Chapter 6: Kildare and Dublin (Sep 6, 2017)
After two days surrounded by castles and cathedrals in Kilkenny, the Crew continued east. This leg of the trip mixed spiritual visits (St. Brigid’s Cathedral), shopping detours, and a return to Dublin before taking a flight to Scotland.
St. Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare
Our first stop was the town of Kildare, famous for St. Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints. At St. Brigid’s Cathedral we admired the stonework and the tall round tower that dominates the skyline. It also was the second of only three churches that had a Round Tower you could climb. Bill really wanted to climb this one but we arrived a few minutes after the tower was shut down for the day.
The cathedral grounds also contain the foundations of early Christian churches and a well where pilgrims still come to leave offerings. It was a quiet, reflective place.
Shopping in Kildare Village
From faith to fashion, we shifted gears quickly. Just outside the town lies Kildare Village, a large outlet center styled like a modern village. Here, designer brands drew some of the Crew inside while others preferred people-watching on benches. Bryan claimed victory with the best bargain of the day, while Donna and Maggie debated whether Guinness calories could be offset by retail therapy.
Return to Dublin
By evening we were back in Dublin for a one-night stay at the ABC House B&B. Dinner was lively, with the Crew reliving our favorite jokes and moments from the road so far. Sheila declared herself “official navigator” after her many successful map calls, while Bill insisted that no trip to Ireland was complete without another pint to close the night.
Flight to Scotland
We spent a quiet night in Dublin before flying to Scotland the next day. The ABC House had off-street parking that was a challenge to navigate in and out. But we managed to do it without adding any more scratches to our van (it had quite a few from previous users). We dined at Fagan’s Public House which the Crew enjoyed.
What was next
The Scottish leg of the journey would begin next. Castles, rugged coastlines, and whisky tastings were on the horizon. Ireland had given us roots and warmth. Scotland promised drama and legend.
Read more about this trip: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5.
Want more stories about Ireland? Try these: The Irish Redhead Convention, Top 5 Must-Visit Waterfalls in Ireland, and Irish Inventors: How They Changed the World.
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