Smithfield

So we live in a place called Smithfield. I don’t know what I’ve told you all about this place, but it’s a rather “up and coming” sort of area. More like “still on its way,” hahaha, but we love it.

Anyway, Smithfield is located North of the River Liffey, which has a connotation all its own when mentioned during conversation in Ireland.

North of the Liffey, namely Smithfield, is the "less-posh" part of Dublin, more “rough around the edges” when compared to the chic areas near Harcourt street in South Dublin. The young, urban professionals live on Harcourt street, if that gives you any idea, and this is also the location of a club called “Krystle” where the strict dress code requires prom dresses and tuxedos. On a Wednesday.

North Dublin, however, (mostly Smithfield in this blog) can be characterized by a few other things:

1) Girls in pajamas. Midday, going to the grocery store.

2) Bargaintown! A massive discount store selling couches, lamps, mirrors, and carpet.

3) LUCOZADE An orange-flavored energy drink consumed mostly by the Smithfield Hooligans-more on them later.

4) Horse droppings on the ground.
Smithfield is famous for its monthly horse market (held the first Sunday of every month), where horses are brought and traded in the main square of Smithfield. Apparently, the dealers still spit on their handshakes to secure a deal, and the horses are traded like Pokemon cards. It’s a pretty big deal, actually, but nevertheless the horses leave little “presents” on the sidewalks for weeks to come. It’s lovely.

(For more info, go here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Smithfield-Horse-Market-Dublin)

5) The notorious Smithfield Hooligans (see next blog).

6) The Dublin Doors.

I’m sure you guys have seen/heard about the colorful doors in Dublin, found mostly in residential areas such as Smithfield. The doors are all brightly colored (blue, yellow, red, purple, etc) and unlike any others I’ve ever seen. There is an old Irish story that explains the doors were painted different colors so the drunken Irishmen coming home from the pubs at night would easily recognize their houses’ door, and not stumble into the wrong residence. We’re not quite sure how true this story is, but Smithfield is loaded with these beautifully painted doors. My favorite is a set of doors located behind Blackhall, a few blocks away. It’s a maroon door next door to a lime green door. So fashion-forward :)

In addition, Smithfield is also home to, what I consider to be, the best Centra around.

Centra is like a gas station convenience store, only better. They sell everything from fruits, vegetables, and brown bread, to kinder eggs, bottles of wine/Bulmers cans, taco seasoning, etc. All one’s basic necessities in one little store!
Smithfield has two Centras, actually, both within 20 seconds of each other (why, I will never know) as well as a SPAR (the more expensive version of Centra) on the corner near the Liffey. Now, Centra and SPAR are not ideal places to buy all one’s groceries (we have Tesco for that!) but it’s nice to have three stores so close when we’re in a pinch.

Finally, Smithfield is home to a number of pubs and restaurants. Nice restaurants, actually, like an Indian place called “Green Chili” and a fancy Italian restaurant on the way to Tesco. We also have the Glimmer Man, a popular pub for us college kids, and the jukebox is pretty inexpensive so we get to play D.J. when we go :)

**Tourist alert-Smithfield is home to the Jameson Distillery, and only a five minute walk from the Guinness Storehouse, so it’s a pretty cool place to live if you’re looking for something touristy to do!

Hokay, that is all! Enjoy the next few blogs, hopefully they'll be a re-cap of my everyday life in Dublin, we shall see!

Cheers!

And thank you all for reading/following my blogs. I hope they are as fun and entertaining to read as they are to write/experience! I appreciate you all :)