Some cool digital images:

Grand Canal Square At Night


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At night-time, coloured lighting designed by Martha, in collaboration with Edinburgh based Spiers and Major Associates, illuminates the square and add to the theatrical experience of the space. The Docklands Authority is currently investigating, with the designers, ways to make this lighting interactive.

Grand Canal Square is just one initiative by the Docklands Authority in the development of public amenity space in the overall regeneration of the docklands area. Already the campshires – the area between the road and quay wall – have been revamped to provide a natural pedestrian avenue for two miles along the River Liffey and around the docks. Cycle lanes, seating, innovative lighting and architectural features create a recreational wharf-like environment for public to enjoy. Another major project is the development of a one kilometre linear public park on the banks of the Royal Canal in Dublin’s Docklands. Currently at design competition stage, in association with the RIAI, this is a major landscape architecture project for the Docklands Authority and one which will transform the stretch of the Royal Canal where it enters the River Liffey into an attractive and welcoming area.

Studio Daniel Libeskind has designed a new theatre and two superb new office buildings at Grand Canal Square. The diamond shaped West End-style 2,000 seater theatre is the centrepiece of the scheme, which is currently under construction by Sisk builders and due to be completed by 2010. The theatre is complemented by 380,000 sq ft of adjacent luxury office suites – Number 2, Number 4 and Number 5, Grand Canal Square all arranged around the Marta Schwartz Square. Each office building enjoys its own distinct profile and identity with striking sculptured shapes and a high performance doubled layered glass façade.

This is my first attempt at night photography (without a flash) please excuse the variation in colours when moving from one photograph to the next.

Dublin City Through The Lens Of A Sigma DP1


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ALONG THE LIFFEY – War Memorial Gardens


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These gardens are one of the most famous memorial gardens in Europe. They are dedicated to the memory of 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in the 1914-1918 war. The names of all the soldiers are contained in the granite bookrooms in the Gardens. These gardens are not only a place of remembrance but are also of architectural interest and of great beauty. Designed by the famous architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944), they are one of four Gardens in this country designed by him. The others being Heywood Gardens, Lambay Island and those in Howth Castle. Sunken rose gardens, herbaceous borders and extensive tree planting make for an enjoyable visit to the Gardens in any season.

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Dalkey – Killiney


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O’Connell Bridge Late One Evening


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GIANT HARES TO TAKE OVER DUBLIN’S O’CONNELL STREET

The first steps to install Dublin City Gallery The Hugh’s Lane’s first-ever outdoor exhibition were taken over the weekend of 20th May 2006

. Six giant bronze Hare sculptures, by one of the world’s most renowned sculptors, Barry Flanagan, were installed on O’Connell Street for one of the most exciting, eye-catching exhibitions ever seen in the Capital. Barry Flanagan on Dublin’s O’Connell Street will be a world-class exhibition featuring ten pieces – eight Hares, a playful elephant and a pair of cougars.

The complete exhibition, which is being installed as part of the celebration surrounding the reopening of the Gallery and the refurbishment of O’Connell Street, will be in situ by 27th June, when the last piece will be unveiled by the artist himself. The exhibition is being organised in collaboration with IMMA.

“This is a major coup not only for the Gallery but also for the city of Dublin,” said Barbara Dawson, Director of Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. “This is Flanagan’s first exhibition in Ireland and it’s incredibly exciting to be able to bring art onto the street where it can be viewed in people’s very own environment”.

Beginning on O’Connell Bridge, the Hares will progress up the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell square to the Gallery’s forecourt. “Barry Flanagan’s monumental bronzes have been exhibited in other prestigious streetscapes such as Park Avenue in New York and the Champs Elysées in Paris and this unique and quite exceptional exhibition demonstrates Ireland’s ability to host world-class exhibitions in the heart of the capital city. Exhibitions of this quality and reputation ensure that Ireland remains a key player on the international stage and will attract, not only local and national interest, but world-wide visitors too,” said Ms Dawson.

NOTES RE ARTIST:

Barry Flanagan is one of the world’s foremost figurative sculptors and the ten chosen pieces will allow the general public the opportunity to engage with the exhibition as it threads down the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell Square to the Hugh Lane Gallery Forecourt.

