Footballs and Sliotars

Dublin Dublin Dublin, oh how I like you so very much. Ok, I've had a few pints but at least let me tell you how I got to this point.

I always comment on the breakfast, a natural place to start. Not a great spread this morning. Mushrooms were good but other than that it didn't look too appetising. Then phone calls home. Thanks for liking the blogs everyone, it's great to hear that you are interested in this. Sorry for the "old fashioned" words I use now and again, but when hanging around the older generation on the bus it's bound to happen #yoloswag

Hopped on the bus at 9.30 for an introductory tour around this fine city. Georgian houses, cobblestone streets, old churches (of course) and Trinity College. It was nice, but I wasn't interested one bit.

Poppy stopped off at a shop where you can trace Irish family history, to trace the other side of his family. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel to drop some things off that he purchased and I had forgotten my Samsung Galaxy phone; i.e my good camera!

Poppy's hip started playing up a little bit so he decided not to join me on my next expedition. The one place I've always wanted to visit in Dublin. The Holy Grail of sport in Ireland. The one, the only, the unique, Croke Park.

Croke Park is Ireland's biggest sporting stadium. In fact, it's the third biggest stadium in Europe (82,300 capacity) behind Wembley Stadium (90,000) and Camp Nou (Barcelona ~99,000). Only the sports a part of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) are played here, the two notable ones being Gaelic Football which is just known as 'Football' and Hurling, the ones with the wooden sticks. The most intriguing thing of the GAA is that they are amateur sports. Ireland's biggest sporting stars are not paid for their on field heroics. After their weekend game they go to work!

Back to getting there...

I caught a taxi and he dropped me off at the wrong entrance for the museum! Oh well a kilometre won't hurt me. I finally arrived to a very friendly man who seemed excited that an Aussie was taking interest in Gaelic Sports.

The tour started. The only foreigners on the tour was myself and a young couple from the UK. The other 15 or so were Irish. We watched a 15 minute film showing how the stadium prepares for the All-Ireland Final, the biggest days on the Irish sporting calendar. Then through where the busses drive the players on that "one day in September". We arrive at the dressing rooms, where each county team has their jersey represented. Into the warm up rooms where the players make their last preparation before heading out onto the field.

It was set. We were ready to run out onto the pitch for the All-Ireland Final! Well...we couldn't touch the grass. The stadium is huge. The history behind the stadium and events that have happened here that changed Irish history are moving. This place rivals the MCG, very closely as my favourite sporting stadium now.

The tour finished and I went through the GAA Museum. A very good and interactive place to learn everything you need to know about the history and the mechanics of the sports. You can even try out Football and Hurling yourself. I failed badly.

I walked back to the city, going down O'Connell Street, the main street of Dublin for a look. I met Poppy back in the room where he told me what he got up to then we went on the next optional tour, Guinness Brewery! 

Fantastic building. The guided tour took us through how Guinness is made and the history behind it. We then had a free pint of the "Black Stuff" at the Gravity Bar. 360 degree views of Dublin.

It was only fitting that I had a pint looking out towards Croke Park. It was a coincidence (I promise) but it really did top off my dream day in Dublin. It's such a shame we only have one day here.

 
Now, how did I end up here, in my bed nearly drunk typing the worlds longest blog??

After the buffet dinner, I told Geoff that I was keen to check out Temple Bar, the pub hotspot in Dublin. Out of the 35 others on the bus, no one else joined me. Their loss. The bus dropped me off on the way to the hotel. I found a pub with plenty of brews on tap, darts on TV (not exactly Irish but oh well) but there was a musician playing Irish tunes. We have to be up very early tomorrow to cross back into Wales, so I kept my consumption down.

Ireland. Such a beautiful country. It's a shame we have to leave so soon. I really do want to come back one day! Words cannot describe landscapes, the people and the overall experience we have had here.

Liverpool awaits...