Happy Birthday Canada!!

Monday, Day Nine:

Here we are, sipping Irish whiskey and port in the North Star Hotel bar, reliving the highs and (thanks to Wes) the lows (I mean the baaaaas) of the traveling day. We had a great day on the road from Galway to Dublin - with a side trip to the charming village of Trim.
We felt fortunate to cruise down the motorway for most of our drive. The guys have become easy with the left lane driving, and it is almost worry-free on a divided highway. We did leave the road behind when we headed off to Trim (as the pictures show). The country side was lovely, but the roads would make a half decent one-lane bike path.

Trim provided the Sheridans with the chance to consult with an expert on the subject of ancestry . . . Uh oh. Noel actually expected Wes to base his request on facts - what kind of service is that!? Anyway, the end result was a suggestion to go home and do a little more work from the Canadian end. This fell under the "nothing ventured..." heading. Noel did confirm that Cavan is the place you want to be, as did the friendly lady in the dress shop . . . "Sheridan, is it? Ah, but that's bein' a Cavan name."
Did I mention there is a very nice castle in Trim? So, trip not wasted. The castle photos below are compliments of Nancy who has been trying to get her fill of Irish architecture, but has too often ended up just catching a glimpse of a turret as her driver zips by.

Locating the North Star in Dublin was no easy feat, but after a few bridges crossed we arrived and turned our cars over to Giuseppe - the mystery remains as to whether we see them again. The hotel is located in what HGTV would refer to as a "regrowing" neighborhood. Wes' main concern last night was that Sandy would be unable to fight in his sandals and that Dave is a peace-maker. No, seriously, he will not rest until he finds himself in an Irish brawl. We may have to put him to the ground at the airport and pound the living shite out of him.
Highlight of the day for our indomitable travelers - The Bank - a fantastic bar and restaurant located in the "groovy" Temple Bar area of Dublin. (Pictures may have to wait as I am writing this Tues a.m. in an Internet Cafe while the historians travel back in time to save the rebels at the General Post Office and the playbook recharges.)
The Bank was built in the1780's - a majestic, marble-filled structure that has been authentically restored - food, not money, is the currency now served up there - and in marvelous style. Dave had his first, but definitely not last, pork belly - we may need to enlist Alex, pork belly king, to help further that journey.
So, another lovely day - we have found that if we keep our eyes and our hearts open, magic appears at unexpected moments here - the lilt in yet another "new" Irish accent, a window box spilling brilliant flowers down a stone wall, the sight of a farmer shearing his sheep, an utterly charming girl from Budapest who dropped her work to educate Pam and Dave for their Sept trip.
And still ahead? The museum, the gallery, the jail, Merriam Square . . . and just possibly, a little more magic . . . 

General Post Office

James Joyce and friends

Shots just over Sandy's head

Vault in the men's room at The Bank - odd!

Pork Belly - Dublin style