Flight to Dublin uneventful for our little group of 10.(Joan and Lynne, Pam and David, Genny and Jerry as well as Toni and Leo). Checked in to the Mont Clare on Merrion Square and since the rooms weren*t ready, decided to check out some of the local museums and St. Stephen*s Green, Dublin*s famous park. On the way down Merrion Square saw multiple photographers, news vans, people with banners, signs and Irish flags(Ireland*s economy has been forefront of the news lately, and meetings were being held in the government buildings near our hotel about a possible bailout. Media and protesters were camped out to learn the latest news as it was happening).
When trying to combat jet lag, food always help. A trip to Bewley's Oriental cafe was in order. Bewley's was richly decorated for Christmas but it was the food that was the star; scones, lemon merriegue and baguette sandwiches were quickly devoured.
The National Galley was the only museum open on our trip back to the hotel, so we enjoyed an hour of Ireland and England's most famous paintings before heading up to our room for a nap(Pam and David) or across the street to the pub (Joan and co.).
Foley's Pub on Kildare Street just around the corner from the hotel is where a much more subdued group met for dinner. Just as we were tucking into our fish and chips the entire media contingent from around the corner came in. I visited with a couple fo the lads from the local paper and they told me they had been staking out the building since 2pm (it was 7pm) and they had to get in from the cold. TV, radio and print people kept pouring into the bar and it definitely increased Mobile phones were on each in the ready for the promised press conference to come. Media competitors strolled from table to table to review the situation. And as quickly as all the media folk rushed into the pub they were gone, the press conference was called for 8pm and they all went to cover the story.
It was time for the live traditional music, we chose Dublin and Foley's was to begin at 8pm Sunday evening. Foley's was chosen for its sign out front 'Live Music', but like the media, just after 8pm our little group began to file suffering from illness and jet lag until only 5 stalwart Irish music fans remained(myself, Leo, Toni, David and Genny). Brendan Shanahan(not the Red Wings hockey player) did not disappoint. He started his set at 8pm and did not stop until 9pm with traditional songs, 'Red is the Rose', 'Biddy Mulligan' and 'Galway Bay' as well as more comtemporary 'Alleluia' and 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'. Happy but weary, we left at 9pm after Brendan finished his first set. (David caputered a little bit of the performance on his phone, I'll include it here).
Heading back to the Mont Clare we carefully weaved ourselves through the protesters and media, both hunkered down for a long night. This morning on Ireland A.M it was announced a proposed bailout from both the UK and EU had been finalized. As the reporter narrated the story, the video showed our little street down to Foley's pub. We didn't just learn Irish history, today we were part of it!
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