I’ve been watching the Great British Menu on BBC since Singapore…such talented chefs competing from all around the UK for the chance to cook one course of a 4 course banquet (to be consumed by Liverpuddlian actors and film industry greats in 2026). I was sooo pleased that Nikita Gandhi, such a humble contestant, through happenchance, probably karma…made it onto the finale, and ….was ultimately voted ‘Champion of Champions’ (because of her yummy fish dish). Yay !!!!

Malahide Castle and gardens is a historic 12th-century attraction near Dublin, praised for its 45-minute guided tours, beautiful 250-acre parkland, and 22-acre botanical walled garden. Got there by Uber. So glad I could get droney out… took a lovely overhead shot I think. Castle tour started 13.30, precisely!

Malahide Castle has a long and layered history stretching back nearly 800 years. It was first established in 1185 when Richard Talbot was granted lands and a harbour at Malahide after the Norman invasion of Ireland. The Talbot family went on to own the castle for almost eight centuries, making it one of the longest-held family estates in Ireland.

Over the centuries, the castle evolved from a medieval fortress into a grand stately home. It witnessed major historical events, including the Battle of the Boyne, after which 14 members of the Talbot family were said to have breakfasted at the castle before riding to battle—only one returned.

In the 17th century, the family briefly lost the castle due to political upheaval under Oliver Cromwell, but it was later restored to them. Significant architectural additions in the Georgian period gave the castle much of its current appearance.

The Talbot lineage finally ended in 1976 with the death of Rose Talbot. Shortly afterward, the estate was sold to the Irish state, and today it is managed by Fingal County Council.

Now open to the public, Malahide Castle is known for its beautifully preserved interiors, extensive gardens, and even a reputation for being one of Ireland’s most haunted castles.

The Oak Room window looks out over the Front Lawn and Yourrells Meadows….its richly ornate timber carvings, the oak room offers visitors a chance to experience one of Ireland’s most evocative early-modern interiors. The panelling draws on continental influences and tells a story of the Talbot’s interests, devotions, and their passion for exoticism.

Made my way back from Malahide to my hotel by bus…..45 minutes later, arrived! Blimey, not easy to get around on public transport at all. Firstly, you have to have coins to deposit into a bus receptacle (notes not accepted), when you tell the bus driver where you want to go…they seem to charge you a subjective amount, but not exceeding 3 Euro on any one journey. But if you have only a 2 and 1 Euro coin and the charge is E2.60…you don’t get the change back. The driver writes you out a chit you take to the PT office somewhere in the city, for a refund. Whaatttt??? Locals have debit cards they swipe but they are not available to foreigners. Not easy to get coins from shops either! Because most take cards. Arggh! Why is it so??? From government websites, I understand that the ‘exact-coin’ system remains for a while, due to slow infrastructure modernization, with nationwide contactless payments only expected to fully roll out by 2028.

Trinity University….going to have the ‘Book of Kells Experience ‘ today……what is it you say?

Well…..one of Ireland’s most famous historical treasures – a richly decorated handwritten copy of the 4 gospels of the New Testament. Created on Iona in the 9thC by Celtic monks, before being brought to Ireland for safekeeping after Viking raids. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of of early medieval art and a symbol of Ireland’s cultural and religious heritage. The pages are filled with elaborate, colourful illustrations – intertwining animals, patterns, and symbolic figures. One of the most famous pages is the “Chi-Rho”, which decorates the name of Christ in an incredibly detailed design.

Irish linen displayed on the walls….and the ‘Long Room’…..the most famous part of the Old Library at Trinity – built between 1712-1732, with its barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling, added in the 1860’s when the library needed more space for its growing collection. It houses around 200,000 of the library’s oldest books, arranged on oak shelves. Along the central aisle, you see marble busts of great thinkers and writers (William Shakespeare, Issac Newton, Mary Wollstonecraft). Walking through it feels a bit like stepping into a grand, timeless archive – quiet, atmospheric, and steeped in history.

Red pavilion ‘an immersive, interpretative room’ helps visitors understand the Book of Kells in a more visual and atmospheric way (after leaving the ‘Long Room’) – an art installation really.

I went for a walk to find a bus that would take me to St Patrick’s Cathedral and came across the National Library of Ireland building (as you do). The reading rooms were closed today (Saturday), ah well. Didn’t find the bus stop…found myself at the Cathedral though. 8,125 steps and counting…

Love this ‘knocker’ on the door of the National Library of Ireland; and the coat of arms of St Patrick’s Cathedral (the shield features an olive tree which represents peace and features St Patrick himself; the motto translates to: “do not be arrogant/high-minded”).

St Patrick’s Cathedral, largest in Ireland, founded in 1191, is architecturally Gothic in style, with soaring arches, incredible stained glass windows and a long nave. One of its most famous figures is Jonathan Swift, who served as Dean from 1713-1745 – he is buried there alongside his companion ‘Stella’ (Esther Johnson).

The first image is of Sir Benjamin Lee Guiness, MP, (1798-1868) – grandson of the founder of the brewery; massive philanthropic benefactor in overseeing the restoration of the cathedral between 1860-1865.

The incredible Marsh’s Library (right next door to the Cathedral), founded in 1707 by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, the first library of its kind and largely unchanged from the 18thC, still housing original oak bookcases and 1st editions! Famous for its ‘reading cages’, designed to lock readers inside to prevent the theft of rare books.

The funniest (sort of) promo from the local constabulary in Garda headquarters just down from my hotel…we are here to help you in your hour of need….make sure its between 10am-5pm 🙂

Ordered a G&T back at the hotel, and got introduced to Micil gin, ‘a balance of citrus, spice and rich floral flavours’. Yeah, not anywhere near the yummy botanicals of ‘Sapphire’! Apparently I have to try ‘Drumshanbo gunpower gin’ too…. another day.