Yesterday was our train-ferry journey from London over to Dublin. Even though flying is a lot quicker - we had decided to try the more scenic journey over to Ireland, and then use air travel for the return leg of our journey. From Euston Station we caught the Virgin Train service to Holyhead, north Wales, from where we transferred across to the Ulysses Ferry and sailed over to Dublin Port. From the port, we caught a bus into central Dublin and checked into our hotel.

Yesterday happened to be "Arthur's Day" - a series of music events around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Guinness brewing company. We certainly timed our arrival into Dublin well! After check in, we grabbed some dinner at Panama Bar on Bachelors Walk and then enjoyed some traditional music and Irish dancers at the Arlington Quays Hotel - always a good night out there with plenty of 'cheers' to old Arthur. After a good few pints of the black stuff, we took a walk around the Temple Bar area, which was buzzing with people all out enjoying the 250th anniversary celebrations.

This morning started off with a full Irish breakfast at the hotel, and then I left the folks to do their bit of Dublin sightseeing. This is my forth time in Dublin, so didn't feel the need to see all the sights again. Instead, I headed over to Trinity College Library to see the Book of Kells - an illuminated manuscript in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was transcribed by Celtic monks around the year 800. The Old Library is home to the Book of Kells, and of the five million books held within it, it is by far the Library's most famous book.

After Trinity College, I took a walk over to Christ Church Cathedral, a walk down O'Connell street, grabbed some lunch at the Porterhouse and then met up with the folks late afternoon. After picking up our rental car, we made our way back to the Oliver St. John Gogarty pub and another visit to the Arlington Quays Hotel for some more Irish music to end off the night.

Tomorrow we have a fairly early start, and making the drive west across Ireland towards Galway Bay, County Clare area for a bit of West Ireland sightseeing.