A portion of the possible 360 degree view
of Dublin from the Guinness Storehouse Gravity Bar.
of Dublin from the Guinness Storehouse Gravity Bar.
At 9:30am we left our Glen Cove B&B, navigated over the short bent bridge and began our drive of about 300 km. from Ennis to Dublin.
Our waiter the evening before expressed his disgust at to how this nothing village in Ireland had disgraced itself purely through a tourism opportunity. Apparently a genealogist discovered that Obama had a great-great-great-grandfather named Falmouth Kearney who once lived in this very village named Moneygall. He was disgusted how this village had taken advantage of this and built a lucrative tourist business around this sudden reality. Obama-mania broke out. Obama T-shirts, Obama Cafe's and the rest was history.
Then when he discovered we were traveling to Dublin the next day, he realized we'd be driving right past this very village! It was hilarious how quickly he changed his tune and began insisting we had to stop in and see the place. We were amused at his sudden change of heart.
Unfortunately, we were scheduled to see places in Dublin we'd paid for so we did not have time to stop in and do Moneygall justice.
We drove without incident right into the center of Dublin. Parked our car in a central location and used our "walk-a-mobiles" the rest of the afternoon. Our first destination was the Guinness Warehouse. Below you see the line-up. It was overcast and chilly. What did we do
Our waiter the evening before expressed his disgust at to how this nothing village in Ireland had disgraced itself purely through a tourism opportunity. Apparently a genealogist discovered that Obama had a great-great-great-grandfather named Falmouth Kearney who once lived in this very village named Moneygall. He was disgusted how this village had taken advantage of this and built a lucrative tourist business around this sudden reality. Obama-mania broke out. Obama T-shirts, Obama Cafe's and the rest was history.
Then when he discovered we were traveling to Dublin the next day, he realized we'd be driving right past this very village! It was hilarious how quickly he changed his tune and began insisting we had to stop in and see the place. We were amused at his sudden change of heart.
Unfortunately, we were scheduled to see places in Dublin we'd paid for so we did not have time to stop in and do Moneygall justice.
We drove without incident right into the center of Dublin. Parked our car in a central location and used our "walk-a-mobiles" the rest of the afternoon. Our first destination was the Guinness Warehouse. Below you see the line-up. It was overcast and chilly. What did we do
We had a pre-paid voucher and so were invited right inside to a short line-up in the warmth!
Larry stands before a blue waterfall. The point being how pure water is a very important element of guinness's success.
The Guinness Storehouse was where beer was first made but has been turned into a tourist center explaining the history and method of making each pint. For this purpose the plant has been transformed into the shape of a giant pint of Guinness, that if full would hold 14.3 million pints! The tour begins at the bottom of the glass and works it's way up to the foam or "head" of the glass of Guinness. The Master Brewer will guide you through each stage, going up through each of the seven floors of the glass to the very top.

Let me highlight some unique things about the tour. First, it is very high tech, the master brewer illustrating the process via videos all the way up. Also, there is a display of all the famous people who have visited the place. Above right is Tom Cruse's photo having a Guinness.
The other thing is the creative advertising the company engaged in. On the left you see an example.
When you get to the top floor, you are in the Gravity bar where you line up to claim your complimentary pint of Guinness, complete with a shamrock flourish. This completely glass-enclosed level provides a 360 degree view over the brewery and the city. (See photo above)
The other thing is the creative advertising the company engaged in. On the left you see an example.
When you get to the top floor, you are in the Gravity bar where you line up to claim your complimentary pint of Guinness, complete with a shamrock flourish. This completely glass-enclosed level provides a 360 degree view over the brewery and the city. (See photo above)

The final unique aspect of the Guinness plant is that Arthur Guinness founder of the Guinness brewery, signed a lease that would never happen today. It can be viewed on the main floor and you can see the signature and the date, it was a 9000 year lease signed Dec. 31, 1759 for an annual rent of 45 Pounds. Amazing! This signature is still copied on every label of bottled Guinness.
"Beer makes you feel the way
you ought to feel without beer."
– Henry Lawson – Australian Poet and Writer
you ought to feel without beer."
– Henry Lawson – Australian Poet and Writer