The sailing and land adventures of Tony and Connie
Dublin and a Little More
August 17, 2026
We are getting close to the end of our time in Ireland and so off to the big smoke. But first, a little Galway town.
I took a walk down the old long walk
Of the day I- ay-I-ay
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
Of a fine soft day I-ay
And I ask you friends, what’s a fella to do?
Because her hair was black and her eyes were blue
And I knew right then I been taking a whirl
Down the Salthill mProm with a Galway Girl
This is Galway and one of the best cheese shops we’ve seen since being in Ireland. Oh, if only we had these choices in Victoria, and these prices!After seeing all those cheeses, we headed for the renowned Galway pizzeria called the Dough Boys – a buratta and basill pizza! I’m not a big pizza fan, but this was awesome.Yes, I drive Connie crazy by entering every gallery to find some interesting artAnd then there’s the brutality of some modern architecture
Okay, we’re off to Dublin. A three hour drive bisecting the island and into a different world.
One thing Ireland doesn’t like are petunias and geraniums. Almost e very city, town, and village has amazing displays of hanging basketsBut then nowhere else but in Dublin would you find superman protecting the main bridge in townNever a lack of amazing colours (maybe to brighten up the gray skies?)One of many bridges that cross the Liffe River -All in the shape of the harp. Ireland is the only country in the world that has a musical instrument on their national flag – good on ’emThe Irish navy out on exercisesThis ship is a replica of an Irish owned ship that made 16 crossings of the Atlantic without losing one passenger to the plague or starvation. It eventually sank in the mid-Atlantic without the loss of a single life. Compare that to the other commercial ships where loss of life was staggeringA Famine Memorial that was partly paid for by Canada. In Montreal, there is a similar memorial, but with 40% fewer figures indicating the average loss of life on most voyagesBarber time. Here, while waiting, I was served a great Irish whiskey cocktail. It took 7 tries to find a barber that could fit me in. Some barbershops wanted to charge 43 Euros!! This one charged 22 Euros but came with free whiskey and a hilarious interchange with the 4 barbers!Hard to find a post box, so Connie grabbed this one and wouldn’t let goWhile listening to a Rick Steve’s audio tour of downtown Dublin, we ran into this gaggle of Irish wolfhounds in front of the Henry Moore sculpture of YeatsAlways political. This is the old and present-day customs house which was built by the British. It was partially destroyed in a fire, and when rebuilt, the Irish used Irish stone on the top quarter with the British quarried stone underneath!Politics is everywhere. While walking O’Donnell Street, we came upon a group protesting Ireland’s possession of Israeli bonds. I joined in for a while listening to the range of speakers. Politics old and new is alive and well in DublinThe 2 stain glass windows are beautifully displayed in a coffee shopIt’s open season on tourist in Dublin. Or maybe it’s a different part of the joint Irish and Welsh navy?
Yet another of your “signature” FEASTS of colour! And God save The Cheese Shoppe … if not the Queen !!! Hope they let you wear your tourist viking helmet on the flight home.
43 euros for a haircut, oi vei, haven’t spent even 5 euros for a haircut since Liz took me on as a customer decades ago. As for pickle ball and my future, only if I can get a pro contract with an endorsements clause. T PS we are on day 8, last day, acting as volunteer wardens on Mittlenatch Island.
Sage on sail 
Absolutely fabulous photos. So nice of you to share! L&D xx
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I love all your descriptions, pics, and get to learn some history too! Looks like an amazing trip. Jacklin
Absolute Bliss!
LOVED IT! THIS WAS A GOOD ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING. W
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Yet another of your “signature” FEASTS of colour! And God save The Cheese Shoppe … if not the Queen !!! Hope they let you wear your tourist viking helmet on the flight home.
Like everyone, love the pics and stories.
43 euros for a haircut, oi vei, haven’t spent even 5 euros for a haircut since Liz took me on as a customer decades ago. As for pickle ball and my future, only if I can get a pro contract with an endorsements clause. T PS we are on day 8, last day, acting as volunteer wardens on Mittlenatch Island.