The National Botanic Gardens 

Although the principal object of botanic gardens is to maintain collections of plant species for the purpose of  study, many can be pleasant and instructive places to visit. The National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin Ireland's  premier botanical and horticultural establishment, is a rewarding and attractive garden for gar deners and  non-gardeners alike. Occupying a beautiful forty-eight acre site on the banks of the Tolka River it contains over 20,000 different plant  species and cultivars including many exceptional specimens. There are some lovely trees, many outstanding displays of  shrubs and perennials, a great selection of plants of the rhododendron family and, of course, the famous glasshouses, including Turner's magnificent curvilinear range. These buildings have long been a great attraction of  Glasnevin, especially the curvilinear range which was commissioned by David Moore in the 1840s and is now in the  process of being restored. The central pavilion and one wing of this range was built by Richard Turner, the  Dublin-born ironmaster, and completed in 1848. Twenty years later Turner ingeniously doubled the building in size by  removing the walls and extending it back. The Great Palm House containing the tropical tree collection and notable now for its cycads was built in 1884, while its side wings, housing orchids and flowering pot plants, belong to an earlier building. 

by Thomas Berger

Christ Church Cathedral 

A real treat is the Christ Church Cathedral of Dublin which was near our hostel, Kinley House . It seemed to be a clearly identifiable sign of God�s goodwill that suddenly the sun came out on this otherwise so windy and rainy day. The cathedral, which was built in the year 1030, briefly became a cathedral priory under the Benedictines at the end of the eleventh century . Inside the ancient halls we could discover statues of Charles the first and Charles the second and a spectacular organ . In the church�s history some parts had been destroyed or damaged, so that some major restorations were necessary over the centuries.
 Some visitors expressed surprise at being asked to give a donation on entering the church. However, in Ireland churches do not receive any financial help from either national or local government.
Our pilgrimage was successful and we were able to make a lot of beautiful photos to take home.

by Marc-Michael Fuchs 
 

The home trip to Brighton

Once in England we were greeted with weather similar to the sort we had had in Achill, grey skies, rain however less wind and not so cold. Laura was met at Gatwick airport, the rest of us took the coach back to Brighton. This marked the end of our trip and months of planning. We returned tired but with lots of memories.
 

by Helen Silk.