Ireland day 1545. Sunday 20 December 2025- Dublin Shops Again

Today’s summary	Val was working so after a relatively early start, I went into Dublin to continue shopping for Christmas supplies. Packed lunch and Starbucks coffee in the Epic centre then Drogheda train from Connolly back to Malahide. Val back soon after 5pm and we had Jamón de Ibérico for dinner.
Today’s weather	Dry with plenty of sun. Light easterly breeze. Appx 9c

Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The blue 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): Dublin Shopping Again

Commentary

First things first. I said I’d report back on our dinner at the “Grand” hotel last night and in summary, it was good. Decent food, reasonable service, not too loud (it’s curious how your priorities change as you get older!) and relatively affordable prices (€105 for two including a glass of wine). I think we would both go back.

The only curious feature of our evening out last night was the peculiar smell which was pervading our apartment block when we got back. We suspected a blocked drain – or worse – in the basement only to discover the true source of the malodour when we opened the door to our flat. Yes indeed, it was my braised cabbage. I’m sure it will make for interesting dining over Christmas but for the time being it’s been bagged up and frozen, hopefully safely keeping the smell at bay for the time being.

Anyway, back to today. Val had a shift at the museum so I was up early making packed lunches and getting breakfast ready. She scooted off in time for an 9:30 am start, leaving me in charge of a long shopping list of things we needed to get for Christmas. Most important of which was, of course, the turkey.

To make sure I got everything we needed, I decided the best course of action would be to go into Dublin and visit the various victuallers in town. So I got my act together and caught a late morning train which saw me on O’Connell street by about 11:30

I’d wanted to call in at Mountain Warehouse but it didn’t open until 12. So I walked west towards Jervis and “A taste of Spain” in Capel St. I decided we would treat ourselves to some Jamón de Ibérico, which were having tonight for dinner.

From there I walked across the bridge to Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street where I got a few more treats for tonight’s dinner.

My final major stop was Marks & Spencer in Grafton Street, where I bought the turkey (phew!). There’s still more to get but that can be done tomorrow. I don’t think we are going to starve over Christmas, at any rate.

By this time I realised that Mountain Warehouse would be open, so I wandered back to O’Connell street to visit the shop. I was able to get a lightweight down jacket – of a style I’ve had before – for a good price. Originally €199 but reduced to €99 in the current sale. Then a further 15% off with my Dublin Walking Club membership card. Fantastic value!

It was well after lunchtime by this stage. Fortunately I had my packed lunch with me, so I walked along the Liffey embankment to the EPIC centre and enjoyed it in the atrium, along with a large Starbucks coffee.

Once I’d eaten, it was only a short stroll to Connolly, where a conveniently-timed Drogheda train was waiting to whisk me back to Malahide a few minutes later.

Anyway I must stop now. It’s going up to 5pm and Val will be back soon. She’s sure to be hungry after a day’s toil, so I better get the salad washed, the jamón prepared, and the wine breathing so we can be ready to eat straightaway. Then after that I think we’ll probably go for a short stroll and watch some TV while also doing some planning for the Christmas week.

Busy times!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

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Connolly station – journey’s start..	Novel pedestrian crossing indicator – traffic lights on the ground by your feet! Designed for people who are perpetually staring down at their phones, I guess, rather than actually looking where they are going (on Eden Quay, by O’Connell bridge)

Custom House, looking splendid, as always	..journey’s end – Connolly station

A flashback to last night – dining in “Coast” restaurant at the Grand Hotel. It was quite reasonable – both price and quality. And not too noisy

Avian adornments on O’Connell Bridge