Ireland deserves special recognition. Irish people are known for their unconquerable resilience, wholehearted hospitality and loyal nature. I have heard stories of their resoluteness during the famine, struggles for independence and especially Dublin’s connections with literary history, for which it is recognized as the “UNESCO City of Literature.”
Finally, the moment arrived. The late professor Justine Ashby encouraged me to attend the International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) conference held in Dublin on June 25-29, 2013, which turned my dream into a reality.
An Irish friend told me about city life and shared a list of places to visit. It was a five-day trip, and I had enough time to explore Dublin’s known and hidden gems.
Perhaps I was so excited on the opening day that, when I boarded the taxi for Dublin City University (DCU), I told the cab driver to head to University College Dublin (UCD). This remains a joyful memoir.
A general view of Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland, June 26, 2013. (Photo by Irfan Raja)
