The Irish, and Those Who Wish They Were

"May the road rise with you, may the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God keep you in the hollow of his hand." --- Irish blessing on my Pop Pop's prayer card

"That's a nice Irish second name you've got there."

I took my ID back from the bartender and giggled like a 7th grader. I have always been proud to be Irish, especially being in Dublin for the first time. I was in the famous Temple Bar for lunch, drinking a beer and enjoying my last trip abroad. And let me tell you something about Ireland that I wish I could say about more places. In Ireland, you forget all the bad stuff. Broken hearts and F's on tests and the number in your bank account. It all ceases to exist in this green covered land. You're too distracted by the calming Irish vibes to even think about the worst.

Chelsey, Sondra, and I arrived in Dublin late in the night and didn't check into our hostel until 2 AM. Thankfully, the city is similar to Florence in the sense that you can walk everywhere you go. On our first morning, we ventured to Trinity College and the old Dublin Castle, where I was able to research the history of my last name on a database. It appears we originally derive from Wexford, Ireland. After the castle, we went to The Brazen Head, Ireland's oldest pub from 1198. I had a beef stew made with Guinness, which I actually really loved. My Italian side will always dominate the food department, but I gave the Irish a chance for the weekend.

The Guinness Factory was next on our to-do list. We were able to walk through the building on our own and learn how the beer is brewed. You don't realize how much effort can go into making beer until you see all the water and barley. At the end, you have the opportunity to go through the Guinness Academy. This is where they teach you how to properly pour a pint of Guinness. Naturally I was standing right next to our guide, so when it came time to pour, unprepared me was the first to go. But I managed to do it without spilling; making my Pop Pop proud in heaven! We got to drink our pints afterward and even received certificates for "graduating" Guinness Academy. Best diploma ever.

We had dinner that night at a pub near our hostel, where they had live music and, of course, more beer. The next morning we walked through Merrion Park, which has an Oscar Wilde statue, and the National Gallery of Ireland. Then we crossed the city to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral and look through the church. Once inside, we all lit candles and signed the prayer book. After going to the St. Patrick's in Manhattan my whole life, it was fulfilling to finally see the one in Dublin.

After St. Patrick's we had lunch at Temple Bar, where our cute as hell bartender complimented my last name. Thanks, Aaron! <3 The pub was crowded with live music and locals watching a soccer game. I'll definitely return next time I'm in Dublin, because there WILL be a next time. We went souvenir shopping afterward and then back to our hostel. For dinner, we ate at a restaurant on the River Liffey and I couldn't not get fish and chips. The Irish were, once again, watching a soccer game, even though it's baseball season.......but I digress.

We left our hostel at 3 AM to make our 6 AM flight, so we were exhausted the whole way back. There is still so much of Ireland that I need to see, but I'm thrilled to have toured Dublin and brought Pop Pop's prayer card along with me. With my new trinity knot necklace, I left the country already wanting to visit again. I may prefer coffee over hot tea, and sunny days over gray skies, but I will always have that Irish blood streaming through my veins. Ireland will remain as my other homeland, freckles and beer and all.

Lights out,

Britt