For the Joycean fan, Day 3 was perhaps one of the two most important days of my mission. Despite the rain, it was a memorable day. Today’s post will feature photographs from the first half of Day 3 (August 17, 2016) along the Talbot Street area to the James Joyce Centre. If you click on one of the pictures below, it will turn into a gallery which you might find easier to view.
I think I found her! She’s definitely in charge! Sign outside one of the conference rooms at Tara Towers Hotel.
Talbot Street Memorial to those lost in 1974 bombings.
Connelly Exterior along Talbot Street.
The Celt Traditional Irish Pub on Talbot Street. I didn’t go in, just liked the way it looked.
Another memorial found on Talbot Street to the 1974 bombing victims.
The Spire of Dublin. It is 120 m. high and is at the intersection of Earl St. N (Talbot) and O’Connell Streets.
The James Joyce Statue on Earl Street N. opposite The Dublin Spire. The woman sitting there is not a set-up. She was actually drinking right from the wine bottle off and on for about an hour!
Inscription on the James Joyce Statue.
The James Joyce Statue, sans wino.
The James Joyce Centre, 35 North Great Georges Street, Dublin.
There are photographs and other displays throughout the floors of the James Joyce Centre.
“What did you do during the Great War?” “I wrote Ulysses, what did you do?”
Quote from Araby on the third floor.
James Joyce Bust.
Appropriate quote from Ulysses.
Another appropriate quote from “Gas from a Burner.”
Display of furniture and items from the apartment of Paul Leon, one of Joyce’s friends in Paris. Joyce and friends met at this table to discuss literature and life.
A mockup of Joyce’s bedroom. A small plaque explained that in quarters such as this is where Joyce wrote. Not in solitude, not in a “writing space,” but here, in family spaces.
A mockup of Joyce’s bedroom.
A mockup of Joyce’s bedroom.
A mockup of Joyce’s bedroom.
One of the interactive ipad-style displays found throughout the Centre.
Meeting room on the second floor of the James Joyce Centre.
Adjacent to the second floor meeting room is a fireplace room containing “Sketching Ulysses” art display by Emma Byrne.
Outside in the courtyard, you will find the real door from 7 Eccles Street, Leopold Bloom’s residence in Ulysses. It is on display with a mural collage, which I found to be very compelling.
Plaque next to the door from 7 Eccles Street.
The collage mural in the courtyard
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Part of the collage mural, close up
Sign explaining about Joyce and 7 Eccles Street.
If you are interested in learning more about today’s locations, please visit these links:
*** All photographs that are a part of this gallery were taken by me, Jill Ocone, on August 17, 2016 and are copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce or to take credit for my intellectual property contained on this post. Thank you for your compliance.
Today we will look back at the second part of Dublin Day 2. I think we did the most walking on Day 2, and while my legs were screaming in pain by the end of the day, I was glad the reason they were screaming was because of such a wonderful day versus hurting for nothing at all. Surprisingly, the pain subsided while I slept, which hardly ever happens. I know I had some special spirits looking over me, and I like to think they played a hand in my better than expected health throughout the week. Day 2 Part 2 takes us through Merrion Square through our storytelling dinner at The Brazen Head Pub, Ireland’s oldest pub. If you click on one of the pictures below, it will turn into a gallery which you might find easier to view. Cheers!
Oscar Wilde Statue, Merrion Park, Dublin
One of the many quotes found on a marble tribute by the Oscar Wilde statue.
The former site of Finn’s Hotel on Leinster Street, where James Joyce met Nora Barnacle (his future wife) in 1904.
Front door at the former Finn’s Hotel on Leinster Street
Inside walkway at the front door of Finn’s Hotel
Funny sign seen in the window of a store called Knobs and Knockers. My friend bought it!
O’Neill’s Bar on Suffolk Street
Street performers near the Molly Malone Statue, corner of Nassau and Suffolk Street. Yes, those are real people.
Molly Malone statue, Nassau and Suffolk Streets right outside the “Old Stone Church.” She was a fishmonger, as well as let’s say, a “well-known lady of pleasure.”
This was a mistake when my camera was clipped to my belt loop.
How disappointed was I! This is Bewley’s Oriental Cafe on Grafton Street, under renovation. I guess I’ll just have to go back again so I can sit on the James Joyce balcony!
More street performers on Grafton Street.
Plaque on Nassau Street
One of the many Costa Coffee Shops. This one is on College Green.
The Dame Tavern, Dame Street.
Dame Street
Dublin Castle. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to tour it because we were running late for our dinner reservations
Queen of Tarts Cafe on Dame Street. I liked the way this looked!
You can find pavers like this all around Dublina, a Viking and Medieval museum. I wish I had time to check it out!
The Brazen Head, where we enjoyed a storytelling dinner. It is known as “Ireland’s Oldest Pub” and dates back to 1198.
Funny weather forecasting stone at The Brazen Head.
In the outdoor bar area of The Brazen Head. See the feather above New York? That’s SHE. No doubt about it.
The two musicians during the storytelling dinner. They were difficult to understand, which made it even more enjoyable! Our host’s name was Phillip and he told us stories about faeries, Balor the Evil Eye, Brian O’Connor and more. See links below for a .pdf copy of the stories!
If you would like to learn more about the sights I saw on Day 2 Part 2, here are links for you:
I hope that you visit tomorrow for Dublin, Day 3, Part 1 (including James Joyce statue and James Joyce Centre). Until then, be well my friend!
