MACNAS HALLOWEEN PARADE IN DUBLIN

This event was not at all easy to photograph so I decided to have a bit of fun with some of the images. Hopefully the images will give you all a feel for the event.


VIEW THE COMPLETE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS ...


HALLOWEEN PARADE BY MACNAS - DUBLIN CITY CENTRE 2017

Macnas is a performance company based at the Fisheries Field in Galway, Ireland. Its public performances are noted for exuberance, colour and spectacle. The company has been influential in changing the nature of public entertainment in Ireland.

 Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of All Hallows' Evening), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

 It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianised as Halloween by the early Church.

Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. SaveSave

MY SECOND DAY USING THE SONY RX0 [DUBLIN NORTH INNER CITY]

MY SECOND DAY USING THE SONY RX0 [DUBLIN NORTH INNER CITY]


This was my second day using the Sony RX0 and as a stand alone camera it is not easy to use especially if you have fat fingers or is your eyesight is not good . Based on my experience to date I would suggest that you really need to control the camera  using a smartphone and it needs to be mounted on a tripod which to some extent defeats the advantage of it size.

I should say that I actually like this camera.

One problem that I have noticed is that there are many online reviews of Sony products that are usually described as "Hands On Review" which actually means that the reviewer has attended a product launch and has used the camera under controlled conditions.

Unfortunately such reviews give you no idea as to what the camera is capable of and of course they never mention any problems other than trivial issues. Because of this there are now two camps
[1] people who love Sony products
[2] People who have nothing good to say about Sony.

In case you are wondering about me ... I spent about five years switching from Canon to Sony but that does not mean that I prefer one company rather than the other because in reality I had decided to switch from DSLT to Mirrorless and the company name had little to do with my decision. A few years ago when I arrived at an event with my Sony NEX-7 or A7RII I found that in general that DSLR users were very dismissive complaining about silly things such as battery life [which was an issue if you did not bring four five batteries with you].


EXAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHS:

SECOND DAY USING THE SONY RX0
FIRST BATCH OF IMAGES FROM MY NEW SONY RX0
SECRET GARDEN - A PUBLIC PARK THAT IS WELL HIDDEN
WALK AROUND THIS CHURCH AND THE DEVIL WILL STEAL YOUR SOUL
BIKE RENTAL DOCKING STATION IN DUBLIN

THE SAD STORY OF STONEVILLA IN PHIBSBORO [STILL NO HAPPY ENDING]

THE SAD STORY OF STONEVILLA IN PHIBSBORO [STILL NO HAPPY ENDING]

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As you get older you begin to believe that old buildings and other things from the past have merit and as such should be preserved.

Maybe that view of life is not valid and maybe once something has served its purpose it should be replaced with something more appropriate. Anyway, all that I can say with any certainty is that it depresses me to see the gradual decline of this house and other similar buildings throughout the city. I last photographed this derelict building in May of this year and northing appears to have happened since then.

What I suspected would happen does appear to be happening. The building has been surrounded by a high fence in such a way that it has become invisible and as a result, over an extended period, people will forget that it ever existed.

At the very best the house will be demolished and replaced by a block of generic apartments any everyone will be surprised because they will not remember what was there. If you carry out a Google search you will notice that there has been few or no comments relating to Stonevilla since July 2014 but plenty of comment before then.

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The Calm Before The Storm [Hurricane Ophelia Is Due To Impact On The City Of Dublin]

The Calm Before The Storm [Hurricane Ophelia Is Due To Impact On The City Of Dublin]

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At the time of posting my photographs local media outlets are reporting that three people have already dies because of the storm.

 Many years ago colleague was killed in a major storm as the result of being struck by a piece of debris while passing a building site. The really sad thing was that his manager insisted that he turn up for work or face suspension.

 Today I had planned to visit a number of locations but because of really high winds I had to abandon that idea almost immediately I left my apartment. I then decided to visit a local Chinese Restaurant and was surprised to discover that the staff were unaware of the approaching storm.

 I must admit that I was surprised by the fact that Bolton Street and Dorset street were more-or-less devoid of traffic. If you zoom in you may notice some plastic bags floating in the sky towards the top of my photographs. I had hoped to pay one last visit to the 'Sculpture In Context' exhibition in the Botanic Gardens as it closed on Wednesday.


PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED BY WILLIAM MURPHY ...  

