Singing really makes the heart soar and you should now sing 'Sleep glorious sleep, nothing feels quite like it', to the mud glorious mud tune. Waking from a deep sleep in the marina where we were safe secure and stable was a terrific experience and it enabled us to explore more than we could just by foot. It was therefore time to explore a city and brave public transport.

Dublin, southern Ireland's capital, is a mere stone's throw away from Dun Laoghaire and we felt it was worthwhile to try and discover if there was more to Dublin than just Guinness and U2. We actually found that there is lots and lots relating to Guinness and U2 everywhere you turn in Dublin. The bases of bridge supports are painted black whilst the tops are white, gates are similarly adorned and every pub appears to sell Guinness and not much else. The U2 connection is carried in the soul of every Irishman as it would seem that everywhere we turned top quality buskers sung, strummed and blew their talent at you. Overall, a really remarkable experience.

We had a plan, which as always was up for change, to go to the Guinness factory and take in a beer at the Skybar. This has spectacular views of the city, however after walking across the length of town we found that the bar is only accessible if you do the tourist tour. We felt the tour was an extravagance too far. The cost, measured in Guinness vouchers, was 6 and we thought these were better exchanged for the black stuff itself. Wandering back into town via the Temple Bar district we happened upon Grafton Street. This is where U2 were discovered and the streets were lined with what can only be described as unpaid professional musicians. Jamming was happening everywhere and we were serenaded from here up into the tranquillity of St Stephens Green. In the sunshine, Dublin, like the rest of the country, is a city full of happy friendly people with a rich history who express their happiness without bounds.

Having been in Dun Laoghaire for a couple of days we needed to provision the boat and hadn't seen a big shop nearby, so we made the decision to fill our bags in Dublin with really heavy food based products, before we caught the train back. Bags filled to the brim we hiked across town, struggled onto the train and come Dun Laoghaire we alighted. It was at this point we discovered that within about 100 yards of the boat there is a massive Tesco's. Well done us for shopping early. More research required in the future!

Friday had the nicest of surprises for us. This was not just Good Friday, it was going to be Great Friday. It just so happened that Rosie and Nick were in town visiting family for Easter and 'popped' by for tea and cake. The meeting was short and sweet but was very much the highlight of our day. It was amazing to see their daughter nearly walking and hope Nick's parents make a speedy recovery. As we have said before, 'There are good ships and wood ships, but the best ships are friendships.' Thanks for making the effort to come and see us R, N & D.

Tomorrow sees us having another pre-dawn start and this time making for Scotland, or Belfast if it's too cold. The wind is in the North and winter has set in again so we'll be wrapping up warm and as usual trucking north towards the Scottish Isles.

For now we bid Southern Ireland farewell and look forward to seeing you again on our return in May.

Guinness.


Remarkable art.


Unpaid professional buskers.


At Irelands equivilant of no10.


Iain helping the locals.


Good ships and wood ships. Rosie, Nick & Darcy come to visit.