Tallaght, South Dublin

Tallaght is deep in Flanagan country. Kieran was half expecting to be recognised. You're back then? We travelled here from Tralee mostly on the M7 blasting along at the 120 km speed limit. We randomly decided to visit the Wicklow mountains for a walk. Unbeknown to us, it's also the location of a much visited Monastic village, which was a treat. Another Round Tower and the walking was decent too. 

Having nearly completed our big driving loop Dublin<->Dublin our advice to ourselves is not to drive so much. We have completed a shameful 1,800 km in 6 days. There's so much to see, you can't cover that much in a week without compromising the quality of the experience.

Kieran contacted his distant cousin Mark Humphrys who has been researching his family tree for 42 years. His mother Deirdre Flanagan (and Mark of course) are of the same pedigree as the NZ Flanagans. Mark treated us to a tour of various family points of interest including The Bird Flanagan pub named after an eccentric distant uncle. Vicki offered to sit all this out, but it wouldn't have been fair to exclude her.

Kieran and Mark standing where the Flanagans farm house was located. Mark has found land records back to 1803 but the farm would have been here earlier 

The Bird Flanagan pub

Kieran looking somewhat reflective at the remains of the 11th century Saint Kieran's Church in Wicklow.

Wicklow: we walked up the ridge you can see in the background.

Tallaght is actually not that appealing as a tourist. The old town has been replaced by a modern suburb. For example, Mark drove us to the location of the home where our common ancestor William died, now a mediian strip on a busy road.

Our last full day in Dublin was spent exploring the city. We walked from the central shopping area to the docks and then on to Dublin Bay. Returning back to town we got trapped in the middle of a "mini marathon",  28,000 women running around a 10km course with us in the middle. In harmony with strange coincidences the finish line was in Baggot Street fifty metres from the house where Kieran's great grandfather was born and lived prior to leaving for NZ. Eventually we escaped back via Trinity College and Temple Bar, an old cobblestone district full of pubs etc.

Kieran outside the Baggot Street home

I think the race had been won before everyone started

A full travel day is now ahead of us as we turn the corner for home.