cats in Kilkenny, maybe the old limerick has some truth to it.

Exploring the Emerald Isle

As much as I love a good Irish stout, Ireland has a lot more to offer than beer. Irish history is full of tragic stories and larger than life characters. In Dublin the General Post Office has an excellent exhibit about the 1916 Easter Rising which was a catalyst for finally gaining (partial) independence from Britain. Kilmainham Gaol is another spot well worth visiting for a sober dose of Irish history. The library at Trinity College in Dublin is an impressive place to visit. I would also recommend a tour of the historic Jameson’s Distillery while in Dublin, all three of us found it to be more informative and personal that visiting the Guinnessexcellent dinner at the King’s Head, a pub that dates to the 17th century. Afterward we walked 50 meters to Taaffes Bar, a cozy Irish pub that features traditional Irish music twice nightly; then across the street to Tig Choili, where a group of musicians sat in a circle at the front of the pub and played traditional Irish music on acoustic instruments. With a talented busker on every block, even the streets are filled with music. I guess you could think of Galway as the Nashville of Ireland. I wish we would have had a bit more time to discover the charms of the city that is simultaneously a medieval city and a vibrant university town.

Closing Thoughts

It’s interesting to compare the sessionable ales that are served on