Living off the Irish experience

So someone asked me if I was considering dual citizenship anytime soon. That's a clever remark aimed for a laugh and nothing more.

I'll tell you this, though. The last night at my Dublin hotel - owned by Bono and The Edge no less - was in Temple Bar, the hottest spot for pubs and music. All I had to do was walk out the back entrance onto an old cobblestone street blocked off from traffic and let the party roll. I couldn't help myself getting into the spirit with a liveliness in my gait. Ireland does that to its visitors.

I went to Gallagher's, a famous landmark pub, and ate one last traditional Irish lamb stew and slice of soda bread before leaving on a jet plane the next afternoon. The place was rocking, and louder than I appreciate anymore; yet the food and company were outstanding.

The street was jammed with tourists and locals, and I wisely waited until the next morning to go up and down with my camera minus any interruptions. Temple Bar parties hard and lies low in the wee hours apparently. That's where I discovered an Irish bookstore - independents are all over Ireland - and found the best collection of contemporary Irish short stories edited by Lucy Caldwell. I am relishing each one and feeling the sensations all over again from my living room. Those Irish have known how to put pen to paper from the days of Yeats and Joyce.

Getting back to Bono, back in the late 90s U2 were regulars at The Clarence Hotel, and that's when it was purchased. Check out the picture below to note that it is a rather discreet place tucked away at the end of Temple Bar. Now there are varying opinions on whether or not Bono actually owns the hotel anymore. I'll go with the front desk clerk's comment when she told me that Bono has a permanent corner suite.

The famous Octagon Bar is where Bono will hang out - he was there the week before me according to my taxi driver - and it is quite a unique spot. The stained glass octagon-shaped roof is the focal point of the intimate bar, otherwise it is a rather dark space.

Sometimes at night when I am falling asleep, I envision the liveliness and general happiness of the Irish having their nights out and letting the work worries push aside. They are an optimistic bunch for sure. Maybe that's a good lesson for the rest of us.

Bono, where are you?

Best thoughts to take home from Ireland

1. It’s all about the toe-tapping jigs and soulful ballads that will stick in my mind and infuse my energies whenever my thoughts roam to Ireland.

2. Stepping into an Irish bookstore is one of those high experiences for me, and perusing my favorite Irish authors is a welcome sight along with book talk with shop owners.

3. Listening. Just listening to everyday folks is a delight. They are such a hopeful people, and they sure do enjoy their connections with friends and family.

4. Castles. Churches. Stones. In no particular order.

5. You want to return. Why, the Irish expect you to visit again...and again. I am not a stranger here.

6. The scenic country drives with multiple hues of green and ewes grazing everywhere reminds me a little of home.

7. Irish stew and seafood chowder with a slice of soda bread ranks high, yet my all-time forever new favorite is oatmeal with a splash of Irish mist ( I’ll spell it out: whiskey).

The past and beyond

Often I wonder about life in former times, and coming to Ireland with its castle ruins, abandoned stone cottages and markings left dotted on the hillside are the remains silently telling the story. If I listen carefully through the breeze, might I sense it?

In some cases people travel to Ireland searching for their ancestral locations, and I saw folks in cemeteries photographing tombstones and checking their notebooks. I hope that they are able to make connections with living relatives, too, completing the circle.

Experiencing all the goodness of Ireland, and taking away a deepened appreciation for your own personal circumstances is the best of both worlds.