Adventure #9 Norn Iron (Part 3) In Dublin’s fair city…
Thursday 22nd January Warrenpoint->Dublin-> Waterford
Day 3 I told you it was epic.
A disgustingly early start, possibly the best breakfast I’ve ever had (smoked salmon, scrabbled eggs and potato bread) a beautiful view and we crossed back into the Republic. The border is so sneaky I missed it.
I had even more meet ups with Get Ireland Growing Projects in Dublin before I could finally get home.
It was nice though, a wander round Dublin alone with a little time on my hands to watch the fog rise from the Liffey and the bridges appear as the weather cleared and friendly Dubliners helping me at every corner. Especially the guy who wound down his window when I was waiting patiently at the traffic lights to say ‘take a chance’ then wound his window back up.
First was Liberties Community Training Agency, a place early school leavers go to get vocational training similar to the Youth Outreach we went to in Youghal. I find it slightly odd to still be in the age category for these places despite coming on behalf of an organisation that has helped to support them. I definitely get odd looks sometimes, I suppose I was lucky enough to find things that I enjoyed and was good at a school so life has been easier academically for me than those guys. The training agency are still in the early stages of the project with a bare square of ground surrounded by spiky fencing, it’ll be great when it’s done though. A place for people to learn to grow and grow to learn in the heart of Dublin city.
I then went on to have lunch with Kaethe Burt-O'Dea of SPUDs.ie, who had received Get Ireland Growing funding for her idea of growing and promoting the use of blight resistant potatoes and turning them into crisps. It all started with Kaethe trying to live a zero waste (or as close as) life style and realising there was nowhere nearby for composting so she started a community composting area at the end of her street, which became a garden. Then SPUDs was started in response to the use of GM potatoes in Ireland and now she wants to start an urban bee project teaching people how to care for bees.
In other words I met an uber GIYer. A person up to their ears in growing for themselves and with plenty of thought provoking chat on the ideals and aims of community initiatives and social enterprises and sustainability. She also to made me feel like my hectic life is pretty restful.
A train journey later (my chauffeur had left me) and I finally got back to my bed WIT had even condescended to finally get the heating working again.
So all in all a happy ending to an epic adventure.
