Ireland Adventures

We are having a fantastic time in Ireland. Staying in the heart of Dublin has made it very easy to get around and see the sights. The kids really know their way around and are really enjoying the city life! We love to walk on Grafton Street and O’Connell Street and listen to the numerous street musicians and just watch all the people. Desperate for exerc

ise, I took them to St. Stephen’s Green for some races and running around - the Green is a beautiful park and we got our first taste of Irish weather as the rain came down!

We spent a wonderful day with Kieran - touring the Kilmanheim Jail and the Guinness Brewery. The Jail tour was a great historical overview of the Irish rebellions and uprisings - made especially interesting by the setting of t

he eerie jail cells. Fascinating to hear about the individuals who were instrumental in

the fight for Irish independence and to learn about the volatile history of this country. We will venture just over the border into Northern Ireland for the wedding ceremony - it was great for the kids to learn about Northern Ireland and how the division ca

me about. The kids have learned so much about history this summer. It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to broaden their view of the world.

The Guinness Brewery tour was also fantastic. I was very interested in seeing the 9,000 year lease that Arthur Guinness signed when he opened the brew

ery. The actual lease is set into the concrete floor

- very cool. We all enjoyed learning about the process of brewing beer and of course, tasting it!

I have never had a Guinness, so it was great to take the first sip in Ireland with my nephew! The tour ends in the Gravity Bar with a free pint and an incredible view of the city. Kieran told me when the foam had settled enough to start drinki

ng - like a cold latte....my favorite part was the foam. Cullen and Aidan snuck a little taste - both claiming to love Guinness! Uh oh...

Today we went for a drive into County Wicklow and to lunch at the famous Johnny Foxes Pub - a great pub in the countryside that has live music and delicious food. The walls

are lined with photos of famous people who have eaten there - from Bill Clinton to

Salmon Rushdie...quite a place! We then drove around Wicklow and enjoyed the beautiful views. Cullen is enjoying seeing his name everywhere - "Cullen" is a common surname here and also a name that appears on street signs frequently.

Tomorrow Cullen turns 12! He is very excited to be in Ireland for his birthday, but missing a celebration with his pals. Aunt Marianne is making her famous midnight chocolate cake for him, so it will definitely be a birthday to rem

ember! Marc arrives in 2 days....hooray!! Ava is beside herself and asks frequently "is it tomorrow yet?" and the boys and I can't wait to see him - hopefully they don't knock him over when he walks in the door!!