 

NUMBER 5 HENRIETTA STREET - THE DOORS OF DUBLIN

OLD LIGHTSHIP - THE KITTIWAKE [HAS BEEN SCRAPPED]

OLD LIGHTSHIP - THE KITTIWAKE [HAS BEEN SCRAPPED]

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[UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2017] If my source is correct this little red ship was scrapped back in 2012 … what a pity!

 MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIS LITTLE RED SHIP...

[UPDATE AUGUST 2011] Dublin docklands property developer Harry Crosbie has been refused permission to relocate the former lightship Kittiwake in front of the O2 Theatre, according to a report in the Irish Times. Crosbie had intended to convert the 1959 built Kittiwake into a café and bar after raising the vessel from her River Liffey berth and position onto the campshire of North Quay Wall, opposite the music venue. Dublin City Council told Crosbie that consent for the use of the campshires for the bar had not been agreed to by the board of the Dublin Dockland Development Authority (DDDA), which owns the quays, "and that said permission will not be forthcoming".

[OCTOBER 2010] Old Lightship (Kittiwake - There Must Have Been Two with The Same Name). Built 1957/59 by Philip & Son, Dartmouth; length 134 feet, breadth 25 feet, depth 15 feet; constructed of steel; cost £124,128; remains in Service, converted to automatic light float 1981. Sold out of Service in 2007. Now moored beside the Point Depot in Dublin. I was delighted to read in the Sunday Times that this little red ship could be used as a tourist attraction. According the the newspaper Harry Crosbie, owner of the Dublin 02, is seeking permission from Dublin City Council to raise the 500-ton lightship, Kittiwake and place on the quayside opposite The 02 Theatre. Currently the lightship is berthed nearby the East-Link road toll bridge and acts as a notable floating feature to countless daily commuters. I was very surprised to read the the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) sold the 1959 built lightship to Harry Crosbie more than three years ago. If Harry's plan for the the former lightship is given a thumbs up, the vessel would act as a "welcoming point" for cruise tourists. Subject to planning permission, the lightship would undergo a re-conversion project to create an open-plan café bar for a period of five years. The veteran vessel would also have its lighthouse light restored and would "beam" across the docklands and entertainment venue. The lightship would maintain its customary 'red' hull with Kittiwake written in neon on the side.

[APRIL 2009] Kittiwake (were they two with the same name?) Built 1957/59 by Philip & Son, Dartmouth; length 134 feet, breadth 25 feet, depth 15 feet; constructed of steel; cost £124,128; remains in Service, converted to automatic light float 1981. Sold out of Service in 2007. Now moored beside the Point Depot in Dublin.

[FEBRUARY 2009] For Sale: The Kittiwake Lightship At The O2 

SOS - SAVE OUR SHIP

SOS - SAVE OUR SHIP

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There was a campaign to save this ship but I have not heard if they had any success. Naomh Éanna, Ireland’s oldest remaining merchant ship, completed in Liffey Dockyard in 1958. It is moored in the number 2 graving dock in Grand Canal Dock, Dublin Port.


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ADDISON LODGE PUB IN GLASNEVIN

ADDISON LODGE PUB IN GLASNEVIN

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If you told me thirty years ago that people would be getting out of the Pub Business I would thought that you were insane but it is now happening on a regular basis especially in Dublin city. According to media reports in August the Addison Lodge on Dublin's Northside is to remain in place after Dublin City Council refused planning permission to build apartments on the site where it is located. My understanding is that developers had hoped to construct 19 houses and 12 apartments on the site in Glasnevin [across the road from the Botanic Gardens]. A few days ago I heard a rumour that revised planning permission application has been resubmitted [note: I could not find any evidence to support this rumour]

 

FULL TURN A SCULPTURE BY MARK RYAN

FULL TURN BY MARK RYAN [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

 I used a manual lens today and focus was a bit off in some cases because of my lack of experience with the lens in question [to be honest I was adjusting the wrong dial]. Mark Ryan is a sculptor who works in a variety of materials – wood, clay, plaster, steel, stainless steel and bronze.

More about the artist: http://www.markryansculptor.com/

EVE BY KEVIN FOLEY - SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017 IN DUBLIN

EVE BY WILLIAM FOLEY [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

 

PESKY RABBITS BY JO HATTY [40 EURO EACH AT SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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It was not easy to photograph this as there was a lot of vegetation blocking a clear view. Artist Jo-ann Hatty operates from a gallery in Bangor, Northern Ireland. My understanding is that she has designed some of Northern Ireland’s most popular sculptures at Laganside, Belfast, and the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine.