The giant hares range in height from 3m to 9m (9ft – 23ft approx) and weigh several tons apiece.

Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Barry Flanagan has lived in Dublin since 2000 and has become an Irish citizen. The six works installed over the weekend of 20th May 2006 are:

An Unlikely alliance (Cougar and Elephant) Outside McDonalds
The Thinker on Rock Opposite Easons
Acrobats Site of Anna Livia Central median
Hare and Bell Site of Anna Livia Central median
Nijinsky South of Father Matthew Statue Central Median
Drummer Nearly opposite old Aer Lingus offices, between trees on final median
For further information contact Rachel Sherry at Grayling on 087 6622111 or Dublin City Press Office on 086 8150010

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Dublin City Marathon 2007


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Monday 29th October, 2007. Aleksey Sokolov has retained his adidas Dublin
Marathon title and set a new Dublin Marathon record time of 2:09:07 to win the 2007 adidas Dublin Marathon. Fellow Russian and 2006 title holder Alina Ivanova also retained her title in the ladies race in a time of 2:29:20.

Speaking at the finish Sokolov shared his delight at retaining the title:

“I am delighted to come back and win in Dublin again this year. I have also achieved a personal best, which is an extra bonus. The atmosphere was great on the day and the crowd was really supportive.”

Pauline Curley was the first Irish lady to cross the line in 2:42:30, while Galway’s Michael O’Connor took the Irish men’s title in 2:25:48.

Speaking after the race Curley commented:

“It is great to come back this year to take the Irish ladies title.”

Approximately 11,000 runners turned out on the day to take part in the race, which had 52 countries represented.

Results

Men’s
1st Aleksey Sokolov (2:09:07)
2nd Thomas Abyu (2:10:37)
3rd Dejene Yirdawe (2:11:08)

Women’s

1st Alina Ivanova(2:29:20)
2nd Larisa Zyusko (2:31:42)
3rd Nguriatukei RaelKiyara (2:33:27)

Wheelchair

1st Richie Powell (1:59:06)
2nd Jim Corbett (2:16:35)
3rd Paul Hannon (2:20:19)

Temple Bar


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Today, Monday 11th August, something new has appeared in Temple Bar. Unique and vibrant pieces of street art were unveiled today as the area showcases the winners of the Invoke Street Art project.

Invoke Street Art is an exciting new public art project, aimed at increasing the use and enjoyment of public space. Earlier this year TASCQ, the trader group in Temple Bar invited aspiring artists to create unique pieces of art and submit them for consideration Today, Monday 11th August, something new has appeared in Temple Bar. Unique and vibrant pieces of street art were unveiled today as the area showcases the winners of the Invoke Street Art project.

Invoke Street Art is an exciting new public art project, aimed at increasing the use and enjoyment of public space. Earlier this year TASCQ, the trader group in Temple Bar invited aspiring artists to create unique pieces of art and submit them for consideration to be displayed on the large traffic signal boxes on the streets in the area. This move to bring art onto the streets of the area and to brighten up the boxes was greeted with a very high response from the artists.

Now the five winners have been chosen and the art work is now on display. Each piece is unique in its own way as they draw on characters, atmosphere and the culture of the city.

On announcing the winners, TASCQ Director, Martin Harte said, these unique artworks will greatly enhance the streetscapes in the area, now people can enjoy vibrant artworks for free as they move through the area, in order to maintain interest we hope to expand this programme so that every two to three months a new piece will be unveiled.

The five winning artists are:

Barry Haughey
EUSTACE STREET
Barry Haughey’s artwork represents the wide range of different characters we see in the area.

Barry Haughey spoke of his particular interest in street art. "An illustrator with a particular interest in street art and free drawing, the majority of my work is based on sketchbook drawing and doodles which are scanned into computer and manipulated on Photoshop/Illustrator, the end product being colourful digital images. Recently I’ve been taking my scanned images and enlarging them via a projector onto walls."

Tommie Soros
ESSEX STREET
Tommie Soros’ piece expresses the darker side of the city from loud rock sound of the venues to the anonymity felt by many.

