Date
Dublin
CountryIreland
- Reading
- 19 min
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- 4,470
- Images
- 37
I woke up in Limerick after crashing hard the night before — utterly exhausted from the long flight, the new country, the pub, the free Guinness, and singing until midnight with strangers who became friends — at least for a few hours. For a brief second I wondered if the whole thing had been a dream.
Then I looked around the hostel room, felt my body in my bunk, reached over and touched my backpack, and realized… this was real.
This was only my second full day in Europe — and my very first day of train travel. I was headed to Dublin, the hometown of the rock and roll band U2.
I had been in love with U2 ever since I first saw them on MTV performing “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Their music had followed me from Australia to Arizona State to the dark days at UNK. The world they grew up in — the political violence of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the IRA, bombings, and ancient religious feuds — seemed so incredibly different from rural Kearney, Nebraska. Yet their songs spoke directly to the lost teenage boy I still was, searching for meaning and purpose.
By 1994 U2 was already one of the biggest bands in the world. I had seen them live three times on the Zoo TV tour — in Tempe when I was at ASU, and at the big outdoor stadium shows in Ames, Iowa and Denver, Colorado. Now I was just hours away from their home city, where they grew up, met, started the band, and recorded the albums that had become the soundtrack of my life.
One of the most important possessions I carried was my Sony CD Walkman and a small case holding 20 CDs. There was no streaming, no Spotify — just these 20 discs. I remember putting in The Joshua Tree, slipping on my headphones, and taking a deep breath as the train pulled out of Shannon station and the Irish countryside began rolling by the window.
The Garage Bar
Located behind The Clarence Hotel, which was owned by Bono and The Edge, this place had serious U2 energy. I walked in, heart pounding, and immediately spotted Bob’s Michigan license plate on the wall. The vibe was electric. I ended up leaving one of my own photographs from the portfolio I carried with me, titled “Freedom,” along with a personal note offering to be U2’s photographer!
I was completely starstruck and fully alive in the magic of the moment.
This wasn’t just any bar. It was a shrine to the band that had carried me through so many hard times. And now a part of me was a part of it!
My Photographs from today in Dublin
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Dublin Castle Get this as a printStanding in front of Dublin Castle for the first time felt surreal. This massive complex had witnessed over 800 years of Irish history — from Viking times to British rule. The grand architecture, the towers, and the sheer weight of the place were overwhelming.
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Dublin Street View Get this as a printA typical street scene in Dublin on a September afternoon. In the distance stood the towers of Dublin Castle, originally built in 1204 on the orders of King John of England. For centuries, it served as the seat of English and later British power in Ireland.
Even from a distance, its presence loomed large over the city streets.
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Enjoying the afternoon from the balcony Get this as a printA quiet moment captured from below — an older gentleman leaning out his window, enjoying the afternoon air. The simple, peaceful scene felt timeless.
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Finding Jesus in Christ Church Cathedral Get this as a printAs I walked along the sidewalk, with no particular route to follow, I came across Christ Church and felt compelled to step inside.
The church was quiet and vast, and felt inviting with only the soft glow from the windows and prayer candles lighting the sanctuary. Above the candles stood a statue of Jesus, arms open in blessing.
I was raised Catholic — my Mom played piano every Sunday. So as I thought of her back in Nebraska, most likely worried sick about me and my whereabouts, I took a moment to kneel down and prayed to Jesus for protection and guidance, and I prayed to Him for forgiveness.
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Jesus Above the Prayer Candles – Christ Church Cathedral Get this as a printAs I knelt there, the words from “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas played softly in my mind: “I stopped into a church I passed along the way… I got down on my knees and I began to pray…”
In that profound stillness, something stirred deep inside my chest — a quiet warmth I had never felt before. Was it the Holy Spirit? I didn’t know… but I knew something was shifting within me.
I stood up and lit my own prayer candle. Before leaving, I took this picture — a long hand-held exposure.It remains one of the most important moments — and photos — of my entire journey.
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One Last View Down the Nave of Christ Church Cathedral Get this as a printFounded around 1030 by the Viking King Sitric Silkenbeard, this is one of Dublin’s oldest buildings. Rebuilt in stone in the late 12th century under the Normans and later restored in Victorian times, its soaring stone columns and high arched ceiling have stood as a place of worship for nearly a thousand years.
