Saturday Snapshots: Ireland Take Two!

 

It's Saturday and you know what that means?!?! Time to link up with Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera! Last week I shared some photos of the trip to Ireland I took during December/January. A two week road trip packed with adventure! This week I am sharing a few more photos from that trip (and the following Saturday will be my last installment of Ireland photos...I wasn't kidding when I said I had a lot!), we saw so much amazingness (is that even a real word?) that I want to share with you all. If you missed last weeks snapshots, click here and you can view some more nifty Ireland shots....Cliff's of Mohr anyone?

Trinity Library, Dublin

I was really looking forward to visiting Trinity Library and it almost didn't happen. We decided to visit the library on our last day of our trip. Unfortunately, when we arrived they had the place closed down. I guess there was an issue with the power and none of the lights worked. Our flight took off the next morning at 11am and the library opened at 9:30am. We hopped on some public transit and made the trip again and it was THE MOST AMAZING thing I've ever seen. I love history and books...I was in heaven. If only they'd let me touch and leaf through the books!

Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin

Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison that held many Irish patriots and revolutionaries. It was very eerie, especially when the wind would blow through the jail and make ghostly noises. It was also pretty somber to stand in the jail yard where the leaders of the 1916 Rising were executed. It was built between 1792-1795.

Got some shots without tourists...a bit tricky but I waited patiently!

 

Not as eerie with all the tourists!

The oldest part of the jail. You were able to see inscriptions on the walls from the past prisoners.



 

The jail yard.

Adare

I absolutely loved this town! Which is why road trips are the best! This town wasn't on our list of sites to see, but we drove through town and stopped. So glad we did.

Check out those thatched roofs!

We ate lunch here at Aunty Lena's and is was so delicious!

This sweet bird was resting outside of the home we stayed at.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Now for some grit! Welcome to Belfast! The "Troubles" of the past are seen all around Belfast. Especially within the Catholic and Protestant communities. Walking around the area where the Unionist and Nationalist Murals are and coming face to face with the Peace Wall and a few of the other gates and walls to keep the sides separate was unreal.

 

The view looking into the Protestant side of Belfast. Back in the day during the Troubles, those gates were closed. A lady we stayed with told us stories of how dangerous it was and how heavily guarded the gates were during that time.

 

This is the Peace Wall which is a series of border barriers that separate Irish nationalist and unionist neighborhoods. The purpose was to minimize inter-communal violence between Catholics (nationalists who self identify as Irish) and Protestants (unionists who self identify ad British). The first cement wall was 20 feet high. It was later extended another 10 feet by a solid metal addition, and then another 15 feet with a metal screen.

 

Belfast Castle

 

Our view from the apartment we stayed in.