Day trip to Dublin

Our timing for this trip wasn't great.  I realise Babet has caused considerably more distress and disruption in parts of the UK, but she certainly gave us a very wet drive, and restricted our desire to wander.  And poor W had managed to pick up a bad cold, so wasn'tfeeling 100%.  But the concert (coincidentally on the evening of my birthday) had caught my eye a couple of weeks ago.

We took a more "scenic" route up to Dublin - we must do it again in better weather - as we wanted to visit a plant nursery recommended by J a couple of days ago.  It certainly seemed like an excellent nursery, but our plant viewing was restricted by the persistent rain.  We will go back.  We stopped in Roundwood for a cuppa and some cake.

We parked at the LUAS park and ride at Carrickmines.  Parking for the day with return tram fares was less than €12 - whilst hotel, or even AirBnb accommodation, in Dublin is stupidly expensive. 

We ate an early dinner at The Bar - adequate, but we wouldn't go again, and then walked through St Stephen's Green to the National Concert Hall (see extra).

The concert was a selection of music from the first half of the 20th Century, and was good fun.  My blip is Ray Chen when he returned (after playing the Korngold violin concerto) to perform an encore of his own arrangement of Waltzing Matilda.

After the concert, we returned on the tram to our car, and drove home.  We stopped briefly at Gorey Services to use the facilities, and were home shortly after midnight.

A good day out, despite the weather.