In the quiet vastness, a single person sat on a pew on the right side, praying alone.
Standing there, I felt the immense weight of its history pressing gently around me — along with a deep sense of peace.
I pressed the shutter one last time inside this beautiful cathedral to capture this moment before silently slipping out the door and back into the afternoon sunlight.
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A Woman Plays With Her Dog in the Park Get this as a printA simple, joyful moment in a Dublin park — a woman playing with her dog on a sunny autumn afternoon. Their carefree energy captured something pure and light about life.
After the weight and grandeur of Christ Church Cathedral, this scene felt like a welcome change of pace.
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Buying Flowers in Dublin Get this as a printThere was something deeply joyful about this quintessential Dublin scene — a woman buying fresh flowers from a street vendor on a sunny autumn afternoon.
As I took the picture, I noticed a man walking away with his own bouquet, heading home with a smile. People were simply going about their lives, and somehow that felt beautiful to me.
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A Street Sweeper in Dublin Get this as a printA municipal street sweeper pauses amongst the traffic. These workers have been a familiar sight on the city’s streets for centuries, using traditional brooms and wheelbarrows to keep the pavements clean long before mechanical sweepers became common.
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Daniel O’Connell Monument – “The Liberator” Get this as a printThe imposing Daniel O’Connell Monument on O’Connell Street. Daniel O’Connell, known as “The Liberator,” was one of Ireland’s most important political leaders. He led the campaign for Catholic Emancipation, which was finally achieved in 1829, allowing Catholics to sit in the British Parliament. His massive statue, surrounded by allegorical figures representing Courage, Fidelity, Patriotism and Eloquence, dominates the north end of O’Connell Street.
Standing beneath him, I was struck by the weight of Irish history. This was a man who had fought for the rights of his people, and his presence seemed to loom over the city even more than a century after his death.
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Charles Stewart Parnell Monument on O’Connell Street Get this as a printThe Charles Stewart Parnell Monument on O’Connell Street honors one of Ireland’s most influential political leaders. Parnell was a powerful advocate for Irish Home Rule and land reform during the late 19th century. Known as the “uncrowned king of Ireland,” he became one of the most important figures in the movement for Irish independence.
In the foreground, a classic Citroën 2CV drives past, while double-decker buses and the grand Victorian architecture of O’Connell Street create a snapshot of Dublin life in 1994.
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Dublin Gallery of Photography Get this as a printI stumbled upon the Gallery of Photography on Meeting House Square in Dublin’s Temple Bar district completely by chance. It was a small, intimate space dedicated entirely to photography — something I had never experienced before.
Standing there quietly, looking at the work of professional photographers displayed with such care and respect, something shifted inside me. I had no idea this place existed until that moment. Seeing serious photography honored in its own dedicated space felt like a powerful affirmation — a quiet confirmation that what I was doing with my camera on this journey actually mattered.
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In the Quiet of the Gallery Get this as a printStanding alone in the corner of the Gallery of Photography, arms folded, she studied the images on the wall with quiet intensity. The space felt hushed and reverent, like a small chapel dedicated to light and shadow.
Only a few hours earlier at Dublin Castle, I had been deeply moved by a beautiful illuminated Book of Ireland. It contained the final poem Samuel Beckett ever wrote — a haunting, sparse masterpiece. Now here I was, surrounded by photographs that felt like living pages from that same story.
In that stillness, Beckett’s words came to mind:
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
This tiny gallery had become my own quiet cathedral of images. And I had learned a new phrase to inspire me.
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The Garage Bar Get this as a printAfter walking the streets of Temple Bar, I finally found it — the Garage Bar, tucked behind The Clarence Hotel, which was owned by Bono and The Edge. My heart raced. I had been told I might actually meet U2 there, and I was getting closer with every step.
But it was closed. The metal shutters were down. Then I saw it — someone had spray-painted “BONO” in big letters on the door. In that moment, I knew the information I had been given was true. My heart began racing even faster.
Two large movie posters for Wyatt Earp starring Kevin Costner were plastered on the front.
I decided to walk around and come back later — the pull toward this place was too strong to ignore.
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Temple Bar Music Wall Get this as a printJust steps from the Garage Bar, this wall was covered in concert posters for the month ahead. In one glance I could see David Byrne, Davy Spillane, The Frames, The Specials, Something Happens, Crash Test Dummies, and even Chippendales. The energy was electric. Dublin’s music scene in 1994 was alive and thriving — and I had just stepped right into the middle of it.
