Travel Journal: Exploring Dublin

 08/28/2023

A Cultural Day in Dublin 

 We enjoyed the beautiful National Botanical Gardens and the famous Temple Bar/pubs of Dublin. Hearing one of my oldest favorite songs “Galway Girl” live was an experience!

I know in recent years thanks to Ancestry DNA 🧬 that I am over 40% Irish and today made me extra proud of that. The EPIC Irish Emigration Museum was an amazing experience to get to dig into Irish history hands on. 

The Irish have been conquered, enslaved, persecuted and killed over the course of their long and winding history. Their land has been taken from them and millions during The Great Famine starved to death in their own country. A common sight during the famine was Irish who starved to death along the roads with grass stained mouths as that was all they had to eat. 

They have withstood numerous wars, revolutions and all of the aftermath they bring. Around 10 million Americans can trace their ancestral roots to Ireland in some way because so many Irish during many of these turbulent times had to leave Ireland out of necessity, not choice. 

Despite everything thrown at the Irish, they have endured and held tight to their culture. Several important Irish figures such as Francis O’Neal (the Irish/Chicago police chief who kept Irish music alive- link below) worked to ensure the preservation of Irish culture despite all that threatened to destroy it. Irish culture has shaped much of our culture in the United States especially, and I implore you to take some time and learn more. Everyone always knows the stereotypes of Irish culture - especially around St. Patrick’s Day, but there is so much more to uncover and respect. 

Listed below are some great links 🇮🇪🇺🇸

EPIC Irish Emigration Museum (numerous historical sources as well as links to access one of their professional genealogists to help with your own Irish heritage research)

https://epicchq.com/?utm_source=adwords&utm_term=epic%20irish%20emigration%20museum&utm_campaign=Google+Search+-+Brand+-+2019&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_tgt=kwd-310698758378&hsa_src=g&hsa_kw=epic%20irish%20emigration%20museum&hsa_ver=3&hsa_mt=e&hsa_cam=12972805156&hsa_ad=532247952392&hsa_grp=121979771916&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_acc=1298776736&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_LOiqf3_gAMVQ4hQBh2bew9yEAAYASAAEgJhCfD_BwE

Link to historical information on the Great Famine and its effects on Ireland 🇮🇪 


https://www.discoveringireland.com/the-great-famine/


Irish inventions that changed the world 


https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irish-inventions-changed-world.amp


Francis O’Neal -The Police Chief who saved Irish music 🎶 


https://www.pbs.org/video/wttw-documentaries-march-17-2014-web-extra-francis-oneill/#:~:text=John%20Callaway%20narrates%20the%20story,effects%20of%20his%20life's%20work.

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