Travel experiences, memories and stories about exploring this great planet of ours

Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum
Dublin, Ireland

Sitting in the Harbour of the River Liffey, just outside the CHQ Building is the replica of the infamous “Jeanie Johnston” ~ the three masted barque built in 1847 by John Munn that brought settlers over to the New World during the great Irish Famine. This replica was completed in 2002 and now sits primarily as a onboard history museum with night activities and events. The replica was designed by former Chief Naval Architect Fred Walker with the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich England. She is originally established as a ocean-going sail training vessel at sea and then in port coverts to a living history museum over the 19th century emigration between Ireland and the Americas. For 8 Euro or less, a guided tour takes you to her upper and lower decks giving a full narrated history of her chronology, feats, and sorrows. The main cabin demonstrates a picturesque view of what life was like onboard with numerous wax figures of her historic passengers. Overall the tour was masterfully done and a wonderful piece of Dublin’s maritime history. A must visit to any Irish tourist.

* Dublin, Ireland *

Hidden in the walkway from the Jeanie Johnson to the Famine Memorial are embedded internally lit glass cobbles with watery shades of green and blue with artistic shells, fish, and other critters swimming in what she calls “Freeflow”. The art piece was commissioned by the Dublin Docklands Authority in 2006 from Irish sculptor Rachel Joynt and spreads along the North quays for a kilometer from Custom House Quay to the North Wall. She is also the artist known for “Perpetual Motion” (1995), Mothership (1999), and the giant cast bronze/steel sea urchin at Dun Laoghaire.

The CHQ Building
* River Liffey * Dublin, Ireland * http://www.chq.ie/ *

A shopping center with future promise, as many of the stores are empty as they stand today. But big names like Starbucks, Louis Copeland and Sons, Fran & Jane, Carphone Warehouse, and Pilates IFSC have set up shop within. Historically the building was known as “Stack A” as a tobacco store with vaults below to store wine and was designed by the infamous engineer Scot John Rennie. It is a protected building under the Planning Acts, steeped with local history, and traditionally known as the “Banquet Hall” as it was used for the Crimean War banquet in the mid-nineteenth century which gave it its popularity.

Sean O’ Casey Bridge
* Dublin, Ireland *

One of the best bridges to view the Jeanie Johnson from … The “Sean O’ Casey” (a.k.a. Droichead Sheáin Uí Chathasaigh) spans the River Liffey approximately 100 meters as a pedestrian swing bridge with two balanced cantilever arms to connect the City Quay to the North Wall Quay in the Grand Canal Docks area and the IFSC. It was built in 2005 by Cyril O’Neill and O’Connor Sutton Cronin Engineers as part of the large urban renewal scheme by the Dublin Docklands Authority to rejuvenate the area. It memorializes Seán O’Casey (1880–1964), a famous Irish playwright and member of the Irish Citizens Army who used to live in the North Wall area.

The Linesman bronze sculpture by Dony Mac Manus

The Linesman bronze sculpture
* by Dony Mac Manus * Dublin, Ireland *

As the flavor of Dublin is famous for with its statues, sculptures, and artwork … “The Linesman” begs no difference in popularity. This beautiful bronze sculpture by Dony Mac Manus is classified as a “figurative public sculpture” and is located on the Campshire along the City Quay (N 53° 20.826 W 006° 14.946 / 29U E 683109 N 5914411) being un-veiled in 1999 as a commission by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority from the artist to commemorate the tradition of docking in the area which disappeared after the arrival and containerisation of shipping cargo symbolizing life along the Quays of the River Liffey.

The Linesman bronze sculpture by Dony Mac Manus

River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.

