game may indeed have created some ex-
citement among fans whose football itin-
eraries rarely take them anywhere more
exotic than Orlando. It may make perfect
sense
for Penn State to show its supporters
and players a part of the world they might
not otherwise get to see. As Franklin said
recently, "I'm a big fan of the country."
But he isn't the Nittany Lions' PR di-
rector. He's their coach, and from a coach-
ing perspective, the game creates some
challenges that he could do without as he
gets ready to make his regular-season de-
but
on their sideline.
"Everything we do is about eliminating
distractions and [establishing] consistency
in your routine," Franklin said in May dur-
ing a Coaches Caravan stop. "I wouldn't
necessarily say =ying to another country
erence. The team will leave im-
mediately a?er the game, which kicks o>
at 1:30 p.m. local time Aug. 30. A?er re-
turning home, players will get into
BOOK OF KELLS Ninth century
monks created this New Testament
manuscript, rendering the four books
of the Gospel in ornate Western cal-
ligraphy. It was hidden from Viking
marauders at the Abby of Kells in
County Meath before being taken to
Dublin in 1654. Considered one of
Ireland's greatest national treasures,
it's on display at Trinity College Li-
brary.
CROKE PARK Fans will see it on
game day, of course, but the historic
stadium is open for tours throughout
the week. Visitors are escorted
through the dressing rooms, VIP areas
and the pitch, where they learn about
Ireland's national sports: hurling and
Gaelic football. The Gaelic Athletic
Association Museum is also located at
Croke Park and houses displays aimed
at educating visitors about Ireland's
sporting culture, from antiquity to the
present day.
GUINNESS STOREHOUSE The
Storehouse has welcomed more than 4
million visitors since opening in 2000
at the St. James's Gate Brewery.
There's something to see on every level
of Ireland's No. 1 tourist attraction,
from the atrium (home to a copy of the
9,000-year lease that brewery founder
Arthur Guinness signed in 1759) to the
seventh-floor Gravity Bar, with its
wraparound views of the Dublin sky-
line.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND
Among the 2,500 paintings on display
at this famed Dublin museum are
works by Vermeer, Caravaggio, Picas-
so, Van Gogh and Monet. Opened in
1864 by the Earl of Carlisle, the gallery
is celebrating its 150th anniversary
this year with a display of master-
pieces from the early Renaissance to
the mid-20th century.
TEMPLE BAR Renowned for its cob-
blestone streets and an array of old-
fashioned pubs
with names like
the Turk's Head
and the Foggy
Dew, this section
of Dublin has steadfastly resisted the
wave of urban renewal that has trans-
formed large portions of the city, in-
cluding an attempt in the 1980s to
turn it into a bus terminal. It's now a
thriving cultural and entertainment
district. – M.H.
DUBLIN MUST-SEE LIST
Penn State fans headed to the Emerald Isle shouldn't miss these jewels
ROOM WITH
A VIEW The
Guinness Store-
house's Gravity
Bar offers visi-
tors a panoram-
ic view of the
Dublin skyline.
Guinness Storehouse