Just standing there reading every poster, I felt the pulse of the city. Dublin’s music scene in 1994 was alive, and I had just stepped right into the middle of it.
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Walking Through Trinity College Get this as a printI wandered into Trinity College Dublin and found myself in one of its beautiful historic courtyards. The cobblestone paths, the grand brick buildings, and the quiet atmosphere felt like stepping back in time. This is one of Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1592.
As I watched this woman walking ahead of me, hands clasped behind her back, I felt a deep sense of peace.
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Walking in the Rain Get this as a printAs I walked, it began to rain. Although I didn’t have an umbrella, I didn’t care — I was absolutely loving this day!
I was experiencing a typical rainy afternoon on the streets of Dublin — umbrellas up, shoes splashing through puddles, the city moving forward despite the weather. People hurried past shop windows while others lingered under cover, creating that beautiful, slightly chaotic rhythm of urban life so different from home.
As I walked through it all, a bright yellow “1 HOUR” photo lab sign caught my eye. It instantly took me back to working at Bob’s Camera Department with Skratch. For a moment I wondered what he was doing right then, and I wished he was there with me.
The ordinary, everyday pulse of the city felt just as meaningful as the cathedrals and castles.
I took this picture before pushing on through the crowd alone.
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Flowers in the Rain Get this as a printEven on a cold, wet day, the flower stands of Dublin refused to be ignored. Bright bouquets spilled out onto the wet cobblestones, creating little islands of beauty in the rain.
I watched as a couple stood beneath their umbrellas, carefully choosing a bouquet. Even in the rain, people were still stopping to buy flowers, still finding beauty in an ordinary day.
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Busking in Dublin Get this as a printThis was one of those moments that gave me goosebumps.
On a busy Dublin street, three musicians poured their hearts out — saxophone, congas, and guitar — filling the air with beautiful, soulful music right there on the sidewalk. People walked by carrying shopping bags, some stopping to listen, others hurrying past in the rain.
This wasn’t a scene out of a movie. These were real musicians playing real music on a Dublin sidewalk.
Standing there listening, I felt completely alive. This was exactly the kind of raw, beautiful moment I had dreamed about when I wanted to escape Nebraska.
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Singing in the Rain Get this as a printThe three musicians played their hearts out on this wet Dublin street while life moved around them. A young woman walked right past without stopping, lost in her own world.
I stood there watching it all unfold, and I felt something powerful in the contrast: the musicians giving everything they had, while people continued to rush past them. They didn’t care. They were simply giving their music to the world.
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One Last Bouquet Get this as a printAs the rain continued to fall, I watched more people carefully choosing flowers from the stand.
People still bought flowers on rainy days. People still carried beauty home.
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Inside The Garage Bar Get this as a printThe Garage Bar had just opened for the evening, and I was the first — and only — customer inside.
The space was dark, gritty, and full of character. The neon sign glowed above the bar, two massive stone lions stood guard on the shelf, and right there in the middle of it all was Bob’s Michigan license plate — “316 TJU” — proudly displayed like a trophy.
There was even a movie clapperboard and a photo of someone racing a motorcycle taped to the wall. I was told the rider was Larry Mullen Jr.
In that moment, I felt like I was in my own movie.
I had chased this place all day, and now I was standing right in the middle of it. This was as close as I had ever been to U2’s world. And it felt incredible.
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Bob’s License Plate Get this as a printRight there on the shelf, between two stone lions and a couple of Budweiser bottles, sat this Michigan license plate — 316 TJU.
It belonged to my friend Bob, who I met through Kyle Gilson at our home, the Dome.
Seeing it hanging in the Garage Bar in Dublin felt surreal. In the middle of chasing U2 and exploring a city so far from home, this small piece of metal grounded me. It was a quiet reminder that even while I was thousands of miles away, pieces of my old life were still with me.
I stood there staring at it for a long time, smiling and shaking my head.
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The Spiked Trabant Get this as a printHanging dramatically from the ceiling was this car completely covered in long, sharp metal spikes — one of the iconic props from U2’s Zoo TV tour. Standing underneath it, I felt like I had stepped into the middle of the band’s world.
As I stood there taking pictures, I realized just how much rock history was packed into this little bar.
