The main architecture of Dublin is Georgian. Each attached home is three stories high with a basement. The main floor has wide windows to view the street, the next two floors have windows that lessen in size. To distinguish these identical homes, each owner could paint his door a different color and change the design of the fan window. Street lighting was provided by a candle lantern over every fifth doorway.
Our major stop was back at Trinity College to view the amazing Book of Kells kept within the Old Library which dates back to 1732. The Book was written by monks over 1000 years ago. It contains the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is “lavishly decorated,” with illustrations accenting the written words. The exhibit includes explanations of the artistry of the book including sources of the ink, vellum, and pens. Three additional ancient religious books are also on display.
Beyond the exhibit of the Book stands the Long Room of the Old Library. The narrow room has 200,000 old leather-bound volumes stacked up on two floors each 14 shelves high. Busts of major scholars including Socrates and Plato line the central aisle.
If you remember Star Wars and the Jedi Library, this library is the basis. George Lucas asked for permission to film in the library and was refused. He send in a crew and took hi def photos then used CG to recreate the library as one used by the Jedi. That led to some litigation. Jerry thinks he won.
The bus then took us on to the medieval town of Kilkenny. We stopped at the castle then walked in a light rain down the main street of town to the local church. The shops had a full variety of goods including an old fashion butcher shop. Lots of fun.
We then proceeded to Waterford, the oldest town in Ireland. After our group dinner at Dooley’s Hotel, Jerry and Anna Lee took a brisk walkabout enjoying the holiday decorations. Then we all enjoyed a brief performance of Irish music in the pub.
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