Sunday was another great day in Ireland, and sadly our last! We woke early to head to Dublin and go to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is part of the Anglican Church of Ireland. I loved worshipping with locals and tourists and as Anglicans and other denominations.
There was an overwhelming parallel to ta catholic mass, like word for word, but I noticed subtle but important differences. There was a communication rail and the celebrants faced the alter, not the congregation. There was only one reading, and they stood more, and kneeled less. I was very glad we were able to attend. St Patrick's is the national cathedral.
Following the service, we took the bus back to the touristy area, temple bar. We got lunch at O'Sheas. It was a little dive, and I paid too much for my skimpy salad. We were also freezing by this point. I had to go to a gift shop and buy Ireland socks.
It was around 4:00 that we went back to kilmainhain jail that was built in 1780 as a model jail but during the potato famine and Dublin risings in 1916, it became overcrowded and corrupt. Children as young as five were arrested for stealing bread. The 16 men that led the uprising were all shot in the courtyard. Joseph Pluckett was able to marry his fiance in the chapel four hours before he was killed. Grace Gifford was later held in the jail years later for the civil war in Ireland. She never remarried. I was intrigued with their love story. They even had her wedding band and the letter he wrote to grace asking her to marry him on display! This was my favorite visit of the trip.
To wrap up the Dublin site seeing, we went to Elephant and Castle in Temple Bar for dinner and had a hot totty at McGills before bed.
Flying home to Chicago then Cvg today.
What a wonderful trip to Ireland. A beautiful country, an a memorable experience with friends!!
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