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Whereever you go in Dublin, the mountains are always there on the southern horizon. Some days they look dark, a dim and brooding presence. Other days, when the air is clear, it seems you can see every field and every hedgerow clear to the tops. It’s days like that when the mountains are most inviting.
Those who accept this invitation and go hillwalking are well rewarded. There’s one spot called the Cruagh Wood, up there, only about twenty minutes beyond Tallaght. The trail up there is wide enough to be a road, just about, and offers a fine view of the city as well as an hour’s exercise in the crisp air.
In early January of this year, a crew of us decided to get up where the snow was and burn off some Christmas flab. Midway along, we stopped and uncorked the thermos. Time for coffee and to see what landmarks we could recognize! Pheonix Park is the largest enclosed city park in Europe, so it was impossible to miss. Two monuments inside were visible- the Wellington Monument, and the Pope’s Cross. Tracing east, there was the green dome of the Four Courts, then farther on the Liberty Hall (Dublin’s only skyscraper) and the shining white face of the Customs House. The coastline, there, where the city meets Dublin Bay was the easiest for landmarks --the two giant towers from Ringsend Power Station, the bird sanctuary of Bull Island and then, north of that, the ‘jutland’ (peninsula) of Howth- almost a mountain in itself! The Ballymun towers were easily enough spotted, the 60’s housing projects more an eyesore than a landmark. Various church towers--- beyond that, it was a game. Nearer, in the southern part of the city, we could make out the rose-shaped water tower on the UCD campus. Someone spotted RTE’s broadcasting tower in Donnybrook --looking tiny from up where we were! We tried to see where the Leopardstown racecourse was, but could only recognize the industrial estate where JBA used to be. It was fun, and the hazy picture above can’t begin to approach the vista. It’s a view that must be seen for one’s self.
Arriving back at the car, we considered taking a visit to Johnny Fox’s, the highest Pub in Ireland (elevation-wise.) We decided to leave it for another day, sometime when we visit Glendoloch or the town where they film the TV show Ballykissangel or keep it for a reward after we attempt one of the more serious hillwalks available in the Dublin-Wicklow Mountains. Another day, Wicklow Mountains. For us, it was down into the city for a warm fire and a bit of grub.
Guide Index Red words? Check the Dub Glossary!