Through he heart of Dublin runs the River Liffey. “Liffey” means “An Life” in Irish. Connecting to the Liffey is the River Dodder, River Poddle, and River Camac. From the Liffey comes most of Dublin’s water supply as well as most of its water recreational activities. It was first named “An Ruirthech” which meant “the fast runner”. “Liphe” was the name of the plain that it ran through, but was later simply absorbed as the River’s name itself going from “Abhainn na Life” to its anglicized version as the “River Liffey”. The River begins in the Liffey Head Bog that rests between the Kippure and Tonduff in the Wicklow Mountains being fed by main springs and streamlets. It flows approximately 78 miles through Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare counties until it pours out into the Irish Sea where Dublin Bay is located. Networked from the Liffey is a series of smaller streams, rivers, and Canals – these are known as the Ballylow Brook, Brittas River, Athdown Brook, Shankill River, Woodend Brook, Lemonstown Stream, Kilculen Stream, Pinkeen Stream, Painestown River, Rye Water, Griffeen River, Phoenix Park streams, Glenaulin Stream, Creosote Stream, River Camac, Colman’s Brook, Bradoge River, River Poddle, Stein River, River Dodder, River Tolka, and the King’s River. Three hydroelectric reservoirs feed off the Liffey at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls, and Leixlip. The Liffey was the main entranceway into taking of Ireland by the Vikings, used for trade and raids. It is connected to the River Shannon via the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal. Sixty percent of the Liffey’s flow goes for drinking water and utilized by industry, and makes it way back into the Liffey after purification in wastewater treatment plants.

Allegria - Cirque du soleil

Allegria – Cirque du soleil
– April 25-29, 2012. Dublin, Ireland * http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/alegria/show/about.aspx.

Coming soon to Dublin is the world infamous monumental “Cirque Du Soleil” with their astonishing troupe and show “Alegría”. It’s a mood and a state of mind after which the show is named. Coming from the Spanish term for “jubilation” the troupe will show power and the handing down of it through time with artistic demonstrations of the evolution of ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth, and the cycles of time. With the King’s fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats, and children making up the show’s universe speckled with clowns, they come again to stun their audiences. I’ve been fortunate to experience this amazing show of acrobats, music, performance, arts, stilt-walking, fire art, juggling, comedy, clowning, and breathe death-defying feats. Mesmerized by the costumes, stage design, arts, illusions, super-human body twisting and endurance … I’ve been addicted to the Cirque since I first saw them in the early 1990′s at their home arena in Quebec. Definitely a not to miss show when they come to town. Unfortunately we don’t have the funds to see this show while it hits Dublin this year, but for those that can afford it, definitely go out for a time of your life. You will not only be amazed and whirl-winded, but tingled to sheer ecstasy. If for some reason we do find a way to go via winning tickets or being gifted with them, we’ll definitely add on to this review with a stunning report. ~ Tom Baurley

Edible Exhibit: The Taste of Things To Come

Edible Exhibit: The Taste of Things To Come
* The Naughton Institute / Science Center * Trinity College * Pearse Street * Dublin 2 Ireland * http://www.dublinscience2012.ie/2012/02/edible/ * February 10 – April 5, 2012 *

A great exhibition I had the chance to experience while visiting Dublin’s fine Science Center owned by Trinity College was the “edible exhibit” where one could come and taste unique foods that might become our future’s mainstays. They advertised it as “Charlie and the Chocolate Facory” meats “Jamie’s Dinners” for the future of food. The exhibit explored how humanity is reshaping the planet through the food choices we make. Choreographed by the curator duos Cat Kramer and Zack Denfeld from the Center for Genomic Gastronomy, a wonderful composition was brought together by various artists, scientists, chefs, and “foodies” to come up with this palatable taste test. We strongly enjoyed our time at this feast. ~ By Thomas Baurley

The Naughton Institute / Science Center, Dublin, Ireland.

The Naughton Institute / Science Center / Science Gallery
* Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland * www.sciencegallery.ie *

One of Dublin’s sleekest technologically superior architectural wonders … the Science Gallery attached itself to the tourist hotspot list in February 2008 with the opening of its doors. It was created by Trinity College’s Professor Mike Coey as an extension of their “Naughton Institute” CRANN Center (Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostrucures and Nanodevices). The museum or science center offers its patrons over two floors of interactive exhibitions. The goal of the center is to encourage “hands on interaction” with their exhibits. They receive over 120,000 visitors a year. Exhibits are often free. Exhibitions have ranged from future of food, edibles, infections, strategies of containment, virtual worlds, high tech clothing, robots, neuro-science, and light art. It is open to the public from tuesdays to sundays. ~ By Thomas Baurley

The Naughton Institute / Science Center, Dublin, Ireland.