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THE PLACE FOR DIM SUM IN DUBLIN [MR DINH ON CAPEL STREET]

THE PLACE FOR DIM SUM IN DUBLIN [MR DINH ON CAPEL STREET]

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This was Hanoi Hanoi, the best Vietnamese restaurant in Dublin, but over a period of time it changed name a few times. It is now known as Mr. Dinh and it offers a number of Asian styles but it is essentially a Hong Kong Chinese restaurant and it has become one of the most popular places for Dim Sum in Dublin [served from 12 to 4:30 every day].

 

RHINOCEROUS BY FREDERIC RUCKENBROD [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

RHINOCEROUS BY FREDERIC RUCKENBROD [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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“Ruckenbrod bespoke design studio is located in south city Dublin. It provides personalised story telling furniture, each or sets of furniture will present clients story, memory or message, they are unique pieces to the clients also functional. Ruckenbord bespoke only produce high quality with environment friendly materials. Our product includes: interior furniture, outdoor furniture and children’ world furniture. Ruckenbrod bespoke also provide restoring valuable antique furniture service and art work to the collectors.”


 https://www.ruckenbrodbespokedesignstudio.com/sculpture

SONY MOBILE BRINGS 3D SCANNING TO SMARTPHONES WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE XPERIA XZ1 AND XZ1 COMPACT

SONY MOBILE BRINGS 3D SCANNING TO SMARTPHONES WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE XPERIA XZ1 AND XZ1 COMPACT

  PRODUCT IMAGES

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Xperia - available in Ireland from mid-September  Dublin, 8th August 2017: Sony Mobile Ireland has announced the launch of two new smartphone devices in its flagship Xperia family; the Xperia XZ1 (available from mid-September) and the Xperia XZ1 Compact (available from October).

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The new devices feature world-first smartphone technology – a 3D scanner called Creator. The technology enables the user to capture 3D scans in just one minute, using up to four scan modes; head scan, face scan, food scan and freeform scan. Scans can be used to create a host of content including 3D stickers for messenger apps, highly-detailed PlayStation characters, avatars for apps and wallpapers and much more.  

Scans can also be uploaded to growing 3D communities such as Sketchfab, which counts over one million global users, or sent to a 3D printer and made into a memorable keepsake of a well-known landmark, a memory from a special event or the face of a friend or family member. The ‘Find More’ button within the 3D Creator app allows consumers to explore a wider and ever-growing 3D ecosystem, available through Google Play. Alongside the 3D Creator, the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact introduce consumers to additional, content-capture functions such as the Predictive Capture camera tool.

Predictive Capture automatically starts buffering images before the shutter button is pressed by intelligently recognising subtle movements like a smile. The user can select a moment that may have been uncaptured from a selection of up to four shots. In another development, both devices introduce Autofocus Burst which sees the camera intelligently follow its subject, adjusting the focus to make sure fast-moving, action shots stay sharp.

The Xperia XZ1 will be available from selected Irish operators from mid-September in Black and Moonlit Blue. The Xperia XZ1 Compact will be available from selected Irish operators from October. Pricing and arrival dates will be revealed in the coming weeks. Commenting on the arrival of the new devices, Ciaran Cleary, Sony Mobile Communications Ireland said: “Consumers are capturing more content on mobile than ever before and Sony Xperia is right at the heart of that. With over 70 years’ heritage of innovation in technology, Sony continues to allow consumers to capture special moments and memories in new and exciting ways. “The 3D Creator feature is a first for smartphone, allowing consumers to capture memories in a continually evolving way. We’re looking forward to seeing how it is enjoyed in the Irish market when the XZ1 arrives to retailers mid-September.”


