Brú na Bóinne & Dublin Patty's Day

March 24, 2015

Brú na Bóinne & Dublin Patty's Day

Last year for St. Patrick's Day, we celebrated in Cork. This year we decided to see what Dublin had to offer and it was awesome! Friday we drove up and went straight to Newgrange which was built 5,000 years ago. "Newgrange is the best known Irish passage tomb [... and] is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland, located about one kilometre north of the River Boyne. It was built during the Neolithic period
around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids." (Wikipedia)

For more information here's a great link http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/

We've celebrated St. Patrick's Day last year and this year with our good friends from Cork. Here we are all together on the shuttle bus ready to see Newgrange.

After Newgrange we checked into our hotel, and took the LUAS into Dublin to find some dinner and see what was going on the night before the Patty's Day Party. It was crazy, lots of people everywhere, we found a great family-friendly place to eat (all you can eat Chinese) the kids ate rice then loaded up on the self-serve ice cream. There was nothing really there that qualified on my diet, so I just ate whatever. Lots of deep fried chicken, beef, and sea food and I did find some nice broccoli. Even though I was tempted, I did stay away from the rice and noodles, but caved and had some vanilla ice cream. oops!

The next morning we got to Dublin City Centre before everyone else, and found a prime spot on O'Connell Street! It was great fun. We had to get some hot chocolate from Star Bucks to keep us warm, and we just enjoyed seeing all the people slowly gather in until it was time to begin. By 12 the place was crazy busy with thousands of people everywhere. People were trying to overtake our spots that we had saved for four hours, but we did an okay job at holding our ground. We did get two old ladies that crossed over my stroller and pushed against my back the whole time, and one spilled hot tea in the front seat of the stroller. I couldn't get too mad, they were nice enough but just a little annoying. I kept laughing though because they would stick their camera out next to my ear and just take photos of whatever they could. They didn't see what they were shooting, but I saw, and they didn't take good photos that way. Whatever silly grandma ladies!

First ones on the street!

My boys were such good sports. We drag them everywhere and they just make the best of it. I think they did really enjoy the parade, but the wait was a bit boring for them. They took turns sitting in the stroller, and we did have lots for them to do. They played the 3DS and minecraft on my phone. William took a good long nap once the parade started, so it worked out well. Our Phil & Ted double stroller has been a lifesaver!