Geldof pilgrimage!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Geldof pilgrimage!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

http://www.plume-noire.com/tripping/dublin.html

But not sure if it has any blue plaque (aren't they for the dead?). Only Rats related place is Bewleys.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

According to my Dublin guidebook it says there is a blue plaque for Bob, but doesn't say where it is. Thanks for the webpage.

MMbullybuddyGP · Drag Me Down

That's really neat, Jules! How exciting! Have you ever been to Ireland before? bet you're looking forward to the trip

let's see...Blackrock College is the only other place I can think of for you to visit down in that area (I know nothing about Ireland's geography lol), if it even still exists...

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I'm very excited, never been before. I expect I could ask in the tourist info centre if and where there is a plaque for Bob! I don't know if Blackrock still exists or where it is around Dubin area. We are going by plane so won't be coming in through Dun Logahaire!

Katharina · Dave

quote:
Originally posted by: Jules
"I am going to Dublin the week after next and would like to go to places of interest relating to Bob! I gather there is blue plaque somewhere marking the fact that he was born there. Does anyone know where this is? Wouldit be in Dun Logahaire or in the centre of Dublin? Where else should I go? Any ideas please would be appreciated. "

Hi Jules,

that's something to really look forward to! I must admit, I've been on that "pilgrimage" myself... I wouldn't admit it anywhere except here ...

I know there's some kind of sign on Grafton Street - but it indicates the place where Bob wrote Rat Trap (? not sure). I don't know if there's any sign indicating his place of birth.

There's a lot of info in the first chapters of "Is that it?" (Blackrock College etc.). We've also been to the pier in Dun Laoghaire ("Eastward Ho!"). Blackrock is on the way to Dun Laoghaire, both of which are like suburbs of Dublin, in the south. There's a train going (it's called DART, I think) and doesn't take long, twenty minutes maybe. I don't know how long you're staying, but if it's longer than the weekend, why not go to Dun Laoghaire. And don't forget to take a camera! I know it's VERY stupid to take photos of yourself in front of schools and houses, but...

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Ah well no-one will know me will they?

franna · V Deep

If you go to the Grafton Street Bewley's, will you send me a postcard? Or maybe a tin of tea? I have very fond memories of that place, even if it is a tourist trap...

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Let me have your address via a PM and I'll drop you a post card from Bewley's

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Back from a really good trip to Dublin...

Information for anyone who's interested in doing this themselves (the Geldof pilgrimage part).

The blue plaque, as described, in my guide book isn't actually a blue plaque. It is a black disc and is outside Bewley's in Grafton Street and it states that Bob Geldof and the Rats used to frequent Bewleys and Bob penned Rat Trap there. This forms part of a Rock and Stroll around Dublin, where there are a number of these disc plaques placed in places appropriate for the particular star. The other most important one is of course U2. It is found by St Stephen's Green at TFI Fridays (which was once a venue where they used to play).

Bewley's Cafe's have now shut down (November last year), a shop remains there for the time being. We asked someone why they had shut and what was happening. The rent in Grafton Street is the highest in Dublin and outgoings were extremely exensive, so Bewley's sold up to another company, who will have another cafe(s) there. It won't be Bewley's but they will supply the coffee.

Moran's Hotel is now O'Shea's and happened to be on the corner of the road where I was staying, so we spent quite a bit of time in there! There is a DART train to Dun Laoghaire, which only costs a few Euros.

MMbullybuddyGP · Drag Me Down

welcome back

thanks for the detailed info, that all sounds pretty neat. glad you had a good time

franna · V Deep

Got your postcard, Jules. Thanks. Sad that Bewley's is gone. It wasn't that great a place when I visited (2001 - was an awful tourist trap) but I did have a fabulous afternoon there with my friends. We were lucky enough to have a VERY hot Croatian waiter. He was yummy!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Well that didn't take long to get there.

I can imagine it being a tourist trap, judging by the prices of the takeaway coffee and the coffees you could by, as well as the cost of a Bewley's mug! You had a bonus though with the waiter

, definitely worthwhile staying all afternoon for!

Rita · House on Fire

Glad to hear you had a good time there Jules. I really liked Dublin when I went 2 years ago. There was a fantastic vegetarian restaurant there. Shame Bewleys has closed. We went in there a few times.