Other key features of the Xperia XZ1 include:
• The latest Motion Eye™ camera built using know-how from Sony’s ‘α’ and Cyber-shot™ camera ranges, for capturing life in ways no other smartphone can. Its memory-stacked Exmor™ RS image sensor pushes motion capture to the next level, producing exceptional image quality.
• Video record function at 960 frames per second, providing stunning Super slow motion video playback. Rounding off the premium camera experience is the first-class 13-megapixel front camera with a 1/3” sensor and a display flash so you’ll get outstanding selfies in any light.
• Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology to bring more colour and contrast to TV shows and movies in stunning realism, by incorporating HDR (High Dynamic Range) in its 5.2” full HD display. Further technologies, including TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile, X-Reality™ for mobile and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer work together to give razor-sharp, detailed and brighter images on screen.
• The authentic sound of Hi-Resolution Audio, allowing every nuance and detail in a track to be enjoyed. Evolved stereo speakers with S-Force Front Surround, bring 50% more sound pressurethan previous Xperia models. Plus, built-in Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC) technology reduces exterior noise by up to 98% when paired with DNC headphones for perfect, undisturbed listening. Sony’s new h.ear (pronounced ‘hear’) headphones will also be available this year.
• Timeless design exterior with signature flagship loop surface and seamless metal body for a premium, understated look and refined feel in the hand. Designed with active usage in mind, the device has been constructed with a full body joint structure that is strong against any twist and bend. Equally tough against outside elements, Xperia XZ1 is water resistant, dust-proof and reinforced with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on the display so it’s tough enough to withstand bumps and drops.
• For a personalised touch, the integrated fingerprint sensor works to intuitively recognise the owner, giving unique and secure assurance.
• Smart Stamina works ahead of time to keep users powered-up by estimating how long battery will last, based on how the smartphone is normally used, prompting users to activate Stamina mode when needed. • Powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Mobile Platform with X16 LTE, the XZ1 is designed to provide blazing-fast Gigabit LTE downloads speeds (up to 1Gbps) and performance. The Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform is engineered to support stunning graphics, smooth performance and enhanced battery efficiency, perfect for smooth, responsive gameplay of PlayStation®4 games on PS4 Remote Play. File transfers are also super-charged thanks to the USB 3.1 connection which is 10 times quicker than USB 2.0 with a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps.

Features of the Xperia XZ1 Compact include:
• A premium compact smartphone in Sony’s uncompromised design philosophy, featuring beautiful diamond cut edges and a metallic finish.
• IP65/IP68 for water resistance iv, a metal antenna on top and bottom for improved connectivity and a strong, anti-twist and bend full-body structure with Glass Fiber reinforced plastic material together with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5.
• Download speeds of up to 800Mbps to download an episode of a TV series in 30 seconds. Performance is also boosted by the intelligence of Smart Cleaner which automatically detects unused apps and clears the cache, giving the fastest, smoothest performance possible. Accessories
• A range of supporting accessories will be available including Style Cover Touch in corresponding colours for Xperia XZ1 and Style Cover Stand in corresponding colours for both Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact.
• Also available is Quick Charger UCH12W providing hours of battery time by plugging in for just a few minutes.
• The new SBH24 Stereo Bluetooth® Headset, allows users to enjoy music and talk wirelessly, and the STH32 Stereo Headset will both be available in perfectly matched colours to both smartphones. Availability
• The Xperia XZ1 will be available from selected Irish operators from mid-September in Black and Moonlit Blue. Pricing will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
• The Xperia XZ1 Compact will be available from selected Irish operators from October. Colour variations and pricing will be revealed in the coming weeks.
• Both will ship with Android™ 8.0, Oreo. For more information on Sony Mobile Communications Ireland visit www.sony.ie. To keep up to date with Sony Xperia product news and launches in Ireland, visit @SonyMobileIE on Facebook and @SonyXperiaIE on Twitter and Instagram.


 -ENDS-

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS ...

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TEIFEACH BY CLIODNA CUSSEN [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT]

TEIFEACH BY CLIODNA CUSSEN [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT]

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Cliodna Cussen was born and educated in Co. Limerick. She attended third level education in Dublin and Florence and is presently based in Dublin and Kerry. She works as a full-time sculptor using mostly bronze and stone. Cliodna does graphic work in the Graphic Studio Dublin and she also illustrates and publishes Irish Children's Stories. She has exhibited widely and won a number of awards for her work, including the Listowel Gold Medal for sculpture and the sculpture prize at the Oireachtas.

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MORE BY THIS ARTIST

LE POETE BY MICK DAVIS - RECYCLED TYRES [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

LE POETE BY MICK DAVIS - RECYCLED TYRES [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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This was by far the one that I liked best. “I create tyre sculptures by first building a steel armature that forms the sculpture’s ‘skeleton.’ Then I attach tyres to the armature. For larger sculptures, I occasionally also work with used car tyres.”

 www.mickdavissculptor.com/bio

 

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A RESTAURANT CHANGE ITS NAME [+55 BAKERY NUMBER 61 BOLTON STREET]

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A RESTAURANT CHANGE ITS NAME [+55 BAKERY NUMBER 61 BOLTON STREET]

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The name appears to change about every eighteen months.  

