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Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

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By ArmyMustang
November 3rd 2006

Exploring Dublin

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Millennium Spire
This is a nice landmark to use when wandering around the streets of Dublin with no real clue where you are.

The alarm on my phone went off at 6:30am so I could downstairs and put coins in the meter. We parked on the street overnight so as to avoid paying the €6 parking garage fee. The meters on our street cost about €2.70 an hour so either way it’s ridiculous. It is free between the hours of 7pm and 7am and I get to park in the street right out front. I didn’t even bother with a shower since they are located about four floors below our room and we didn’t think to bring a towel. We left Billie and Matt [View Full Entry]

By ArmyMustang
November 2nd 2006

Welcome to Dublin

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Irish Traffic Jams
These ladies were in no hurry to move along this morning.

As I write, I’m lying on the third floor of the Marlborough Hostel in downtown Dublin. I don’t see any cockroaches or mice droppings on the floor so I’m good so far. The prices are definitely not what I expected for a joint of this caliber. Tonight we are staying in a private room with two sets of bunk beds and one single twin. Billie and Matt took the bottom bunk on one set and Robert and I will flip for the bottom bunk on the other set. There is a bathroom just down the hall and only two other rooms [View Full Entry]

By Big Tom
September 9th 2006

A series of very fortunate coincidences.

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Wow. That's all I can say. Yesterday we had all our orientation for the Quinn school, and I am walking on air right now. When I came, I was hoping that i'd have decent classes at least, and maybe if I was lucky have monday or friday off to facilitate my travelling desires. It turns out that I have all of my first choice classes because they gave all the American students priority. The classes are- Globalisation Business Law Entrepreneurial Management and International Business I'm incredibly excited because every single one of those classes I really wanted to take. Although class [View Full Entry]

By Big Tom
September 7th 2006

Settling in.

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

We've spent a little time settling in over the last 24 hours, and the place is pretty nice! We've been placed in double rooms, which is kind of unfortunate, but it's not a terrible inconvenience for me yet, as my roomie is a Trinity student who won't move in 'til late september if not october. More importantly though, I like my bed. I spent like 4-5 hours napping there today and boy oh boy is it spectacular. This was a major concern for me, because i'm a cranky bugger when I don't get my sleep, hehe. Amusingly enough though, I didn't [View Full Entry]

By Big Tom
September 7th 2006

I forgot!

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Dublin, Finally!
Nick and I explored various parts of Dublin on our own the first three days we were here. It was a blast. This was probably our coolest little discovery- a canal and lock system in an older part of du... [more]

Most Importantly though! I forgot that I saw Lewis Black yesterday. Of all things, I show up at UCD and there is a free Lewis black show that evening. He did a great political bit for about half an hour, then performed absolutely spectacularly in a Q&A session. The best part though was the surreal setting. I was in a room with about 40 people, max, listening to lewis black! A venue like that with a celebrity like his is so incredibly rare. But it was certainly cool. That wouldn't be enough to warrant a post though, I've finally got internet [View Full Entry]

By Big Tom
September 5th 2006

Fortress Europa!

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Well. We're here. And it's actually a lot better than even the high expectations i'd set for Dublin. I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the locals share down to their very core my basic philosophy of life, and that's something I find really refreshing. Some of the guys on the trip are fairly cool, and I lucked out that two of the coolest ones are my housemates, and we have a pretty sick setup by all accounts- though the jury is out until we move in tomorrow. Whatever the case, we're going to be in that nice halfway point [View Full Entry]

By Cobbun
August 1st 2006

Molly Malone

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Left Belfast yesterday and here we are in Dublins fair City. Here they love to give things nick names so molly malone is the tart with the cart or the dish with the fish or the trollup with ths Scollup. Very busy city and a lot of history here went to the Art Gallery and Museum a lot of good stuff here. Weather is a bit changeable sort of like Melbourne but still quite warm. Leaving Ireland tomorrow it is a great country to visit, just soo green, back to Liverpool - beatles country and then to Scotland will keep you [View Full Entry]

By hbdave
June 15th 2006

Home Cooking, Sleeping in, Taking a Day off and the Flight from Hell

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Day 21, Monday, June 12: Edinburgh to Birmingham Got up in the morning and did one last wander through of Edinburgh, before heading to the train for Birmingham. The 4 hour train ride was beautiful even with the impending storm (before this, the weather had been incredible). I got to Birmingham at about 4:30, knowing I would have to hang out at the train station as Kat had to work until 5-5:30.. When 6:30 came around, I decided to call and found out she got stuck at work, so here mom came all the way out to pick me up. We [View Full Entry]

By blinkme
May 11th 2006

Dublin is fun

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Me by a statue near Grafton Street

Think you're a dedicated drinker? Are you dedicated enough to wake up every morning and drink Irish coffee? -- three at a time -- in a row. How about, are you willing to commit yourself to step dancing wasted for seven hours on a hard-wood floor, waking up with shin splints and doing it all over again? ... Yeah? Well what are you waiting for -- get your ass to Dublin! That was my little advertisement. A high alcohol tolerance helped me survive Dublin -- that and some common sense. Stay at Barnacles Temple Bar hostel. It's on Temple Lane, a [View Full Entry]

By Kerlyn
October 11th 2001

Leaving the north for the Republic

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin

Cathedral
Downpatrick

Before leaving Northern Ireland, we did not stop in BELFAST, only getting a tour from the bus; seeing a Queen Victoria statue and the Europa Hotel, the most bombed hotel in Belfast and only a couple of streets. I would have loved to walked around but we only got off the bus for a pit stop. Pity. Next was south to DOWNPATRICK where we saw the grave of St. PATRICK (buried in 461) on Cathedral Hill, DOWN CATHEDRAL and a former jail where we went inside and saw the cells. NEWBRIDGE HOUSE was our last stop getting a guided tour. It [View Full Entry]

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