Excursions
for half day
The James Joyce
Museum
The Martello Tower, located 14km or nine miles south of Dublin,
which was originally built to guard against invasion from Napoleon,
is an appropriate venue for the James Joyce Museum
(telephone: (01) 280 9265). It was here that Oliver St John Gogarty
invited Joyce to stay and the Tower overlooking the ‘snotgreen
sea’ became the setting for the first chapter of Ulysses
(1922), and Gogarty was transformed into the fictional character,
Buck Mulligan. The Tower contains a collection that includes the
artist’s letters, photographs, his guitar, walking stick and
a copy of Ulysses illustrated by Matisse.
Visiting hours are Monday to Saturday 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00,
and Sunday 14:00-18:00 April-October and admission costs €6
(concessions available). The Tower is accessed by DART to Sandycove
(a scenic trip) or bus 8 from Burgh Quay.
Excursions
for a whole day
Glendalough
This Celtic monastery (telephone:
(0404) 45325),was once an important seat of Christian learning,
is situated 30km or 19 miles south of Dublin, between Laragh and
Hollywood. Its Gaelic name meaning ‘valley of the
two lakes’ and there are some beautiful walks around
the monastery and on the lakeshore. St Kevin founded the monastery
in the sixth century and his body is interned in the ninth-century
cathedral; the site contains the St Kevin’s Cross, carved in about 1150. Nearby are the remnants
of St Kevin’s Kitchen – a one thousand-year-old church.
The opening hours are daily 09:30-17:00 (Oct-Mar) and 09:30-18:00
(Apr-Sep) with admission €2.75 (concessions available). It
is best reached by car. Alternatively, the St Kevin’s Bus
Service leaves from St Stephen’s Green daily at 11:30, with
a return service late afternoon. Its route along the Wicklow Way,
through the valleys of the Wicklow Mountains, makes for a great
journey. |
