restaurant. The seats are actually old cinema seats, which is quite unusual and there are organ pipes behind the bar. The other was O'Neills on Suffolk Street, opposite the statue of Molly Malone, which serves a great pint of Guinness. Whatever your reason to visit Dublin is, you will be assured of a fantastic time in the vibrant city.
Drogheda
In early July 2022, I spent two days exploring Drogheda, looking at the historic sites which remain within the town. The River Boyne flows through the town and gives its name to the battle which took place a mile outside the old town walls. The Battle of the Boyne was fought on 1st July 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II of England and Ireland, VII of Scotland, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II, had acceded to the Crowns of England and Scotland in 1689. The battle’s outcome resulted in a victory for William. This turned the tide in James's failed attempt to regain the British crown and ultimately aided in ensuring the continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. Sadly, I didn’t have time on this occasion to visit the battle site and museum, but will on my next visit.
I did take a look at the ruined buildings which remain within the town, and these gave a fascinating insight into Drogheda’s history. The old Abbey, located just off Narrow West Street is worth a visit and so is the Magdalene Tower near the top of St. Peter’s Street and both free to visit. The large gate of St. Lawrence which is named after the former hospital which stood near this site dates from the thirteenth century and one of the finest Norman gates in Europe.
There are numerous churches within the town and two of them are dedicated to St. Peter. The first off St. Peter's Street is the protestant Church. Back in 1649 this was the location where 100 people were burnt to death, as they were hiding in the tower from Oliver Cromwell's forces. This was a very brutal time for the people as the town was under siege. Cromwell's forces set the church ablaze massacring those hiding inside. There is also a rare gravestone in the cemetery which is known as the cadava stone due to the effergies of two decaying cadavers carved into the stone. The effigies represent Sir Edmond Goldyng and his wife Elizabeth Fleming and is a rare sight to see in any graveyard.
The other St. Peter's is the Catholic church and contains the shrine to Oliver Plunket, a priest who was drawn, hung and quartered at Tyburn in London on 1st July 1681. His head is displayed inside the church for all to see and is a fascinating relic and only the second preserved head I've seen inside a church.
I discovered several large wall murals within the town, one of which on Shop Street, was to the Taylor Brothers who made the Uilleann Pipers. The other by the ruins of the ruins of the old abbey along with several others within the town. There is a map and guided walk which can be collected from the tourist office by the crossroads in the town centre. There is also a superb art centre, The Highlanes Gallery, located at the top of the Highlanes Steps which is well worth looking at and a great café inside there also. All the places I've mentioned so far are free to visit, which was brilliant.
The big attraction for me was Millmount Castle and Martello Tower. The original motte and bailey castle was built here in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy and later rebuilt in stone. In 1649 Oliver Cromwell's army attacked the town, and it’s believed that much of the slaughter that took place then happened in Millmount , with up to 2,500 men killed on September 11th 1649. Later the complex served as an army barracks, many of the buildings date from 1714. In 1808 the Martello Tower was built, as a precaution against invasion by the French. The tower was badly damaged during the Irish Civil War in 1922. There is so much history to see here and they offer excellent tours of the tower and the museums and all for an entrance fee of €6!.
I did so much enjoy my short visit to Drogheda, there is simply so much to see and even more a few miles outside the town. The big attraction is Newgrange, which is a prehistoric monument, located on a rise overlooking the River Boyne, 8 kilometres west of Drogheda. It is an exceptionally grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic Period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. I definitely have to return and visit Newgrange.