Dublin

Hiking to the Hellfire Club

Hike to hellfire club, mountpelier Dublin. Sunday 21C and Sun. What to do? Get out and hike to #hellfireclub on Montpelier Hill, in the #dublin Mountains. It’s a short and relatively easy walk (minus the steep part at the very beginning) from the parking area to the top, where the ruins of an old hunting lodge is located. (Scroll to the bottom for my tiktok video of the trip).

Hike to hellfire club, mountpelier Dublin. Originally there was a passage grave with a cairn at the top of the hill, but these were dismantled around 1725, when stones were re-used for a new building. At the time, Parliament Speaker Conolly, one of the wealthiest men in Ireland, built a two bedroom hunting lodge on top of the old site, which he named ‘The Brass Castle’. Shortly after completion, a storm blew the roof off. Local Irish folklore says that this was the of the Devil – as a punishment for interfering with the burial cairn.

After Conolly’s death in 1729, the hunting lodge was sold. The new buyers were a part of the Irish Hell Fire Club (believed to be one of the first groups of Free Masons in Ireland), which was active in the years 1735 to 1741, and used the renamed Mount Pelier lodge as a meeting place. Founded in 1735 by Richard Parsons, he was a known dabbler in black magic and the occult. He also ran the “hell fire club” a so called club of “wild young gentlemen” who used a tavern in Cork Hill (by Dublin Castle) as their meeting place, but were dismissed for bad behaviour hence the name “Hellfire Club”. In it’s hayday, members met at locations across Dublin and were known for their amoral behaviour and debauchery involving alcohol and sex. Local stories also call some of the “club” members satanists and devil worshipers and even go so far as to say that president of the club was named ‘The King of Hell’ and dressed like Satan, with horns, wings and hooves.

At any rate, in 1740, the house was burned down, leaving only a burnt out shell of stone and concrete. The ‘hell fire club’ moved on to a different location to meet (the club was later disbanded in 1741). Today, the ruins provide a backdrop that locals like to go explore (and toilet in the ruins), picnic on the front grounds, and enjoy the views and fresh air above Dublin on a Sunny day.

@phoenixrosedsgn Sunday 21C and Sun. What to do? Get out and hike to #hellfireclub , in the #dublin ♬ Calypso – John Denver
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Share the Love

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

Last year, just before Valentine’s Day, I volunteered at work and packed Care boxes. This year, when the opportunity came up again to pack care boxes – and deliver them in support of the Serve the City, Ireland charity I had to do it. Plus, now that I have my full license – it’s time to give back to the community and make sure they’re being delivered as well.

Last Wednesday, at work, I stayed for an hour volunteering – and helped to write 80 cards while the boxes were packed. On Saturday, I went down to the Serve the City offices in Terenure (South Dublin) and we started all over again. First was the list on the flip chart with an overview of what we were supposed to be doing.

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

ServetheCity2016 (2)

This time, I folded the boxes and added in the red wrapping for each. From there, the boxes were filled with a box of chocolates, a small package of teabags, a heart shaped mug, and beautiful handwritten cards titled “for someone special”.

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

The boxes then had a gorgeous ribbon tied on them.

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

They were stacked:

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

After a quick group photo of a job well done –

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we chose the routes. There were 9 delivery routes around Dublin city – some with a handful of boxes, and some with multitudes of boxes to be delivered.

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

I chose a route through Finglas – and had the chance to deliver 20 boxes. They filled my car!

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

And then the deliveries started. I picked up my roommate and then we headed out – Some were simple – we have a care package for you – and others – we were invited inside, had a little chat, and really enjoyed seeing all those we were sharing good tidings with. Acts of Kindness are awesome! I hope my roommate enjoyed herself – and decides to participate again in the future. Volunteering for Valentines – sharing the Love – I think it works.

Serve the City Ireland Valentine's Day care box packing and gift delivery. #volunteering #randomactsofkindness

Serve the City 2016 Share the Love Care boxes day

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Hats for the Homeless

Ireland is in a homeless crisis. Year over year, the number of homeless (especially homeless children) is up over 100%. As the Irish people struggle through the shortage of housing (and increased rents are forcing out many low income individuals), the government is arguing over how best to address the crisis and where to find the funds. You can see many articles in the local papers:

Number of Homless Children Doubles in a Year

Homeless Epidemic requires more state support

Overall the problem is shocking. On Saturday, while in the city center for drinks with friends, I counted 3 people that were sleeping rough in a 5 block radius. Last night (Monday), in the pouring rain, I counted 7 all drenched to the skin, and obviously quite miserable. (I too was drenched but at least I had a nice warm home and bed to go to). It is everywhere – from here in the city center to out in the less urban areas. And Winter is coming. The cold temperatures haven’t even started yet.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been very focused on what I can do to help those who have found themselves homeless. Despite working 50 hour weeks at work, I won a yarn lottery and suddenly found myself with 70 “free” skeins of yarn. I had asked for chunky yarn and decided that this was the Universe’s way of telling me here – set to work – here’s what you can do. Thus, I began making hats, earwarmers, and scarves for the homeless. In the course of 4 weeks of my free time, I have crochet and donated 2 hats.

Another 2 hats done.. one loom and one crochet.

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I also bought a loom yarn and made a scarf and 2 more adult sized hats (they go much faster), and a child sized earwarmer.

First adult sized knitted loom hat done. :)

First adult sized knitted loom hat done. :)

Finished loom knit scarf to match the hat. Oct. 18, 2015

Child size ear warmer loom knit. Completed 10/18/2015

I know it’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things, nor does it cost any “money”. I suppose, though, I hope it is helping someone, somewhere. Because it could be me someday -and that is what keeps me going. If you’d like to make a few hats, scarves, or participate in the shoebox appeal for Inner City Helping the homeless, please check their website.

Inner City Helping Homeless

I’m sure they’d appreciate any help they can get.

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