*** All photographs that are a part of this gallery were taken by me, Jill Ocone, on August 16,2016 and are copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce or to take credit for my intellectual property contained on this post. Thank you for your compliance.
August 16, 2016 was truly a marvelous day. I took so many pictures though that I need to break Day 2 in Dublin into shorter posts. Today’s post takes me from the hotel to Sweny’s Pharmacy, which is near Trinity College. If you click on one of the pictures below, it will turn into a gallery which you might find easier to view.
Looking south to my hotel, here I am in the Booterstown Nature Reserve.
This house was once owned by Irish Tenor John McCormack. It is 2 blocks or so south from the Hotel and is listed for $3.6 Million Euros, which is a little over $4 Million in US Dollars.
The Punch Bowl Restaurant and Pub
Booterstown Dart Station, looking North
Connelly Station in Dublin
Universal Links on Human Rights is a memorial sculpture created in 1995 by Tony O’Malley. It is near the Customs House.
The Custom House
One of the tallest buildings in Ireland, Liberty Hall, with a mural commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Close-up of one of the sculptures in the Famine Memorial, found along the River Liffey at North Dock.
Famine Memorial along the River Liffey, North Dock, Dublin.
Famine Memorial, North Dock along the RIver Liffey, Dublin. Created in 1997 by Norma Smurfit, sculpture is a commemorative work dedicated to those Irish people forced to emigrate during the 19th century Irish Famine.
World Poverty Stone, located on North Dock along the River Liffey near the Sean O’Casey Bridge.
The Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum along the River Liffey. The original Jeanie Johnston was built in 1847. As the famine gripped Ireland, the owners carried fleeing Irish emigrants to North America.
The Samuel Beckett Bridge, which opened in 2009. It is named after Samuel Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1969.
Looking up at the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
Graffiti along the River Liffey
Bike rental kiosks were found all over Dublin, and I saw many people using them.
Merchant Seamen Memorial along the River Liffey in City Quay. The memorial is dedicated to those Irish Seafarers lost whilst serving on Irish merchant ships during World War II.
One of the many “Bin The Poo” signs, urging dog owners to clean up after their dogs. Those who truly know me know that it took a lot of “courage” for me to not only take this photo, but to write this caption.
A magpie
Irish Post Box
Looking at the train bridge at Pearse Station
St. Andrew Church on Westland Row
21 Westland Row. Oscar Wilde was born here.
Sweny’s Joycean Pharmacy, 1 Lincoln Place, Dublin. It is here that Leopold Bloom bought Lemon Soap in Ulysses. I did the same.
Photo of James Joyce outside Sweny’s.
Inside Sweny Pharmacy. It is no longer an actual pharmacy. Volunteers man the store each day, most in costume. The store now contains James Joyce books and period decor. There are also readings and more.
*** All photographs that are a part of this gallery were taken by me, Jill Ocone, on August 16, 2016 and are copyrighted. It is illegal to reproduce or to take credit for my intellectual property contained on this post. Thank you for your compliance.
When they hear about my trip to Dublin, most people immediately ask, “What are you going to do when you are there?”
To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure.
I’m open to all possibilities, especially to seeing things in a new way, but one thing I must do is walk the path.
I plan to explore by walking in the footsteps left by James Joyce and his characters Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom. I’ve created 4 maps of different areas of Dublin that contain sights that Joyce, Dedalus, and Bloom saw. The important sights are “must-sees”, such as Trinity College, the James Joyce tower, Dalkey, and Grafton Street, to name a few. There are a lot of pins on my maps, and I will do my best to see as much as I can.
I will appreciate everything I see with a new outlook and with a new awareness.
I will be present for each moment, for each minute, for each second.
I will look at the details and take in the colors and the visions for both SHE and for me.
SHE cannot see these sights, so my eyes will be her eyes. I will be her light.
While my own eyes will be looking out, they will also be looking in, looking inward, as I learn more about ME.
I will be my light.
The only set reservations my traveling companion and I have are dinner at The Brazen Head and a day trip to the Boyne Valley to see ruins and the like.
Everything else will happen as it unfolds.
Trust me when I say there are some locations I plan on seeing that have a huge significance.
I will see what the universe needs me to see, and learn from the universe what I need to learn.
When in Ireland in 2014, I had the distinct feeling that I had been there before. I felt comfortable and at home. In a way, it kind of feels like I am going home again, but this time, I am open to Dublin letting me experience all that I can, and all that it wants me to experience.
I’ll be honest. I’m a bit concerned about my health since I am not feeling as good as I had hoped. Even though I’ve been able to rest and have had 85% less stress in my life living as “Summer Jill,” I’m still very fatigued and in moderate pain most of the time (legs, back, hips, head). My energy drains very quickly, and even simple tasks wipe me out.
It’s very frustrating, wanting to experience life but being held back by my health. I will definitely listen to what my body needs and wants, and put my health and wellbeing first. I will plug along the best I can.
The one thing that I know?
Without a concrete reason, without a set itinerary for each day, and without fear, I HAVE TO DO THIS.
I have to go to Dublin.
I’m excited to meet ME.
Stay tuned for Part 6: Who Am I? tomorrow.
UPDATE:
For the doubters of the signs, here’s one that literally just happened. The video below appeared randomly at the top of my news feed, having been shared several times then shared by someone I follow. It is an animated introduction to James Joyce and his literary works. Parts of it describe exactly what I have written about my “Mission from the Universe.” Check it out to learn more about James Joyce, his works, his life, and even yourself. 🙂
