EVE BY KEVIN FOLEY - SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017 IN DUBLIN

EVE BY WILLIAM FOLEY [SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 2017]

 

ULSTER UNIVERSITY BELFAST CAMPUS - YORK STREET

ULTRA WIDE ANGLE VIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER BELFAST CAMPUS [ YORK STREET ]

The University Of Ulster Belfast campus is situated in the artistic and cultural centre of Belfast which is known as the Cathedral Quarter. Although traditionally associated with Art, the campus spans an increasing and exciting range of subjects including architecture, hospitality, event management, photography and digital animation.

The recently redeveloped campus comprises two connected buildings on either side of York Street and includes:

• purpose-built design spaces
• studios for recording and editing live and off-air television, sound recording, mixing and animation
• teaching and exhibition areas
• library

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

GRATTAN HILL AND OTHER AREAS [MONTENOTTY & ST. LUKE’S AREA OF CORK]

On one of my days in Cork it rained so much that at times it was almost impossible to take any photographs. I decided to visit St. Luke’s Wine Tavern and stayed until about 10pm but by the time that I had returned to my hotel room there was a slight break in the weather so I decided to put on my rain gear and wander around the Montenotty area and photograph anything that might be of interest.For various reasons I decide to use my 15mm Voightlander but unfortunately while fitting I managed to introduce some very large dust particles that proved impossible to remove until I returned to Dublin.

Because it was dark and as it was raining and because of the dust problem my photographs turned out to suffer noise and this impacted on the quality of the images.

Montenotte is an area in the north-east of Cork City, Ireland, which had an influx of wealthier merchants and a prosperous middle classes in the early to mid-19th century. Situated on a hill facing south over the River Lee, Montenotte acquired numerous substantial residences, some of them set in miniature estates graced with fine terraced gardens. Its favourable outlook was downgraded by the development of large-scale industry in the Marina area across the river in the early 20th century. Many of the larger houses now have institutional uses, or have been divided into apartments.

Some people would describe the area as ‘run down” or past its best but I must admit that I like the area. Saint Luke is considered the patron saint of painters which is somewhat appropriate as there is an artistic or boho feel to the area.

Wellington Terrace is a short cul de sac dog-leg row at the start of straggling, sandstone ridge-clinging Grattan Hill, beloved of Thackery who wrote lovingly two centuries ago about the vista, aspect, river views and genteel shabbiness and local gayety. All of which it still enjoys, by the way.

ONLY A FEW WEEKS TO HALLOWEEN [PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS IN DUBLIN]

My American friends ask me this time ever year if we celebrate Halloween in Ireland and this never ceases to surprise me. The story is a bit complicated as Halloween is a Celtic festival that was exported to the US and then re-imported in a much modified [more commercial] form back to Ireland and the UK. When I was young, back in the 1950s, Halloween was not really celebrated outside a religious context [which removed much of the fun] but this changed over a period of about twenty years and there is now no real difference between Halloween in the US and Halloween here in Ireland.

Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which are believed to have pagan roots. Jack Santino, a folklorist, writes that "there was throughout Ireland an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated with Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before Christianity arrived".

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SAINT PATRICK’S CHURCH AND HALL IN GALWAY

SAINT PATRICK’S CHURCH AND HALL IN GALWAY - PHOTOGRAPHED IN 2016

As it is not mentioned in any tourist guides or listings I found the modern St. Patrick’s church by accident. During my last visit in 2015 I did notice the old church but as the gates were locked I could not gain access and was therefore unaware that there was a new modern church beside it.

This time I noticed a small narrow lane off Eyre Square [St. Patrick’s Avenue] and at the end of the lane I discovered an open gateway which provide access the church grounds and then I discovered that there were two buildings. There is also a third entrance at Foster street.

 This time I paid two visits to the church in order to experiment with two different lenses. For this the second visit I used a Voigtlander 15mm ultra-wide-angle lens. The other lens was a Zeiss Batis 25mm.

The original church was built in 1842 but later modified making it less ornate. More recently This former church has been modified to provide two floors of accommodation for its present use as a hall, a change of use which continues a social and community function. The ashlar limestone front elevation to this simple structure displays finely detailed Gothic Revival features and gives it an imposing presence. The high quality of carved and cut-stone details in the various elevations and window and door openings adds interest to the building.


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