2019-09-18 – Dublin & Belfast, Ireland

Wednesday September 18th, 2019 – Dublin, Ireland (for Belfast)

We were off early having arrived (Port to Quay) at 4AM due to the tides in Dublin.

The tour today “Panoramic Belfast & Titanic Museum” (#3 Guide: Shaun; Driver: Connor; Ship: Jessica, LHS) consisted of a 2 1/2 hour long drive on the M1 Motorway completed some 6 years ago between Dublin in Eire and Belfast in Northern Ireland. We were amused by the guide telling jokes and amusing anecdotes all the way there and most of the way back. Interspersed in the blarney were some interesting points about Ireland.

• Whereas some 30-40 years ago, Ireland was in a bad shape financially and getting worse, today the economy is booming. This was achieved by the government deciding to foment education by providing all who attended University a free education. The University graduates increased from 5% to 50% in the last 25 years.
• This increase in education and favorable taxes attracted many industries and today some 30 million people around the world live with insulin produced in Ireland; 100% of cosmetic Botox in the world is produced in Ireland; more software for computers is produced in Ireland than any other country in the world other than the USA, with China, Israel and others coming in behind in the list; Aircraft parts have been made here since the time of the Wright Brothers and indeed the VTOL (Vertical Take off and Landing) aircraft technology was developed here; Many high end private jets are made here; at one point a large volume of the world’s cigarettes were made here due to the invention of the Cigarette Making Machine, however this dwindled when tobacco producing countries started purchasing the machines; Shipbuilding was very strong in Belfast for many decades, but has now diminished; Much of the military surface to air missals are produced here.
• Belfast was known as the Linen Capital of the world employing many thousands. Today most is now made in China, but some is still produced locally.
• On the drive up we passed the site of the famous Battle of the Boyne (July 12, 1690) between William of Orange and James II (The Jacobite Rebellion). On the day of the battle James attacked from the front, as William expected, but James had sent nearly half his army around the back so William had lost the battle before it began. He was able to retreat and make his way back to France.
• By the 1600’s about 50% of the population were Native Catholic Irish and the other 50% were Protestants who had settled the land from England and Scotland. All lived side by side in Peace.

The first and principal stop was at the Titanic Museum. A must see for anyone visiting Belfast. It was built on the site where the ship was constructed, and its sister ships – Olympic & Britannic. The first section of the museum takes you on a tour of the City and surroundings, but the second part only involves the Titanic. A few key interesting points was the 3D virtual view of the ship deck by deck, the full sized replica of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class cabins, all had running water (a novelty in those days). One of the interesting sections is taking a ride on what is like a cable car for 6 people around different parts of the shipyard watching the workers with their various crafts producing the ship. Unfortunately when we got to the end of the (Disney-like) ride, the security bar keeping us in, would not rise up to let us out. One, then two then five staff all tried, meanwhile no-one could get on nor could those behind us get off. The “ride” started piling up and came to a total stop. For security, one has to be in a specific decoupling gate for the doors to open and the bar to lift. Despite many attempts, no one could get it open. We eventually crawled up and around it and were able to get off, to the Cheers of those waiting in the queue to get on! We continued with the tour. We hope they found a solution soon thereafter!

We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and it all ended with seeing actual footage of the ship as it is today on the ocean floor as photographed by the ROV from the ship under Bob Ballard’s direction with John Cameron. Obviously the most famous film about the ship is Cameron’s “Titanic” but another good one is “A Night to Remember”.

We then drove around Dublin and were reminded of all the places that exist today, rebuilt, after all the bombings and fires that took place in the recent conflict. Certainly, it was not long ago that the “Cease-fire” took place. However, we went to the Peace Wall that is very reminiscent of the wall separating Israel and Palestine near Bethlehem. Very tall, thick concrete with a few gates. The guide explained that these gates can be closed at any time and for however long they wanted, thus keeping the 2 sides away from each other. The guide told us that we would not go across the gate as he would not take the risk of it being suddenly closed and we would be stranded on the other side. We got out and read some of the comments from past visitors. A very impressive, albeit sad experience from the city’s recent past. Many other points of the city were pointed out before we were given time to have lunch on our own.

We found a Robertson’s Pub / saloon opposite the famed Olympia Hotel and enjoyed Guinness as well as Irish Stew and Steak & Guinness pie. Delicious.

The guide regaled us with more amusing blarney on the return journey to Dublin.

That evening, after dining in the cafeteria, we saw the Comedian – Mike Doyle, who we had seen and enjoyed on Queen Mary 2, just a few weeks previously. He was his usual brilliant and funny.