  It is now known as the +55 Bakery but I have yet to visit. This was at one stage the location of my favourite restaurant in Dublin and what is now on offer here looks good so I will try my best to visit the +55 within the next few days. By the way Pulidos was excellent and very popular since it opened in April of last year. There have been so many restaurants here that I cannot remember them all but here are some of the names: Sab Inn Cafe [my favourite], Fairy’s Cake, Blue Skies Cafe, Budapest Restaurant and Pulidos. To the best of my knowledge there was a well known Video Rental shop at this location back in the days when people actually owned video recorders.   Here are some of them:

Memorial - Peadar Kearney 1883 – 1942

Memorial - Peadar Kearney 1883 – 1942

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Peadar Kearney, 12 December 1883 – 24 November 1942) was an Irish republican and composer of numerous rebel songs. In 1907 he wrote the lyrics to "The Soldier's Song" ("Amhrán na bhFiann,"), now the Irish national anthem. He was the uncle of Irish writers Brendan Behan and Dominic Behan. Kearney was born at 68 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin in 1883


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THE CHILDREN OF LIR BY OISIN KELLY

THE CHILDREN OF LIR BY OISIN KELLY

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The Children of Lir was commissioned for the Garden of Remembrance on Dublin's Parnell Square. The Garden was designed by former Dublin City Architect Daithi P. Hanly, who commissioned Oisín Kelly to make a statue to commemorate Irish freedom fighters. It was unveiled on Easter Monday 1966, the golden jubilee of the Easter Rising, by then President Eamon de Valera.

The sculpture drew criticism on the grounds that it was not fitting that a subject from pagan legend, in this case the Children of Lir, should be the basis of a public monument in a Christian country.


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LUAS CROSS CITY DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN DOMINICK AND BROADSTONE STOPS

LUAS CROSS CITY DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN DOMINICK AND BROADSTONE STOPS [SNAPSHOT 9 SEP 2017]

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The testing programme will be ramped up starting on Monday.

There will be four or five test runs every hour. It should be noted that from Monday, any vehicles parked on the Cross City line will be removed at the owner’s expense.

 A friend of mine is moving to a new job at the end of September and he is excited by the fact that he will be able to get on the tram in Cabra [almost beside his house] and get off at the Stillorgan stop close to where his new employer is located. He is currently spending about three hours every day travelling to and from his workplace so his excitement is understandable. He claims that the value of his house has greatly increased because of the new tram service.  

JUST EAT NOW SPONSOR THE DUBLINBIKE BIKE RENTAL SCHEME [BOLTON STREET DOCKING STATION]

JUST EAT NOW SPONSOR THE DUBLINBIKE BIKE RENTAL SCHEME [BOLTON STREET DOCKING STATION]

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I could not get auto-focus to work today and I still do not know what is the problem.

I missed the 28/08/2017 Press Release which reads as follows: Just Eat was unveiled last month as the new commercial partner of dublinbikes and today sees the rollout of the branded bikes on street. The new look features the distinctive Just Eat logo and signature colour ray. In addition, the docking station screens, service vehicles, staff uniforms and associated inventory have all been branded with the Just Eat logo and colours.

 Joanne Grant, Managing Director JCDecaux Ireland said “We are delighted to be welcoming Just Eat as the new partner of dublinbikes. They are a very colourful and progressive brand with ambitious plans for growth and we are looking forward to working closely with them to build on the overwhelming success of the scheme by harnessing the synergies between our business models over the next three years.” Just Eat is an online food order and delivery service. It acts as an intermediary between independent take-out food outlets and customers.

It is headquartered in the United Kingdom and operates in 18 countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The platform allows customers to search for local take-out restaurants to place orders online, and to choose from pick-up or delivery options.  

CHEESE BY KEVIN PIERCE [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

CHEESE BY KEVIN PIERCE [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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Kevin must like food ... Contemporary Banana by Kevin Pierce won the New Ireland Assurance Sculpture Award in 2015.

THE WEDGE BY KEVIN PIERCE
 BANANA BY KEVIN PIERCE
CHEESE BY KEVIN PIERCE  

APOLLO BY EMER O’DONNELL [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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This was difficult to photograph and my photographs fail to show the fine details. I will try again with a different lens. Emer O’Donnell was born in Dublin Ireland. She is currently completing a BA in Fine Art (Hons) Ceramics and Glass in the National College of Art and Design.

