Ireland day 1063. Monday 26 August 2024- Mrs Robinson IFI

Today’s summary	We went into Dublin to see the “Mrs Robinson” film about former Irish president Mary Robinson at the Irish Film Institute. I’d give it a 3 out of 5. Walked back to Grand Canal Dock and explored a new section of the Liffey South Bank along the way. Strolled round the demesne as soon as we got back, then had mackerel salad for dinner.
Today’s weather	Overcast with a light shower in the evening. Southerly breeze. Appx 20c

Today’s overview location (The grey mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): IFI to GCD

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

We are having a bit of a filmographic phase at the moment and have a shortlist of films in mind that we’d like to see as soon as the opportunity arises. One of those close to the top of the list was “Mrs Robinson” so when we saw it was screening at the Irish Film Institute (IFI) today, we wasted no time in booking our tickets and getting in to Dublin for the matinee performance.

Actually, we never need much persuasion to go to the IFI as we really like it there – one of our favourite places in Dublin. So we weren’t worried when we got there miles too early today, because it allowed us to linger in the café with a coffee and soak up the ambience.

The film itself was, in my view “OK”. On a scale of 5 I supposed I’d give it a solid 3. It was well put together and charted Mary Robinson’s pathway to becoming Ireland’s first female president convincingly. It was weaker, though, on its subject’s more recent activities related to poverty and climate change. In this case, less might have been more. Anyway, it was an enjoyable afternoon and we were both glad to have seen it.

It was strange coming out of the darkened interior of the cinema into the bright daylight of a late summer afternoon. Somehow we both felt it should have been dark and with a chill wind blowing penetrating drizzle through the air. So, seeing as it was actually quite pleasant, we decided not to return direct to Malahide, but rather to walk along the Liffey South Bank as far as Grand Canal Dock, and then to get the train from there direct back to Malahide.

It turned out to be a good decision. We hadn’t really explored much of the southern riverbank east of Tara Street, and it was interesting. The ancient diving bell, used in the excavations of Dublin Port in the 1870s, and which is now preserved on the promenade, was particularly fascinating.

It was only a short walk from the riverbank down to Grand Canal Dock station, passing by the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the way. Once we finally located the way into the station (it was a bit obscure), we only had a short wait before a Dundalk-bound diesel came in and quickly delivered us through Dublin and on to Malahide.

But once we were off the train, we still felt in need of a bit more fresh air and exercise. So we took a quick walk round the demesne before returning to the flat and then sitting down to enjoy a mackerel salad for dinner. All very healthy and tasty, and a great way to round off a great day!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Back again. IFI is one of our favourite Dublin haunts – and it doesn’t seem long since we were here last!	Docker immortalised in bronze, hard at work on the south bank of the Liffey

Across the river is the Jeannie Johnston – the ship which successfully helped famine victims flee to America in the mid 1840s. We haven’t visited yet, but we must	Here we are on the south bank, with the iconic harp-styled Samuel Beckett bridge behind us

Inside the huge diving bell developed by the magnificently-named Bindon Blood Stoney in around 1870. It was used to enable the underwater excavations which were needed to deepen Dublin Port	Underneath the railway bridge at Grand Canal Dock

Stoney’s diving bell is now open to curious passers-by on the Liffey’s south bank. At its time, it was one of the largest of its kind in the world