Today was EPIC, literally. We went to the Every Person Is Connected (EPIC) museum that just opened in 2015. What a sobering place. It taught about the history of Ireland, the culture and how it’s developed as well as facts about emigration. You can even sign up to talk to people about genealogical research for discovering and finding relatives.
The National Famine Way is a digitally and physically waymarked, 165km walking trail. In May of 1847 at the height of the Great Famine, 1,490 tenants from the Mahon Estate embarked on the grueling 100 miles walk from Country Roscommon to a Dublin docks. Up to 1/3 of those never made it. They were bound for Canada. There is an actual walking route that you can walk, the same as these Irish souls.
Gretchen’s Granny, Maria Persse, born in Limerick, Ireland.
Ireland has been through a lot over the years. Here is some of its history:
If you don’t know much about the famines of Ireland, go check it out. Especially read about potatoes and how Ireland was so poor because it was shipping potatoes off to other countries but didn’t have enough to feed themselves. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Here are some ‘epic’ sayings by Irishmen:
The Long Room- one of the worlds most beautiful libraries, at the oldest college in Ireland, it was built between 1712 and 1732. Originally had a flat plaster ceiling but ‘long’ story short, they extended it and made it taller in 1860. Fun fact: The historical society has been recognized by Guinness Book of a world records as the world’s oldest student society (otherwise known as the debate team). Founded in 1770.
There is a redevelopment project underway to continue preserving the books. It is an actual, working library but dust gets collected and as the library is over 400 years old…well you can see where this is going. So there are no books on the shelves. One by one they are cleaning with a specialized vacuum and getting them ready to be put back. After 200,000 books and a projection of 2 years, what a job!
Ireland’s oldest surviving harp and the model for the insignia of Ireland. Coming to light in Limerick (imagine that), it has 29 brass strings and was restored and restrung in 1961.
A few other things from the Book of Kells exhibit. Look at this beautiful handwriting.
The next 2 pictures go together.
The lovely campus of Trinity College. Another fun fact: acceptance rate for this college is 38%
The beautiful church, Saint Patrick’s, where on the street just outside is where Handel’s, Messiah was premiered in 1742, less than a year after it was written (which we can’t forget to mention he wrote the whole work in less than a month. Remarkable!)
Dublin’s not that bad after all, but it’s time to move on. London awaits!
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