Darling Dublin

Was Dublin all that it’s ‘craic’ked up to be?

At 11am I am sat eating a full Irish breakfast in Dublin, trying white pudding for the first time. I do not dare ask what meat that is. The cafe is full of tourists still with their suitcases, and the line cook is also one of the servers. The walls are full of tat and inappropriate signs. It was weird, but exciting. Right on the stretch of Temple Bar, me and my friends enjoyed a late breakfast after our early flight at this eclectic cafe and I think it was an omen for how the trip was going to go…

After fulfilling my travelling duties of vintage shopping, we headed to Trinity College to pretend we were Connell and Marianne in Normal People. Had I known it was such a pretty campus, I would have applied there for uni. We stopped off for cake and coffee and then headed to the Little Museum of Dublin, which was a gem in itself.

Irish trinkets

Our tour guide was an older man, with a cane and an accent so thick I felt like I was being hypnotised. He was charismatic, witty and authentic. He told us that a Dubliner’s favourite form of exercise was running their mouth. I could relate. Our guide brought the whole room together, regardless of nationality. We learnt a full rundown of Irish history and culture solely through donated items hung up on the walls and placed on the shelves. There was a giant tub of sudocrem, a U2 shrine and gold plated monster munch. Don’t ask me how it is all connected, because I am still not sure.

We came back to the hotel for a nap which I needed desperately. Poor Emily had to deal with two snorers! Our night was finished with Italian food and a man trying to sneakily take my bag. There is an edge to the city which is weirdly enticing. It is not the cleanest city, nor necessarily the safest. But it feels like a home.

When I think of typical tourist destinations like Temple Bar, generally I expect them to be overpriced and overrated. After being stung 13 euros for a vodka lime and soda and 9 for a Guinness, I was starting to feel that way. That was until the folk music started.

Evening of Irish folk

Temple Bar inside is like sensory overload. Lots of people and lots of memorabilia like photos and coasters hanging on the wall. It is loud and obnoxious inside mainly due to the plethora of tourists and quantity of alcohol being consumed. As soon as the duo started to perform on stage, the room stopped spinning and all I could do was focus on the music. We were serenaded by a mixture of Irish folk and mainstream music with a nice twist. None of us even like Guinness, but just being there was one of the nicest feelings. Just being there with total strangers, listening to someone play the fiddle and the other singing us to heaven.

Our experience of the people was only positive. We were looked after, treated like locals and with such a tormented history between the British and the Irish, it was a precious feeling. Ireland was not a sun seeking vacation. It was cold and windy, and grey and gloomy at times. We walked most places and slept like babies when our heads finally hit the pillow. We indulged in creative culture and national parks. It was a trip made for three friends who are far from average. Dublin will welcome you with open arms, as long as you’re cool enough for the rough and edgy city…