Jamais wrote:
Are you talking about the book? Info is on the first page of the forum topic: [url]forum/friendship-triangle-exchange/5437-order-your-sotttstripper-books-here[/url]

If you aren't aware of the book, check here: [url]forum/friendship-triangle-exchange/4792-sos-a-memory-book-for-our-exchanges-[/url]

Rita, Lotti, and Rosemary - Thank you very much for the visitor information. I've copied and sent on to my friend this morning. What a great forum!!!

OH, hello all! I have been so out of touch... I am just catching up on who knows how many posts? Trip to the Cape of S.Africa and Dubai went off perfectly, and had to work like a fiend to get caught up on work when I got back.
Rita! WOW! Fabulous voice, awesome talent! And prayers for the eye surgery!
Robyn- love the acronym. I have had a WOMBAT or two.
Margo- I did get my blocks! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. But I am seeing a new thread for SOT TTT??? What is that about?
Spring is in full swing here and it is GLORIOUS... Thank you, GOD!!!

PosyP wrote:
Rosemary you are right about that. Lotti, that has reminded me of the Guinness Storehouse on James Street - not far to walk from the centre. They usually have some sort of exhibition and you can even find out about family who might have worked for the Guinnesses as they have an archive. I think you might have to book the archive in advance though. It's a great alternative to the official genealogy route.
Here's a link:

http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx

thanks rita.

i thought it was worth mentioning Dublinia as most North Americans are (pardon me folks), NUTS about anything medieval - and the Dublinia "Vikings in Dublin" exhibition is very good - providing sounds, smells and a good feel of what life was like - and its right smack in the middle of Dublin just a few blocks from the Guiness Factory and actually lets you sit down for part of the exhibition... always a favorite when sight-seeing

i'll be checking out some of these woolen mills, get out my foto album and try to see where we were and where we have to go this time around - might have been Foxford in Mayo...

I suspect that design & inspiration hunting would be a better bet, rather than fabric hunting in Dublin.

Hi Lotti, I don't know which mills that would have been but there are several: Kerry Woolen Mills, Cushendale in Kilkenny, Donegal Woolen Mills, Foxford in Mayo, Glendalough in Wicklow, Blarney in Cork. There are probably more but I can't remember where. There must be one in Galway too! Thanks for reminding me about 'Dublinia' I wasn't sure if it was still up and running but I have just checked and it is. The Woolen Mills in Dublin is not like the ones around the country which are great for buying Aran sweaters and other woolen items. The Dublin one was taken over by a company called Trimmings so they are mainly haberdashery now with some wool for sale.

Jane: another interesting museum in Dublin is "Dublinia", it's located next to Christchurch Cathedral and has some very interesting exhibitions about Dublin's past - if you like Medieval and Viking times... this is for you... http://www.dublinia.ie/

Rita: many many many moons ago we visited a great Woollen Mills Museum in a small town, i think it was in the West or North West of Ireland... they had a great multimedia-museum to walk through and experience the history and hardships of the town and it's people. can't remember where it was - but if we end up in the region again both Daniela and I would love to go there again - they also had a great little shop next door where i purchased a fabulous fabulous alpaca scarf which i would love to replace... if i remember correctly the woolen mills were set up by nuns or a nun to give the poor community a place to work and i think it is still working - at least it was when we were there - i might be completely and totally wrong in this - as i mentioned - it's been many many many moons - probably a good 15 years.... but it was our favorite museum ever...

Thanks Robyn, Kathy, Maureen. Maureen my DH is from Belfast so the NI connection is always there with us!

Jane, It is sad for me to relate to you that there are only two place in Dublin city now where your friend will be able to get fabrics - and neither of them is great! One is the Dublin Woolen Mills which is across the Halfpenny Bridge from Temple Bar. Upstairs they have a small collection of quilting fabrics with a larger section of haberdashery downstairs. The other is Hickeys which is in Henry Street, which is mainly unholstery and bridal fabric but in the basement they have a small collection of quilting fabrics. They are not cheap at all and the selection is very poor. The only other place in Dublin is Fabric Matters in Rathfarnham which is about 30 minutes from the centre but she would have to book an appointment as it is run from Wendy Huggins home. http://www.fabricmatters.ie

Other places of interest: Trinity College - the grounds are lovely to walk around and the library houses the Book of Kells; Dublin Castle is right in the centre of town and worth a visit; behind it is the Chester Beatty Liberary which is really a museum and it's my all time favourite. It has a very pretty little garden at the front and it is so quiet you would never know you were in the city. It has a restaurant too. If she is interested in seeing what a Georgian redbrick Dublin house was like then Number 29 Fitzwilliam Street is open to the public. The Royal Hospital in Kilmainham which is a 17th Century building and houses the Irish Museum of Modern Art is also a lovely place to go and only a short taxi ride from the centre; The Casino in Marino is an 18th Century neo-classical building which is perfectly formed but on a tiny scale and again only a short taxi ride from the centre. The National Art Gallery in in Merrion Square is lovely too. Another favourite of mine is the War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge where the gardens were designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. It is a memorial to all those Irish men who served in WWI. The gardens and the beautiful architecture have been renovated and it is now open to the public. We used to play around there when I was young and it was completely overgrown so I am particularly pleased that it is back to its former glory. There are two little houses that list the names of all those who served and died.

Dublin is a very small city so everything is within walking distance - but it depends on your health I guess. All museums etc., are on a small scale (not like the V&A or the Louvre) and most places have a coffee shop to rejuvenate the spirits!
I have included a few websites for these and various other places that might be of interest in Dublin. I hope your friend has a pleasant experience.
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/
http://flyingbookclub.ie/
http://www.visitdublin.com/See_and_Do/Dublin_Top_10_in_2012

Rita you voice is so beautiful. Thank you Margo for the link. I have been on Youtube all morning listening to you sing, fabulous. It brings back many happy memories when I was growing up in Belfast. I just love Irish music and now living in Scotland, Scottish music which is very similar.

Good luck on you eye surgery

Rita, I was rendered speechless when I listened to you sing. What a precious gift to have and use! We are so lucky to have such talented people in our group. thank you for sharing this with us. Kathy

Rita,
I have a quilting friend who is realizing a life-long dream of traveling to Dublin. She'll be there for about two weeks I think. Do you have any recommendations for quilt or fabric shops, and other "must see" places?

Your voice is absolutely beautiful...listened to the YouTube piece, then went to Amazon.com to try and locate a cd or mP3 of your Irish music. There is one and it has lovely music too although not Irish tunes which is what I wanted.

Best wishes for your eye surgery...no glasses or contacts will be wonderful. Take care.

PosyP wrote:
Rita - that was beautiful - gave me goosebumps!
All the best for your surgery