I’ve mentioned the street art of Dublin before, but the city even encourage it to a certain level and that is really too cool.

On our last day in Dublin, we awoke and walked over to the museum closest to our hostel: the National Museum of Ireland in Decorative Arts and History.

The pieces in this museum are quite varied, ranging from pottery (but of course) to guns to hanging lamps to whole rooms of furniture.

Jack and I really enjoyed going to this particular museum because of their displays on the progression of design in Ireland’s furniture. Cabinets like the one below just aren’t made very much anymore and that’s because of our penchant for greater mobility and smaller spaces. A modern folding screen (also below) provides a neat take on the traditional silk screen / room divider but the décor would have to be just right to fit such a divider in.

Being a museum of decorative arts, there was also a small section on clothing which I really enjoyed.

Although we thought that would be the last series of exhibits we’d see in Dublin, after lunch we found one more pop-up exhibit near Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library about how things are made. I’ve always wondered how marbles are made.

How a marble is made. Who woulda thunk?

We didn’t have much time to spend in the pop-up exhibit as we had entered near closing time already so being able to walk around and see how tennis balls or shoes were made was plenty neat enough.

With that though, we finished our Dublin trip and arrived safely home, just in time to see fireworks over Chadwell Heath station celebrating the New Year.

Of course, we celebrated as well, with a box of chicken and chips. Happy New Year (7 months in!) everyone!

The usual celebratory meal.