We Might Not Be Back: Dublin in 48 Hours

We arrived in Dublin at around 800am and weren’t technically allowed to check into our B&B until 300pm, so we had to power through on a couple hours of sleep. In the airport we purchased our sim card (best suggestion anyone’s given me was to travel with an unlocked phone and then purchase sim cards when traveling abroad) and a bus pass. We collected our numerous bags and two carseats then headed for the bus. I am pretty sure we looked completely insane dragging all this stuff and two kids to a bus, but only fools pay for taxis! The VERY kind bus driver allowed us to load up before everyone else. Multiple people on the bus tried to help us sort out exactly where we’d be getting off. The bus driver passed the actual bus stop to deposit us right in front of our B&B. This trip was definitely off to a good start.

When we walked up to Ashling House they allowed us into our room even though we were about 8 hours early for check in. We changed some clothes, unloaded some belongings and then set off on our whirlwind tour. I wouldn’t say we experienced all the sights of Dublin, but we can say we saw a lot of the major points of interest.

On that first day we spent the majority of our time at the Guinness Storehouse, since we really only came on a family vacation to Ireland to drink. While we were there we checked out the city from the bar at the top. We stuck around to watch Irish dancing and have a snack while Lottie took a nap. We were all pretty happy to be inside and warm for a couple hour stretch. When we left there we “saw” Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle. Then we headed to the Temple Bar district and ate at the Storehouse where Gabby took a nap. This was our first of many meals of fish and chips and bangers and mash with a Guinness of course. After that we headed for the Ha’Penny Bridge and then back to O’Connell St to catch the bus so we could rest before action packed day 2.

The next morning the girls developed a love of soft boiled eggs for breakfast. After eating we rushed out to secure our spot along the Dublin parade route. We made friends on the bus who showed us where to go. The girls held hands with their new BFF Fiona while Dan and I got helpful suggestions from her mom on where to be. There is nothing quite as painful as sitting for a couple hours by a barricade assuring your kids that it will all be worth it when the parade starts. Luckily we weren’t lying. The Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Parade was like a combination of cosplay and marching bands. Some of the performers looked like they stepped out of the City Museum in St. Louis. In short it was mesmerizing. The people we stood next to had been to Cincinnati because the man had been in the Louisville parade. The number of Irish people we met who’d been to Ohio was stunning.

After the parade it was time to check off some more “must-see” spots. We checked off St. Stephen’s Green, where despite the temperature we stopped to eat some soft serve. Then we headed to Chatham St to have a look around. At some point we happened upon Trinity College and took some pictures. We had a fantastic dinner at Madigan’s. The gentlemen next to us loaned us their green beer for photo ops and graciously took our picture. More fish and chips and sausage and chips and another Guinness and some Jameson Ginger and Lime and we were ready for more walking around in the cold. We tried to walk down to the port but couldn’t quite make it before dark. We saw a replica ship, whose name I can’t remember, and a memorial for those impacted by the potato famine. The amount of art around Ireland is impressive. There seems to be random sculptures everywhere. We finally walked back to a VERY crowded O’Connell St to catch our bus.

These pictures are completely out of order but I'm sure people can figure it out.