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Rock and Roll History Get this as a printAfter Zoo TV ended, many of the large props found new homes. This spiked Trabant ended up permanently displayed inside the Garage Bar. It became a permanent piece of U2 history right here in Dublin — a wild, unforgettable reminder of one of the most ambitious tours in rock history.
On the wall above it, a memorial sign for Freddie Mercury (1946–1991) still hung — a touching tribute to the Queen frontman who had passed away just a few years earlier.
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Bartenders John and Micheal having fun Get this as a printAfter walking in, I quickly struck up a conversation with the two bartenders, John and Michael. Within minutes we were talking like old friends. I told them the story of how my friend Bob Bodziak had sent his Michigan license plate all the way from Kearney, Nebraska to Harry McQuade (who used to work here), and how I had promised Bob I would come check on it.
They knew exactly where it was — proudly and prominently displayed right behind the bar. I was fired up to see it there.
We talked for over an hour and a half. The energy was crazy fun. Before long, they started goofing around behind the bar, and they let me take pictures of them doing it. It felt like I had been welcomed into their world.
Above them hung the very same motorcycle Larry Mullen Jr. had ridden, and on the wall was a memorial for Jimi Hendrix. This wasn’t just a bar — it was a living piece of music history.
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John and Michael – My New Friends Get this as a printAt some point, I asked John and Michael if I could take their portrait. They happily agreed. We grabbed small American and Irish flags and I posed them right in front of Bob’s Michigan license plate.
In that moment, I felt an incredible sense of acceptance doing what I did best. I had only just met these two, yet it already felt like we had known each other for years as I created this portrait of them. The flags in their hands seemed to say everything — an American kid from Nebraska and two Dubliners, connected by music, stories, and a shared love for this wild little bar.
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“Freedom” – My Picture on the Wall in the Garage Bar Get this as a printThere it was, and I could hardly believe my eyes.
Right there — front and center, in the middle of U2’s Garage Bar — was my photograph. My picture! From My Portfolio!The one I had taken of myself standing on the American flag, titled “Freedom”.
This wasn’t just some fantasy I had been carrying since Nebraska. This was real. My work was actually hanging on the wall here.
It was one of the most surreal and emotional moments of my entire life — a dream of dreams coming true.
I know my image can be shocking at first. It was meant to be. But it was never meant as disrespect. I have always loved America deeply, and I still do. My grandfather was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, lost his arm, and was awarded the Purple Heart. I have the utmost respect for him and for every American Veteran.
This photograph was an artistic and intellectual exercise by a young man — inspired in part by watching Jimi Hendrix dramatically light his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival.
When people saw this image, after the initial shock wore off, I would explain that I loved living in a country where I had the freedom to create this image. In many places around the world, I knew I could have been arrested — or worse — for doing something like this to their flag. The First Amendment doesn’t just protect the speech Americans agree with. More importantly, it protects the speech we disagree with.
I signed the front of the photo, added a personal message to the band on the back, taped my business card to it, and gave it to John and Michael. They seemed genuinely impressed, and placed it respectfully on the wall.
Because so many of their songs carried powerful political messages, I hoped U2 would notice it displayed there, as they had deeply influenced me as both a young artist and someone who was interested in world politics.
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The Girls I Met in the Kitchen Nightclub Get this as a printAfter two hours in the Garage Bar, The Kitchen — U2’s own nightclub right next door — finally opened. It was an exclusive, invitation-only night, but I talked to the bouncers and charmed my way inside.
Once I was in, the energy was electric. The music was loud, the lights were flashing, and I found myself surrounded by beautiful, fun-loving Irish girls who welcomed me like I belonged there. We laughed, danced, and talked for hours in that wild, unforgettable space.
This was the second night in a row I had been given something for free — first the cigarettes, then entry into one of the coolest nightclubs in Dublin. I was exhausted, but I couldn’t stop smiling. I had somehow talked my way into U2’s world again.
These four girls, along with the music, laughter and feeling of being exactly where I was meant to be, made it one of the best nights of my entire life.
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A Lovely Night for Young Love Get this as a printAfter two hours of dancing and partying in The Kitchen, I was completely drained. I walked back to the hostel around 1:00 AM through the quiet, dark streets of Dublin.
Along the way, I saw this young couple lost in a deep, passionate kiss.
