009 Ireland Part 1

Ireland;
Dublin - Glendalough - Kilkenny
Our journey started Victoria station trying to work out how we convert our internet booking into a real ticket. When we eventually find the right machine everything works well. How do international (Non-English speaking) travellers cope?
We're a bit concerned that our carry on luggage is 1cm wider than the allowance. We are travelling Ryan Air and have heard they are strict - well they aren't. Sailed on, no issues.
Picked up the hire car and the Hertz guy tried to constantly upsell us, to the point of being annoying. Turned out they didn't have the standard size car we had ordered and he was trying to avoid upgrading us for free (He obviously hasn't met Frank before :))
Of note: You need a GPS, very few street signs and most are hidden!

I disappointed myself in that it had never crossed my mind that a different language is spoken in Ireland.

Dublin is not for sight seeing, it is for partying. You can easily complete a pub-crawl of more than 12 pubs without leaving the Temple Bar. Unfortunately Dublin almost exclusively caters to the Hen's night/ Stag Night clientele and the inner hotels reflect their clientele. However the Guinness more that makes up for it. It is served at two temperatures - you can have it at the same temperature it would be served in Australia or you can have it at the proper temperature :) 

We didn't know it at the time but we would see the sun every day. Sun, Guinness, what more can you wish for?

Trinity College, where we viewed the book of Kells 

The history is amazing and so much of it is such good condition. I love the churches and the graveyards. What hits you, as you read the graves though, is how many died young. We visited Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patricks, where the choir were practising. 

While it was sunny every day, the wind was seriously icy, so we bought Guinness hats; not that flattering but when you are that cold you don't care.

When in Kilkenny ....

but I was more partial to Murphy's