Emer uses the technique of graal to explore the properties of glass attempting to draw the eye beyond the surface … it is possible that this is what made it difficult for me to photograph her work.


 MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF EMER'S SCULPTURE  

CONICAL VIEWER WITH TWIST BY KEN DREW [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

CONICAL VIEWER WITH TWIST BY KEN DREW [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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Ken Drew is an Irish sculpture based in Blackrock county Dublin. He exhibits on a regular basis and works on private commissions for medium and larger scale sculptural forms. He has work in the Art for the State Collection and private collections in the US, Netherlands, Kuwait, UK Australia and throughout Ireland. Visit Ken at: www.kendrewsculpture.com


 MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF KEN'S WORK  

A BIG APPLE BY GUNVOR ANHOJ [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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Gunvor Anhøj was born in Denmark in 1973. She currently lives and works at Russborough House, County Wicklow, Ireland. From early childhood she loved making and used to sit and carve wooden objects in the garden of the family home. For a living she trained as a horticulturalist and was first introduced to Iron when required to plough the fields the old way using horses and a one-furrow plough. Following her intrigue with both the material and the tradition of the blacksmith she then trained in Hereford, England achieving a Higher National Diploma in Three Dimensional Design Crafts, Blacksmithing at the Hereford College of Art and Design.


MORE ABOUT SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017



 

SANCTUARY BY JACKIE BALL [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

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Sculpture In Context is my favourite event of the year. Unfortunately it is very obvious that fewer artists have been involved this year compared to previous years … I overheard someone saying that there were ten fewer artists compared to 2016.

 Jackie is a sculptor living and working in Dun Laoghaire. She received her degree in Visual Communications from DIT and subsequently ran her own Design Consultancy for twelve years before pursuing a career in ceramics and sculptural work. In 2010, she won a Sculpture in Context Award for ‘Clip Art’.

 https://www.facebook.com/Jackie-Ball-Visual-Artist-323450387744710/ 

MORE ABOUT SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017

SAINT JOHNS CATHOLIC CHURCH [PARNELL STREET IN WATERFORD CITY]

SAINT JOHNS CATHOLIC CHURCH [PARNELL STREET IN WATERFORD CITY]

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This church, attributed to John B. Keane (d.1859), is an important, monumental exercise in the Gothic Revival style, which has been very well maintained to present an early aspect, both to the exterior and to the interior. The construction of the street (north-west) elevation reveals high quality local stone masonry, particularly to the carved stone detailing which retains its intricacy. The church incorporates many features and fittings of considerable artistic merit (including the cast-iron railings to the boundary), while the exposed timber roof construction is of some technical significance. The church is an imposing feature in the streetscape of Parnell Street and forms an attractive landmark in the locality, identified by the soaring spire that adds incident to the skyline.

 

WATERFORD WALLS [AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL STREET ART FESTIVAL]

WATERFORD WALLS [AN ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL STREET ART FESTIVAL]

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The street art festival was the reason for my visit to Waterford this week. There was a lot to see and photograph making it difficult for me to describe the locations or the artists so if you want more information I suggest that you visit http://waterfordwalls.ie/ In general the local population appeared to be very excite about this year’s festival which is good.  

VIEW ALL  MY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THIS FESTIVAL

 

SAINT BRIGID’S CHURCH [KILLESTER]

SAINT BRIGID’S CHURCH [KILLESTER]

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With the building of a large number of houses in Killester, in the 1920’s, a church became necessary for the spiritual needs of the new community. The church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Edward Byrne, on the 26th September 1926. With the large growth of housing developments in the 1940’s and 1950’s it became necessary to increase the length of the church .

THE FIVE LAMPS IN DUBLIN

THE FIVE LAMPS [NORTH STRAND DUBLIN]

 I am willing to bet that most of you will be surprised to discover that this is a memorial drinking fountain originally named the ‘General henry Hall Memorial Fountain’.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FAMOUS DUBLIN LANDMARK ...

 

THOUSANDS SIGN PETITION [TO SAVE TREES IN FAIRVIEW]

THOUSANDS SIGN PETITION [TO SAVE TREES IN FAIRVIEW]

I am never happy about trees being cut down but in this instance I do not know the full story and may never do so.

Having read the news about the petition I decided to visit Fairview to see what the fuss was about and also it was a good excuse to visit the area.

