A pictureleless post because the iTouch won't talk to the netbook but you can all add another 17,000 paces to the tally because we've walked miles.
Out along the banks of the River Liffey to the National Museum located at the imposing Collins Barracks complete with parade ground. When I asked where the cafe was and was told it's at 90 paces, the photos will explain all but 90 paces it was because I counted. Of particular interest was the Understanding 1916 The Easter Rising exhibition which I hadn't, and I can't carry on blaming the glaring gap in my 1960's history education (was that an intentional omission I wonder??) for my lack of knowledge about the uprising. I have it now and why I found the nightshirt that James Connolly was wearing during the GPO battle quite so moving I'm not sure, was it the stain that looked like blood wiped from a hand that had been holding a wound, or was it the fact that for the execution he was tied to a chair because he couldn't stand. Anyway I think I understand it all a little better now, though I don't feel any better for being English and knowing.
Then a very wet walk back into Dublin city centre, and right across town via St Stephen's Green to the Flying Book Club event in Lower Leeson Street, 'Feel the Fear and Read it Anyway' and an introduction to Ulysses. Now this was so good that I'm going to think about it a little more before I write about it because...wait for it... I knew this would happen, I think I might want to read the book again. So much I knew I'd missed first time round and having now been here twice and listened to Dubliners talking about their book, and after a year's break, I can feel that promised more in-depth read coming on. I won't inflict it on all of you month by month but having had a really good approach explained, and then listened to a local read that episode about the dog....
The novelty of this idea may wear off when I get home but to make that a little less likely I have already been to Hodges Figgis and made my sole book purchase spending 19.50 euros on the highly recommended (and apparently very readable,) Ulysses Unbound by Terence Killeen.
On my way to that event I took a route through all those locations that Helen Berry mentions in her forthcoming book The Castrato and His Wife, Fishamble Street, Dame Street, Molesworth Street treading in the footsteps of Tenducci. My delight at finding a Chop House dating from 1760 knew no bounds and despite being dripping wet I stood there and imagined the man himself walking down the cobbled street having sung for his supper.
So I have to pack my bag and check out this morning but have a day in the city planned before my early evening flight. Take That are in town and playing Croke Park tonight, much more to my liking would have been Paul Simon in Dublin for a concert on Monday.
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