Shooting, Hurling, and Football

Despite the Dublin's best effort, I discovered a service that is cheaper here than back in the States. For a mere 5 Euro I secured a haircut along the North Side of the Liffey. Fortunately, this past week was far more exciting than a cheap Monday-haircut, and my Tuesday/Wednesay-draft essay on the strength of the Dáil Éireann.

On Thursday, Sean and I returned to the Rifle Club to make use of our free session that came with our 2 Euro membership fee from last week. Using the .22 caliber smallbore rifles we shot from the prone position at a 2 inch circular target at a range of 25 yards with a non-magnifying scope. Since it was our first time shooting smallbore, the range operators outfitted us with a resting block to use as a rifle mount, and were on hand to provide constant feedback. Following our ten rounds, my shots proved precise if not necessarily accurate.

Rifle Club Target

Full Dublin Album

Three activities conspired to make Friday interesting. First off, Cadbury setup a tent and a few timed competitions on the rugby pitch to award three Nintendo Wii consoles to the three students who stacked 28 coins,  unrolled toilet paper, or made a bed the fastest. Each had various limits as to the number of limbs to be used, with all competitors awarded a full-size chocolate bar for their efforts. Two events received most of my attention: a inflatable that held a bungie cord race that snapped you backwards as you tried to reach the end - no Wii involved, and the toilet paper one, as I was prone to lapping the event and letting it catch the wind or another competitor to unravel. 

Later that day, I finally visited the Memory Lab at Trinity's Science Gallery. The month-long, open-to-the-public exhibit boasts 11 memory exercises, many on computers, with the data collected to be used for a Trinity research paper. After participating in four, my strengths were "Information Overload," which involved reciting 9-number sequences while completing a timed maze; and "Saved by the Memories," which centered on ranking various words as to their usefulness in particular situations, then memorizing number sequences, then trying to remember as many of the previous words as possible. I was least successful at "Two Second Memory" and "Don't You Know Who I Am?"

At night, Sean, John, and I set out for O'Reilly's Pub, as recommended by the Rifle Club for its cheap pints that are always 3.20 Euro. The place is tucked under the Tara Street Station and is reachable via a narrow alley by the Ulster Bank building along the Liffey. Despite the negative image that might surface from a pub located under a set of Dart tracks, the place was marked for its classic furnishings and bustling atmosphere. However, word was out about its prices, as the place was full to bursting. Adding our guilt at skipping MacTorcaill's, and one pint later, we had left for our favorite pub. Of note there, was our successful request for Cheers to be the last song of the night, and two spring 2009 AU graduates who are studying for their masters at Trinity.

On saturday, Brittany, Sean, Emma and I set out for Croke Park and the GAA double-header featuring Dublin versus Kilkenny in Hurling followed by Dublin versus Down in Gaelic Football. Despite deciding to try a unknown shortcut to the stadium, we arrived in time for the matches. Of course, we refers to Sean and I who saw the hurling match from the 20 minute mark onward, while Brittany and Emma were separated when they went looking for Kathryn and only made it to the stadium for football. A torrential downpour and hailstorm during the hurling game delayed their arrival, while we watched the exciting match under the protection of the stadium's overhang.

Sean and I at Croke Park

Of note at the stadium: Dublin overcame a late goal by Kilkenny to claw back 3 points through the uprights, including a last second, stoppage time shot; Jedward, Ireland's entry in the Eurosong competition, performed their unique style, including two of their songs, Say it Ain't So, Ice Ice Baby, and Ghostbusters, at halftime; and Dublin came from a point behind in the closing minutes, to tie Down, and win with a stunning last second goal.

On Sunday, Sean and I made use of my Groupon to tour the nearly 52,000-seat Aviva Stadium, the home of Irish Rugby and Football. Completed in 2010, the basket-shaped structure replaced the Lansdowne Road stadium, built in 1872. The state-of-the-art facility is one of the buildings that standout as the last throws of the Celtic Tiger. I only wish that I had 80 Euro to spend watching the UEFA Europa League Final on 15 May.

Aviva Stadium with lights to stimulate grass growth visible in the background

Full Dublin Part II Album

This week is the final five days of classes, different from my usual four days as a professor switched our class to Monday/Friday. Tuesday I interview with the Chief Operating Officer of Public Notice, an economic policy advocacy firm in Arlington, VA; and Friday is the Trinity Ball. By next Sunday night, I will be in Rome.