According to one local that I spoke to the City Council is planning to remove about fifty trees in order to make way for a new cycle path but a second lady explained that as the trees will be replaced by the Corpo [Dublin City Council] she was not interested in the petition.

As the planting began in 1906 some of the trees are over a hundred years old and according to the City Council officials some of the older trees are distressed because of restricted growing space and need to be felled regardless of their plans for a cycleway.

On the main Fairview road there is a large number of trees marked with yellow bands and I assume that these are the trees destined for the chop. However, according to some online accounts it is the trees along the park’s main footpath that are under threat. I think that some reports have used stock photographs of random trees in the park.

By the way the Irish Times are not in favour of the petition see: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fairview-trees-row-shows-why-dublin-remains-a-mess-1.3183739

DIM SUM NOW AVAILABLE AT MR DINH [CAPEL STREET]

DIM SUM NOW AVAILABLE AT MR DINH [CAPEL STREET]

Some time next week they plan to introduce Dim Sum at Mr Dinh’s Hong Kong style restaurant in Capel Street. I am really excited about this as the restaurant is less than five minutes walk from my apartment.

Dim sum (Chinese: 點心; pinyin: diǎnxīn; Cantonese Yale: dímsām) is a style of Chinese cuisine (particularly Cantonese but also other varieties) prepared as small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. Dim sum dishes are usually served with tea, and together form a full tea brunch. Dim sum traditionally are served as fully cooked, ready-to-serve dishes. In Cantonese teahouses, carts with dim sum will be served around the restaurant for diners to order from without leaving their seats. The Cantonese tradition of having endless cups of tea and dim sum is also called Yum Cha.

PUBS AND RESTAURANTS ...

THE WATERWAYS OF GALWAY [RIVERS - CANALS - LAKES]

THE WATERWAYS OF GALWAY [RIVERS - CANALS - LAKES]

I plan to revisit Galway at the beginning of September. My last five visits were in August and the weather has been bad every time. The main problem was rain.


The River Corrib in the west of Ireland flows from Lough Corrib through Galway to Galway Bay. The river is among the shortest in Europe, with only a length of six kilometres from the lough to the Atlantic.

The Corrib may be one of Ireland's shortest rivers, but with a mean long term flow rate of 104.8 cubic metres per second, it is Ireland's second largest river, only surpassed by the River Shannon (by flow).

RETRO WIND SHELTERS IN CLONTARF [DESIGNED IN 1934 BY HERBERT SIMMS]

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 Dating from the 1930s is a number on interesting structures along the Promenade in Clontarf including the wind shelters shown in my photographs.

The shelters were designed by Herbert Simms in 1934. The design and construction such public structures arose from a concern for the welfare of the working class and facilitated a rise in communal outdoor recreation before the advent of modern affordable holidays.

During the 1930s, Dublin Corporation Housing Architect, Herbert Simms, took the dualistic approach to slum clearance of building both new urban blocks and suburban cottages. The flat blocks were considered essential architectural ingredients of the slum clearance project and from 1932 to 1939, twenty-one schemes comprising 1,002 inner-city flats were completed. In 1935 alone 1,552 dwellings were completed.

During the sixteen years he was in office, Simms was responsible for for the design and erection of some 17,000 new homes, ranging from striking blocks of flats in the central city, influenced by new apartment blocks by de Klerk in Amsterdam and J.P. Oud in Rotterdam, to extensive suburban housing schemes such as those at Crumlin and Cabra.



MORE ABOUT SIMMS

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MOUNT ST. ALPHONSUS [REDEMPTORIST CHURCH IN LIMERICK]

MOUNT ST. ALPHONSUS [REDEMPTORIST CHURCH IN LIMERICK]

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The Redemptorist Church at Mount St. Alphonsus, South Circular Road, Limerick is more than 150 years old. It is open twelve hours every day so it is more accessible than most churches in Ireland and it is well worth a visit and if you do visit you will have plenty of time to view it.

The Redemptorists have been in Limerick since 1853 and are known locally as “The Fathers” and they have had a huge impact on life period however there is a very unpleasant event, the Limerick Boycott in 1904, associated with the order.

The Redemptorists first came to Limerick in 1851 to preach a mission in St John’s. Two years later they established a temporary presence in Bank Place and moved to the present site, which they named Mount St Alphonsus, in 1854. The current church was dedicated on December 7th, 1862.