Just to clarify, I am not a Dubliner, I’m a Yorkshire Lad who loves a pint and the craic!

I first visited Dublin in 1999 over St. Paddy’s weekend, a last ditch attempt to save a failing relationship with a former girlfriend it failed, ( I could only sleep with one eye open for so long, but that is another story) but I had most definitely found a new love! The city closed down to cars on the morning of St. Patricks Day and never before had I seen so many p1ssed up people in one place, but with all the arse baring and frolicking (the crowds not me!) literally thousands of people on all day sessions lining the streets, there was not one sign of trouble, just real pride in their nation and their city. I had never seen such a street carnival and spent hours wondering around taking it all in.

Having sought advice we found a pub (I know, not a tricky find in Dublin) and stayed there for the afternoon. The Palace Bar at the bottom of the Temple Bar area was the location, more by luck than judgement, and we sat at the bar for the afternoon, we were amazed at how welcome we were made, drinking, chatting and as the Guinness took effect even having a sing song with the locals (little were we to know that this isn’t that unusual in a Dublin pub). We left at tea time to go and freshen up, the barman warned us we wouldn’t get in a pub on our return as it would be manic. “We’kk be right” I replied thinking it was a sneaky way of us ordering another drink.

We never got in another pub that night, too busy (probably should have listened), but we did see the largest firework display ever seen in Europe (up to that point, the millennium might have blown that claim out the water). Stood on O’Connell Bridge (the only bridge in Europe that is as wide as it is long) looking East down the Liffey as it was lit up with the endless explosions of the fireworks.

This trip was 15 years ago so a lot of the details are vague, I do remember being blown away by the view from the bar at the top of the Guinness factory, a 360 degree glass bar 4 or 5 storeys up showing the skyline of Dublins fair city!

And as soon as we had arrived it was time to leave, but i would be back (without her!) without any doubt!