In that moment, the entire day came rushing back — the rain, the flowers, the music, the new friends, the laughter, feeling the wild energy of the city that U2 captured in their music, and the pure magic of being alive and in love.
It truly was a lovely night for lovers.
I smiled to myself, took this one picture, and kept on walking back to the hostel.
1994From my journal
Day 2 – Dublin, Ireland 9-8-94
I got up at 7:40 and made it to the train station by 8:20 to catch the train to Dublin. It was £9.50. The lady I sat across from and I had a conversation about Northern Ireland, the IRA (the Irish Republican Army), and British rule.
It was only two easy buses from the train station to the hostel. This hostel is huge - a few hundred beds. It is an old monastery, complete with stained glass and a sanctuary - but now the sanctuary is the cafeteria.
After changing, showering and resting, I called home. Mom was relieved to know I was still alive.
After that I set out, camera in tow, to capture Dublin. I took a tour of Dublin castle, built in the 13th century, and the state apartments, Ireland’s version of the White House.
I saw the room where important dignitaries, including Margaret Thatcher, have stayed; chandeliers weighing over a ton; and the book of Ireland, which contains among other things the last poem Samuel Beckett wrote - before he died two days later.
I also had coffee in a world class cafe, toured the Ireland photographic gallery, and most exciting of all, I found The Garage Bar. This is the bar that U2 owns.
Bob Bodziak (a friend of Kyle Gilson), came here on his travels, met a guy named Harry McQuade who worked there, and promised Harry to send something for the bar when he got home. Bob took his Michigan license plate off his car and sent it, and I promised him I would find the bar and check to see if they ever got it.
Well Harry doesn't work there anymore, but John and Michael do, and they knew where Bob's plate was. Not stuck in some corner, but proudly (and prominently) displayed directly behind the bar!
I was so fired up to see it there. After an hour and a half of talking to these guys I went to the hostel to change. I called Olivier - I'm so excited to see him again.
I got out my picture of me standing on the flag, sign the front and autograph the back for U2, taped a business card on it, and went back to the Garage. Michael and John seem to be truly impressed that I did that. It may only be a wild fantasy that U2 will actually notice it, but...?
In my second night in a row of getting free things, I was given a pack of cigarettes to sample by a new company. I hung out in The Garage for two hours, until the Kitchen opened. The Kitchen is the nightclub U2 owns, right next door.
It was an exclusive night at The Kitchen, invitation only + £5. I had the money but no invite. I talked to the bouncers for a few minutes though, and they invited me in.
Rumor has it that Bono was there the night before, but I wasn't to be that lucky tonight. I wish I hadn't been so exhausted because the place was kick-ass, but I was absolutely drained after two hours in there. I walked home about 1:00 AM, and once again, was asleep before I hit the pillow.
JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 4 pages
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2026Looking Back from 2026
Thirty-two years later, I still smile when I think about this day. This was only my second full day in Europe, and I was already starting to feel it — that intoxicating mix of freedom, nervousness, and pure possibility.
I wasn’t just chasing U2’s energy — I was chasing something much deeper. I was chasing freedom. The feeling of being completely unknown. The chance to start over and become someone new.
The highlight of the day was finding the Garage Bar. Walking in and immediately seeing Bob’s Michigan license plate displayed proudly behind the bar gave me goosebumps that still haven’t fully gone away. Seeing actual props from U2’s Zoo TV tour hanging from the ceiling — including that wild spiked car I had only seen from far away during their concerts got my heart racing. And then, right there in the middle of it all, was my photograph — the one titled Freedom — hanging on the wall of their bar. That moment was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. A dream of dreams coming true.
Walking through the grand State Apartments of Dublin Castle earlier that day, surrounded by massive chandeliers and centuries of history, I felt a profound sense of awe.
This day taught me something I would carry with me for the rest of the trip - and my life: sometimes the best moments happen when I’m completely alone in a new place, with nothing but my camera and my courage.
I learned I didn’t have to wait for magic to come to Kearney to feel alive. I could go out in the world, away from Kearney, and create my own magic.
And that night, partying at The Kitchen with those Irish girls until I could barely stand… it’s nearly impossible to put into words the emotions I felt. I was exhausted, but I was alive in a way I had never felt before.
That day was the day it finally sank in — I was really here. And I could feel, deep in my bones, that I was already creating something meaningful.