Tag Archives: Living in Dublin

Why The Irish Drink: Is Ireland A Country of Alcoholics Or An Alcoholic Country

The world knows Ireland as a country of pubs, and happy, hard working, hard drinking folk.  Right, wrong, or indifferent, that’s the world’s impression, and it’s not entirely undeserved.  In fact it’s often a proudly displayed badge of honor for … Continue reading

Posted in Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Pubs | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Seeing The Sights: Learning To Be a Tourist In Your Own Home

Like many who enjoy traveling to new places, when we moved to Dublin, I deliberately distanced myself, mentally, and often physically, from the millions of tourists who visit Ireland each year.  “I live here now. I’m no tourist.”  I realize … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Patriot Games: Watching the Olympics in a New Country

For the last month or so, watching the Olympics and thinking more and more about life in a new country, I’ve found myself contemplating loyalty to country and differences between patriotism and nationalism. When you grow up in America watching … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Flavor Of Home

When you move overseas the “to be taken” list seems endless. But the list of things to be left behind is non-existent. It never gets made. In your frenzy to reduce the cost of shipping you jettison as much as … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Irish Food Surprises

Well, today this blog hits the big 40 (40 entries).  I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who’ve encouraged, promoted, heckled, badgered, battered, belittled, and bemoaned this blog.  But most of all, I’d like to thank those … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Always New

For the past week or so, I’ve been chasing a certain feeling/idea that has maddeningly remained just a step or two ahead of me. It’s hard to explain, but it’s the notion that living abroad gives you a constant feeling … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Writers & Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Love of City Not Country – Dublin vs. Ireland

Ever since the controversial Five Things I Hate About Dublin, Ireland post, numerous well meaning (I’m sure) people have asked me why we don’t just leave.  The simple answer is Dublin.  The post, I now realize, was misnamed.  Most of … Continue reading

Posted in Bureaucracy, Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Resolutions in a New Country

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions.  I figure that if you really want to change a pattern of behavior there’s no need to fetishize a particular date? Just start changing.  To me picking a resolution start … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish Life & Society, Writers & Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Love At First Pint: Finding The Right Dublin Pub

For months it squatted on the edge of my consciousness. For more than 150 years it’s occupied a prominent corner in Milltown.  Finally, it could be avoided no longer.  This past Saturday night we were destined to try The Dropping … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Dublin Life, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dublin Cabbies – The Mobile Opinion Poll

When we moved to Dublin we made the conscious decision not to have a car.  Lack of personal transportation coupled with the fact that we’re still learning our way around has meant that we’ve leaned on Dublin’s network of cabs … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments