Saturday night in Dublin - OMG the craic was happening big time and it did not stop until after 4.30am! Poor Leonie trying to get some sleep after the long flight from Melbourne and it simply wasn't going to happen with all the noise going on down on the streets below our apartment.
Yesterday was another fabulous day. We arrived at Dublin's historic Glasnevin Cemetery at 10.30am and I couldn't believe my eyes as it was the most amazing cemetery I have ever seen. Adrian took us to see where Lord O'Hagan's crypt is and it is directly opposite Daniel O'Connell's final resting place. I couldn't believe it, directly opposite approximately 3 metres away from each other. I knew they were friends in life with Daniel O'Connell signing the papers for Lord O'Hagan to enter the Kings Inn, Dublin to study law and now they are so close in death - how incredible!
This photo is of me pointing to the O'Connell crypt with my right arm and the O'Hagan Crypt with my left - amazing!
The cemetery tour left at 11.30 am. Niamh, the tour guide was fantastic guiding us through the cemetery explaining the lives and events that have shaped Ireland's history. Firstly we visited the graves of those that were executed by the British after the 1916 uprising - I couldn't believe that there were so many executed, so sad. Then it was onto the stunning crypt of Daniel O'Connell is known as the Liberator. Daniel O'Connell is a HUGE deal in Ireland as he was responsible for the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 which mean't Catholics could finally celebrate Mass in public and were able to enter polictics. We were able to go right inside the crypt and the artwork around the walls and on the roof was simply stunning. We were encouraged to touch the coffin for a cure for sore throats! Interestingly there was a bunch of flowers on top of the tomb left by Yoko Ono, wife of John Lennon last month and they were still somewhat alive! Apparently that is a common occurence as flowers do not die for ages in this crypt.
Coffin of the Liberator Daniel O'Connell. You can put your hand in the shamrocks and touch the actual coffin for a cure for sore throats!
Niamh then guided us to the Republican plot where members of the IRA were buried and proceeded to tell us many stories about those that are buried there. Next it was onto past prime minsters, members of parliament, the who's who of Dublin Society and finally arriving at the grave of Michael Collins, leader of the Pro Treaty Party who was murdered in an ambush in 1922. So, so much information and history that my head was spinning. I thought this tour was outstanding and is a must if you are ever visiting Dublin.
After the tour finished we spoke to Niamh about the O'Hagan crypt and she was very interested in hearing our story. She thought that we may be able to have a look inside the Crypt but that we would need to contact them again on Monday to see if it would be possible. We were all very excited about the prospect of seeing inside as it has not been opened since 1885 when Lord O'Hagan died. We have a photogragh of the crypt when it was completed and it looks incredible with a marble altar and the O'Hagan crest blazoned into the mosiac floor. Will keep you posted on how we get on with that....
Next it was to the airport to pick up my sister, Leonie. I could not wait to see Lone as we have not seen each other since last October. She was lucky and was upgraded to business class so was nice and relaxed when she arrived. We all went out for a meal together then it was back to the apartment for a reasonably early night.
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