Dublin - Ireland

The shuttle buses line up to take our passengers into Dublin's fair City!


Hello!

Everyone was amazed at the blue skies and warm sunshine that welcomed OCEANA to Dublin on the 30 August. Dublin is a unique place where tradition and cultural heritage have merged seamlessly over the centuries to create an atmosphere that is really special. As cosy as a village, yet very much a sophisticated metropolis Dublin is the centre of infinite interest and activity.

Apart from the culture there are lots of lovely shops and no visit is complete without a browse around Brown Thomas Department Store, with the Doorman on Duty in splendid livery.

It did not take long for passengers to start their adventures ashore. It always amazes me how English people get so excited about visiting Ireland.......after all it is not that far away!

Shore Excursion Coaches pull into position.

Ocean Quay is about 20 minutes from the City Centre therefore there was a traditional Irish Gift Shop on the quay!

The Irish Tourist Board has some local musicians sharing their talent on the quayside -all adding to the atmosphere of the day. The Dublin people are very welcoming and friendly.

A special World War II amphibious military vehicle which is used in our Viking Adventure Excursion.

Could be the Med!

From OCEANA's berth you can see the BIG WHEEL which is right next to the recently opened Gibson Hotel - just beside the O2 Arena. Dublin has a population of 1.25 million.

Lots of architecture to enjoy when you arrive at the Georgian Square of Merrion, and don't miss out on the Mansion House which is the home to the Lord Mayor. Did you know that Handel conducted the first performance of the Messiah in Dublin in 1742.

County Wicklow is known as the garden of Ireland. These magnificent gardens are at Powerscourt, which is a 14,000 acre estate. I enjoyed seeing these for the first time in June when I was invited to join a special celebration at the nearby Hotel - the Ritz Carlton - now that was an experience. Powerscourt is owned by the Slazenger family and is saturated on the River Dargle. It is a blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, lakes and secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and endless varieties of trees and shrubs. I was amazed to visit a dog cemetery where the family pets have been buried complete with little headstones since the estate was built. This house was completely refurbished in 1974 and tragically on 4 November in the same year it was destroyed by fire. The rebuilding started in 1996 and it has been restored to glory and well worth a visit. The day I was there they were hosting a Wedding Reception with Champagne on the Terrace...............

The Guinness Storehouse is located at the heart of the Guinness Brewery. The story of Guinness spans 250 years. Bless Aurthur Guinness - world famous stout! The Guinness Brewery is the world's largest producer of stout.

Passengers enjoy the Viking Adventure..................this tour includes a 20 minute tour of the historic Grand Canal Basin.

If you fancy a trip north of Dublin then Malahinde Castle is worth a visit - set on 250 acres of parkland, it has been both a fortress and family home for over 700 years.

Many interesting bridges.........over the River Liffey upon which Dublin was built. My late Uncle John Adams studied Law at Trinity Collage. Trinity College was used in the film Educating Rita. Oliver Cromwell landed in Dublin in 1649! Phoenix Park is five times larger that Hyde Park in London.

St Patrick's Cathedral was founded in 1190 - and is best known for its association with Johnathan Swift who was Dean here from 1713 to 1745. He was the author of Gulliver's Travels.

By the way when St Patrick was in Ireland he was best friends with St Olcan who had a monastery just a few miles from where I was born!

As we sailed out of Dublin I could see in the distance Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Wicklow Hills.

At the base of this is the Powerscourt Estate and the Ritz Carlton Hotel - which in itself is a modern day Palace. Gordon Ramsay has a Restaurant there.

OCEANA sails out setting her course for Cobh in County Cork. Dublin is a very busy commercial container port and ferry port. As we were sailing out my brother Sam was sailing in from Holyhead in Wales......we were speaking to each other by phone.........small world as they say.......sometimes mobile phones are a real blessing!

My twin sister Joyce, and brother Ian and their families came to visit me so it was a great catch up for us all. They have cruised on OCEANA in the past and were excited to see the ship for another time. Once it came to 1730 is was fond farewell and we were all on the move once again.

A day to remember!

Best wishes meantime,

James.

Lessons learned are the bridges with which we cross the rivers of regret.