Shower thoughts: Musings on a trip through Ireland

It’s my first day back from my trip to Europe, so let’s do some international Shower Thoughts.

US politics

I think it’s safe to say that most of the civilized world is bewildered by the current state of US politics. I had quite a few eyebrows raised, and thinly veiled questions where the subtext was, “What is happening to you guys?” I mostly apologized for the Stars & Stripes loss of stature on the world’s stage.\

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Heritage

I had mistakenly thought that my last name “Upshaw” originated in Ireland, so initially I was excited to explore my heritage there. Turns out I was wrong. Upshaw goes back to England, but Ireland is a lovely country none the less. I wandered around Dublin on my first day and stepped into a prototypical Irish pub. It wasn’t until I started looking at the menu that I realized I was in O’Neill’s. They’ve been serving pints and food since 1713. I snapped a few photos and sent them to Don right away.

Ireland’s right to choose

Also on that first day I got a front row seat for a bit of history. The voters of Ireland repealed their 8th Amendment by an overwhelming landslide. Women will now have the right to choose for the first time.

You’ve never seen so many political signs on lampposts. Just about every pole had a “vote yes” or “vote no” placard attached with zip ties. I made my way into the courtyard of Dublin Castle as thousands gathered to await the official announcement of the results. The “Yes” side won by a huge margin 65 percent to – 35 percent. The mostly-younger crowd celebrated rowdily. To over simplify things, not only was this vote about Women’s Rights, but among the Irish, it represented one of the final nails in the coffin of dominance of the Catholic Church.

Cliffs of Moher

Jet lag is not my favorite thing, but the Cliffs of Moher are definitely on my favorite places list. What a stunning sight to see on a sunny day. If you’re unfamiliar as I was, it’s a stretch of dramatic cliffs on the west coast of the island. Some as high as 650 feet straight down into the Atlantic Ocean, and they go on for about 5 miles or so. It’s something right out of “Game of Thrones” or “Lord of the Rings.” In fact, JRR Tolkien is thought to have named “The Two Towers” after the pair of towers at Moher. He did live nearby for a time.

“The Dubliners”

My co-worker and former English teacher Tom Tangney recommended that I read “The Dubliners” by James Joyce for background on my trip. So with many of those stories fresh in my mind, here were my first thoughts of the country. It’s a habit I have when trying to make sense of a new place.

Dublin is low slung. The buildings do not reach for the sky, but are made of brick. They are stout and practical and not too flashy. At first glance, they match the ambitions of Ireland. Keep things close to the earth, and keep your dreams realistic.

Dublin is cozy and lovely and seems to know its place.

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