Brasil, phantom island in Celtic mythology

Did you know that an old Celtic legend tells the story of an island named Brasil?

According to Irish mythology, Brasil, also known as Hy-Brasil or Bracile, was a phantom island located in the West of Ireland.

Irish mythology describes it as an island surrounded by mist except for one day every seven years, when it became visible but unreachable. 

The island was first 'seen' or mentioned by sailors. An Irish monk, Saint Brendan, first mentioned this island in 565, and described it as a piece of land in the Atlantic which was surrounded by mist and impossible to reach.

Despite many failed attempts to find the island of Brasil, this island appeared on many maps around the 14th century and it was always located close to Galway Bay

Nowadays it's believed that the name Brazil comes from the tree 'Pau Brasil', commonly found in this country. However, it seems that the native population of Brazil named the tree Araboutan or Ibira Piranga, therefore the name Brasil doesn't seem to have come from this tree.

What we know for sure is that nowadays satellites are not showing any secret island on the west coast of Ireland :)

 

Blessington Street Basin

The Blessington Street Basin is a public park located in Dublin 1, right up O'Connell Street.
It was originally built in the early 19th century and it served as a drinking reservoir for North Dublin until the 1970s. It became a public park in 1994.
Go take a look next time you're walking around Dublin 1, this park is a bit hidden :)

St. Enda's Park

St. Enda's Park is a large public park located in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. 

It's a beautiful park, where you can spend at least an hour wandering, and you will see several cool attractions such as a watch tower. Please take a look at the pictures below to get a better idea :)

Stop Right Now, Thank You Very Much (Spice Girls music clip)

Do you remember the Spice Girls and their song 'Stop' from 1998?

Here's a reminder:

What's the connection between the Spice Girls and Dublin??? Well, the music video was shot in a quiet street in Dublin 7, Carnew Street!

You will notice that the house doors have different colours now and, unlike the street on the video, there are cars parked now.

However, it's a true fact they shot the Stop music video on this unknown street in Dublin 7.

Why they chose this location among all the great locations in Dublin remains a mistery.... Enjoy the song!

Handprints outside the Gaiety Theatre

Where in Dublin will you find handprints on the pavement? Somehow similar, in a far far way, to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood?

Of course you won't see many actresses and singers here, but you will see the handprints of a few celebrities and the worldwide known Luciano Pavarotti in front of the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin 2.

Take a look next time you walk around St. Stephen's Green shopping centre :)