As I write this blog post for you dear students, there is a definite feel of autumn in the air.  Strong winds are blowing leaves all about and it is decidedly cooler today.  So in order to enjoy one of the last weekends of summer, I thought that this weekend you should get out and about and explore one of Dublin’s prettiest villages.

Howth lies about ten miles north of Dublin City on a peninsula that marks one side of Dublin Bay.  It is best reached by DART which will leave you down at the harbour.  Head out in the morning and spend your day exploring all this little town has to offer:

• Take a walk up Howth Head for stunning views over Dublin Bay.  Make sure you see the Bailey Lighthouse which dates from about 1814 and is a comforting sight for many Dubliners throughout winter nights.  Look out for the old tram tracks.  Take a picnic if the day is nice!
• Explore the 12^th century Abbey and graveyard located in the town.
• If you fancy a swim you can walk to the beaches either at Claremont of The Burrow.
• Take a boat trip out to Ireland’s Eye – the little island you can see from the harbour.
• Walk the piers and watch the fishermen at work or the yachting community at play. Also keep your eye out for some Dublin Bay Seals who will pop their dog like heads out of the water regularly.

Of course, being a fishing port, Howth is renowned for its fish restaurants.  So make an evening of it, have a bite to eat, a few drinks and take the late DART back to the city!  Whatever you do in Howth – enjoy!

 Photo of fishing trawler in Howth by Paul Sherwood. 

 Weekend Tip

One for the girls this week.  Ireland’s premier pampering, fashion and beauty event, called Girls Ultimate Day Out, takes place in the RDS (Ballsbridge) this weekend, 27^th – 29^th August.  Treat yourself to some girly madness.  All details are here

Students I thought it was time for a short history lesson on the blog this week.

This Sunday 22^nd of August marks the 88^th Anniversary of the death of one of Ireland’s most famous and certainly most colourful leaders, General Michael Collins.

Michael Collins was from Clonakilty in West Cork.  He first came to prominence during the Easter Rising of 1916 when he fought alongside Padraig Pearse in the GPO (General Post Office) on O’Connell Street. 

Along with many Irish Republican activists he was elected to the Westminister Parliament in the General Election of 1918.  However the elected Republicans refused to take their seats in the British Parliament and instead formed the first Irish Dail (government) which met in January 1919.  Collins was elected Ireland’s first Minister for Finance – a job at which he excelled.   He was also made Head of Intelligence in the IRA and as the first Dail met in Dublin, the first event of the War of Independence took place when a group of RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary – police force) officers were ambushed in County Tipperary.

Michael Collins is credited with being the mastermind behind Ireland’s guerrilla tactics which were eventually successful in gaining Ireland’s freedom.  During the War of Independence he was Britain’s most wanted man and evaded capture through a mixture of supreme confidence (he regularly rode a bicycle around Dublin), intuition and razor sharp intelligence.  By all accounts Michael Collins was a magnetic personality.  His good looks and broad build are apparent from the few photos we have of him.

He led the Irish delegation to London for the negotiation of the Treaty that ended centuries of occupation in Ireland.  However he knew that by agreeing to leaving the six countries of Ulster in British control, he was in fact signing his own death warrant. 

He was right.  Ireland was torn apart over the Treaty and Civil War ensued.  Michael Collins was killed in an ambush by Anti Treaty Forces in his native Cork on the 22^nd of August 1922 and Ireland lost one of it’s most charismatic leaders.

Take a visit up to the National Museum in Collins Barracks, on Benburb Street, Dublin 7 and visit the Soldiering exhibition for more information on both the War of Independence and Michael Collins.  The National Museum website is here and Collins Barracks is only a 30 minute walk from O Connell Street or take the Luas Red Line.

 Photo of Michael Collins in uniform. 

 Weekend Tip

If you want to look back a lot further into Irish History, wander over the The Civic Offices on Wood Quay and take part in the Dublin Viking Festival.  All information on their website here.

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann takes place every year and is an international festival of Irish music, song and dance.  This year’s Fleadh Cheoil takes place next week running from the 16^th – 22^nd of August in Cavan Town in County Cavan.  It promises to be a busy event and at this stage it would be almost impossible to secure accommodation in the town.  But if you are interested, you will find all information on their website, here.

However, just because you can’t experience the Fleadh in person, doesn’t mean that you can’t experience a real Irish seisiun here in Dublin. A seisiun (or session) is a typically Irish event, which usually takes place in a pub where musicians would gather for an informal performance.  Musicians  join in and leave the group during the evening and the emphasis in on participation.  Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, is the national organisation for the promotion of Irish music.  It is also the organisation which organises the Fleadh Cheoil. 

Comhaltas has two locations in Dublin where you can attend an evening seisiun yourself – and even join in if you feel like it!  The seisiun usually begins at 9pm.  The first half of the evening consists of a stage show of Irish music, song and dance.  There is then a break for refreshments – usually tea and scones.  The second half of the seisiun is more informal and where you can get up and try a bit of Irish dancing yourself.  Comhaltas has two venues in Dublin where you can check out if you might be the next Michael Flatley:

Clasac in Clontarf, run the show every Wednesday – Saturday night during August.  For more details phone Jim @ 01 8363060 or send an email to info@clasac.ie   Clasac is located a few minutes from Clontarf DART station 

Culturlann na hEireann in Monkstown, have a seisiun every Monday – Thursday night during August.  For more details phone 01 2800295 or email enquiries@comhaltas.com

Culturlann is about a ten minute walk from Seapoint DART station.

Photo by Paul Sherwood – Sherwood Photography

 Weekend Tip

If you like giving yourself a good fright, why not check out the Secret Castle of Magic in Clontarf.  Shows run every Sunday at 8pm – 21/2 hours of screaming fun.  All information on their website here.