Dublin: Odds & Sods

This is some pure Gaelic gold that didn't make the cut for Dublin - Lúnasa 2025.

Da' Deplane

Deplaned directly onto the tarmac. Now when arriving in Kona, this can be a very nice way to say aloha to the Hawaiian Islands, though in Dublin it is not quite the same when carrying our luggage down some very steep stairs in a slight drizzle under overcast skies, then being herded onto a bus without seats for a ten minute ride to the other side of the airport followed by carrying our luggage up three flights of stairs - all without hula dancers or accompanying leis. With the exception of the bus my departure was the exact reverse.

The Bathroom Light Switch

Besides calling the bathroom, the bathroom and not the toilet, the other thing I really missed about the States was the bathroom light switch. In the U.S. it is located inside the bathroom so you can close the door before you flip the switch and therefore not illuminate your sleeping wife. For some unknown reason (trust me I've asked), hotels in Ireland as well as Europe have the bathroom light switch located just outside bathroom, which forces the occupant to either toil in complete darkness or flip the switch and try and retract their hand into the bathroom faster than the speed of light.

The Molly Malone

The most famous woman in Ireland is also the most photographed statue in Ireland and is conveniently located just off the Trinity College campus. When I visited the Vatican many years ago I didn't rub Saint Peter's foot, so I certainly wasn't going to rub Ms. Malone's . . .

The Full Irish Breakfast

and the Full English are similar but have distinct differences. Both are hearty meals, of eggs, sausage, bacon and bread, but the Irish breakfast typically includes black and white pudding, soda bread, whilst the English breakfast is more likely to feature baked beans and fried bread. Wikipedia provides a little more of the details.

The Mass Transit

Dublin has put the mass in mass transit, as you will quickly notice the never-ending stream of double decker busses trying to run you over while you are looking the wrong way crossing the street. To ride one you can either use coins or like most cities in the world, a cutely named transit card, in this case the Leap card.¹

Now besides negative people I hate the transit card. In Dublin it costs €5 to buy one from a convenience store and you are then forced to load €5 on it. I've tried but there is no way to get that first €5 back.² If you use it to ride the bus, one Leap card can be used for multiple people.

Busses have two fares, short and long (depending on how far you're traveling), you'll need to inform the driver when boarding which is applicable. I've been told that there are bus inspectors that can scan your card to determine if you paid the correct fare. If you pay in coins, and go with the short fare, hypothetically I'm not sure how the bus inspectors will know if you paid the correct fare.

- I still don't understand why when I'm riding mass transit in Sydney I don't need no stinkin' transit card and just tap my credit card when I get on and then when I get off.

No matter how you pay (Leap card or coins), try and ride up top and in front for the scenic views.

Note: Thankfully the leap in Leap card is not an acronym.

The Uber

As mentioned in Dublin - Lúnasa 2025 Report, "Uber in Dublin combines the best parts of Uber, using a cell phone app to be picked up at the exact spot you are located with the worst parts of hailing a taxi, the unknowable fare."

• Basically you after entering your destination ("Where to?") in the app you are given options with each having an estimated fare. After you select one, a car arrives at your location per a "normal" Uber, except you are picked up by a licensed taxi whose driver then activates the meter after you get in. Then after arriving at your destination, you are automatically charged what's on the meter via the Uber app.

• From my experience the estimated fares are on the low side.

• Uber takes a percentage of the fare as a commission. According to Imran my airport transfer cabbie: 12%.

• Uber charges an additional €1 technology fee to "improve the travel and platform, experience for riders and drivers." They make it sound like they're doing me a favor, though as a businessman I can respect the idea of charging customers an additional fee to help bring them the service they are already paying for.

• So it is better off for you and your driver if you just hail them off the street. They’re quite plentiful.

The Bridges

There are numerous bridges that you will use to transit the River Liffey that divides north and south Dublin. These are the ones that are most interesting:

• Samuel Becket Bridge is a cable-stayed pedestrian swingbridge named after the eponymous playwright. It is shaped like a harp so you will need to take a photo of it.

• Seán O'Casey Bridge is a pedestrian swingbridge (it rotates horizontally around a vertical axis) named after the eponymous playwright.

• Ha' Penny Bridge is a pedestrian bridge built in May 1816 and named after the eponymous coin. Made of cast iron, it is probably the most famous bridge in all of Ireland. You will need to walk across it at least once. Perhaps en route The Waiting Room and the finest meal you will eat in Dublin.

• James Joyce Bridge is a road bridge named after the the eponymous author. If you're one of the few people who've actually read Ulysses you will need to walk across it.

An Admirer and the Samuel Beckett Bridge

The Postcard

A postcard to the States is €2.35 euro ($2.75) vs $1.70 going the other way, so I guess there is third thing that I miss about the U.S.

• You may want to get your postcard posted at the GPO (General Post Office), as it played a central role in the Easter Rising.

Beer O'clock

The Guinness Brewery

This time around I didn't visit the most famous brewery in the world, but did previously with a loyal Subscriber who subsequently joined me in Cong to walk in John Wayne's footsteps. We also visited the Jameson Distillery Bow St., for a whiskey tasting lesson, which whilst quite educational, didn't come with the spectacular views of Dublin from the brewery's Gravity Bar (or a free Guinness).

The ATM

I withdrew €100 from a Bank of Ireland ATM which cost me a 1% fee. Unfortunately it came in two €50 notes, but fortunately it was all I needed for my 10 day stay (actually it was more than enough as we actually had to start paying in cash at the end of our stay to use it up).

• I used my NFCU ATM card as reimburses ATM fees

The Airport Lounge

One of the many benefits of my Capital One Venture X credit card is membership in Priority Pass, which allows me access to numerous airport lounges around the world. The one in Dublin Airport was quite nice, free drinks and food in a rather pleasant setting. A very nice way to end one adventure and start another.

Endnotes: I wanted to provide some very specific details that, while vaguely interesting, did not contribute to the overall narrative. Perhaps just wait until the end to enjoy.

¹ It's either the Leap card or coins (with no change given) as busses in Dublin do not accept paper currency.

² Therefore I gave my Leap card to my generous Irish Subscriber. He appeared quite thankful, though once he realizes how much is still on it . . .