First Trip to Dublin

Across the sea for this year's ARA conference (having missed last year in Newcastle).

My first visit to Dublin - took the train to Holyhead to catch the ferry (good deal on the 'Sail Rail' tickets).  Thankfully the crossing wasn't too choppy, even managed to get a rather dodgy picture of a passing helicopter through the ferry window!

Unfortunately we arrived in an extremely wet Dublin, which rather put paid to the pre-conference sight-seeing I had planned.


Much of the next two days were spent in the conference hotel - some excellent speakers mind you, and an opportunity to catch-up / 'network' with lots of people, plus the dinner / dancing on the 'gala' night.

Must admit I did sneak out a little early one afternoon for a brief wander round the streets of Dublin - took in the sights of Temple Bar, and Molly Malone - and we did made it to an Irish pub one evening too.

Journey home could have been smoother (in more ways than one) - a rather rough crossing, late arrival, and mad dash to catch the train home, which was itself late, leaving us with five minutes to make the Aberystwyth connection at Shrewsbury.  Relieved to get back!

Liked Dublin though - will have to return for a more leisurely visit in our own time in the none-to-distant future.