After visiting Trinity College, I went over to the National Museum of Archaeology. My main purpose of visiting was to see their impressive collection of jewelry that is thousands of years old, including many Celtic pieces like the famous Tara Brooch. I was amazed at how well the objects had been preserved. Apparently Ireland’s soggy marshes and bogs helped to preserve these objects. A couple of other highlights in addition to the Tara Brooch were the Cross of Cong (said to have once contained a splinter from the actual cross on which Jesus was crucified) and the Bell of St. Patrick. I also saw an impressive collection of gold jewelry dating back before 2,000 B.C. Another exhibit which was both astounding yet gruesome was a display of bodies that were discovered in the bogs of Ireland. These bodies date back to Celtic times and are thought to be the result of the Celts’ practice of human sacrifice.

The museum closed before I could see all of the exhibits, but I saw everything that I was hoping to see. I had to head back to the hotel anyway, as our group was leaving soon from there for our farewell dinner. On the way back to the hotel, I stopped at Clerys, a department store that has been in business since 1853.