The cab arrives to take us the Connolly Station. Much like our founding fathers - Washington, Jefferson etc. - there are a lot of buildings named after the father of the Irish Rebellion and Republic.
We have a great driver. He knows where we are going. It is rush hour in Dublin and we have to drive across the central part of the city.
We have experience with the trains of the UK, France and Italy. Those experiences have been excellent. We are reasonably confident. I have tried to get a feeling for the Irish train system. I ordered the tickets on line. Instructions were simple and direct but designed for travelers familiar with Irish rail.
So to me, they are vague and incomplete. Also, there is the question of the location of the stations and can we get there from here.
The Connolly station is the main station in Dublin. It is both a commuter and travel station. The cab driver drops us off across the street. Traffic is very heavy. He points out that it will save us time (fare) to cross the street.
Now, I am at my worse. How do I pickup tickets? Did I get the right date? Right destination? Are there more than one Wexford? Where are the machines? Did I order correctly? Do I have the code on my phone? You get the idea.
I stand on the sidewalk. Betty, Caroline and Bill's confidence in me is waning by the second. I see no machines. All the people know where they are going. We are a road block with our luggage and backpacks.
I do eventually realize that there is an escalator up to a second floor. Logic is that since nothing on the ground floor everything will be on the floor above.
Now, if you are by yourself, you can meander making left turns instead of right. When there are five of you it is not as easy.
The station is on the second floor. The ground floor is for the commuter trains.
I ask and Information Desk points to the kiosk five feet to my right. But, at least, I can say that I ask (it is a male myth "that men do not ask for directions").
I print the tickets which are the common 2 1/2" by 3" piece of paper. Just the right size to be easily lost or misplaced. As you travel, you collect these used tickets in pockets and luggage. Not discarding the used tickets is of a sign of your insecurity. You know you should but somehow you just can't do it.
Now, we have plenty of time to find Platform #5. Trust me, until that train arrives you are not comfortable.
Standing on the Platform as the clock moves to 08:40, we ask ourselves over and over again - can this be the right platform - is there another #5 we do not know of. The trains do not look right. Where are the other passengers? Where is our train on the overhead screen?
The train to Wexford arrives. As with all train schedules, the overhead shows the final destination not the stops. Wexford is the second to last stop.
When selecting seats, I presumed a standard configuration - seats facing forward in rows. This configuration is seating on each side of a table which is ideal. Unfortunately, my selection puts us across the aisle from each other. Lesson learned. When selecting seats - push "best seats available".
We are lucky. There is open seating so we select a table and squat.
It is little over two hour ride to Wexford. No matter how much research you do - maps and websites - there is no real way to visualize distance and space. That is part of the adventure. This is a local with stops at small towns along the way.
Ireland is making a large push to bring back the "Irish" language (it is Irish - not Gallic). My comment is if you think French is difficult - you have no idea. The result of this resurrection is that all signs are in both Irish and English and all announcements are first in Irish and then English. It is fun.
The English dating back to the 1600s prohibited the speaking of "Irish". After the 1798 Rebellion, speaking Irish would result in imprisonment and deportation. As a result, Irish almost died out in western Ireland.
The most fun was that the conductor ends each announcement with "thank you for using Irish rail" or something like that. The first time you hear the announcement - it sounds like "neither far nor near". The second, third, fourth, you are sure he is saying "neither far nor near". So at every announcement, we chime in "neither far nor near".
To see Ireland, you really need to drive. Views from the train are constantly hindered by growth along the railway. What we do see is beautiful. Ireland is green, rolling hills with neat villages and towns. It is evident that agriculture remains a major economic force in Ireland. As with all nations, economics affects history- sometimes quietly and other times with a roar. In Ireland, 800 years of occupation by the British it is a scream.
There is a snack cart. We made sandwiches at the house by cleaning out the refrigerator. We still buy crisps (chips) and beverages. More time to practice, our developing skill with currency.
The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU and therefore, the currency is the Euro. We are dealing with pockets of British Sterling (paper and coins) and Euros (paper and coins). Both the the Pound Sterling and the Euro use coins for one and two denominations. They are different in thickness but not when you are reaching in your pocket and everyone is looking at you (no they are not -but they do know you are a tourist). The vendors are obviously aware and quickly hand back the incorrect coinage.
Wexford is vastly different than what I expected. It is a fishing town. It is a friendly and diverse town. Wexford is very proud of its heritage and history.
At the station, Betty calls our host to find out how to locate the apartment. The owner is a delightful and ingratiating lady. She immediately drives down and picks us up at the train station.
The apartment overlooks large fishing boats, a bridge and the bay. We are a few blocks from central Wexford. Everything is a quick walk away.
The building has been recently remodeled with a dental clinic on the ground floor. We are on the third floor (not that bad, the apartment is three floors up - not four as you expect where the European ground floor does not count). There is no elevator but it proves not to be an issue.
As our hostess details the apartment to us (the bathrooms are great - and there are two of them), I ask her if she knows of how we might hire a driver to take us to Cushinstown.
Our maternal family roots are to southeastern Ireland and, specifically, Wexford County. We have traced a marriage to the church in Cushinstown. We have no idea where Cushinstown is other than it is near Wexford. We have surmised that it is a road sign and a church. From our hostess's reaction, we are correct. She has no idea.
We also know we need to drive which means we need to hire a driver and car. We came to Wexford as a homage to our ancestry and to see if we can locate more details.
The hostess says she will find out and will get back to us. (another reason you need cellphones when traveling).
She calls back within an hour. Her neighbor has volunteered and will pick us up at the apartment at 09:00.
It is @ 14:00 and everyone is tired. The apartment is pleasant, all agree that the afternoon is for resting. I take a quick walk around town to orient myself and for exercise. I locate a nice market around the block and buy some necessities for the apartment and breakfast.
Dinner is fish and chips from Sharkey's - Yelp's best fish and chips in Wexford. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy authentic - real - fish and chips. It is the same as - Texas BBQ - first thing off the plane - Goode's on Kirby.
Tomorrow - Church.
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