"I am trying to achieve an expression of particular essences contained within my subjects, to explore the shadows of their unconscious. My concern is to display mental self images that represent the desires and drives. My influences include Egon Scheile, Caravaggio and Rembrandt." Tommie Soro, who has trained in animation explained.

Maser
O’CONNELL STREET
Maser represents a sub culture that thrives throughout the city.

Maser spoke of how this piece of work is part of a wider work for him "My work at the moment is based on the ‘ Maser Loves U’ campaign. It’s an idea derived from our urban setting, a love for our city. From this I’ve stuck stickers promoting the ‘Maser Loves U’ slogan and with additional sayings such as ‘eye love this city’, ‘eye feel this city’s love’. This is all a part of an idea called ‘the lonely hearts club’, that’s why I use the symbol of a heart. These two paintings are just 2 of the girls I use in the lonely hearts club …. The concept is hard to put into words but is an ongoing project that has a lot of scope. The streets are the key location for me to showcase my idea simply because it’s about the city."

Anna Matykiewicz
FISHAMBLE STREET
Anna Matykiewicz ‘s piece symbolizes the vibrant, creative, bohemian feel of the area.

" I express myself mostly in paintings where I present women in different states, using different techniques’ Anna Matykiewicz explained. “This is a more personal way of expression. I’m also interested in graphic, computer graphics and stained glass. I am using materials such as canvas, acrylics, oil and ink; I like to mix media and forms."

Shane O’Connors Click here for artwork
PARLIAMENT STREET
Shane O’Connors work embodies the Friday night, hit the town feeling, many associate with Temple Bar.

Recent graduate Shane O’Connors explained " I recently completed a four year degree course in Cluain Mhuire G.M.I.T. I received a first class honours. I have exhibited in Habitat and my end of year degree show recently finished."

The Invoke Street Art project aims to turn traffic signal boxes in five locations in Dublin, which in many cases may be vandalized with graffiti, into a platform for original, imaginative artwork. The boxes are located in Parliament Street, Fishamble Street, Essex Street, and O’Connell Bridge.

Invoke Street Art will help enhance the beauty of the area and create a kind of ‘outdoor gallery space ‘ in Dublin’s cultural quarter, bringing art to the street in a very creative way. Public art projects utilizing these traffic signal boxes are already in operation worldwide in places such as St Benedict’s Florida, Santa Cruz L.A., Staten Island New York, Halifax Canada.

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A few nice digital photographs:

Easter Sunday 2009 – Botanic Gardens


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The Irish National Botanic Gardens are located in Glasnevin, 5 km north-west of Dublin city centre, Ireland. The 27 acres (19.5 hectares), are situated between the River Tolka and the Prospect Cemetery.

The gardens were founded in 1795 by the Dublin Society (later the Royal Dublin Society) and they have grown to hold 20,000 living plants and many millions of dried plant specimens. There are several architecturally notable greenhouses.

Today the Glasnevin site is the headquarters of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, which includes several sites around the country.
The botanic garden participates in national and international initiatives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The Director, Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, is also the Chair of the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation.

As well as being a tourist destination and an amenity for nearby residents, it also serves as a centre for horticultural research and training, including the breeding of many prized orchids.
The soil at Glasnevin is strongly alkaline (in horticultural terms) and this restricts the cultivation of calcifuge plants such as rhododendrons to specially prepared areas. Nonetheless, the gardens display a range of outdoor "habitats" such as a rockery, herbaceous border, rose garden, bog garden and arboretum. A vegetable garden has also been established.

The National Herbarium is also housed at the National Botanic Gardens. It contains a collection of nearly 750,000 pressed plants, collected over the garden’s two-hundred-year history. The gardens contain noted and historically important collections of orchids. The newly restored Palm House houses many tropical and subtropical plants. The Cactus House is currently (2008) being emptied for refurbishment.

In 2002, a new multistorey complex was built; it includes a cafe and a large lecture theatre.

It has responsibility for the Arboretum at Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow, a centre noted for its conifers and calcifuges. This is located some 50 kilometres (30 mi) south of Dublin.

GRAFFITI IN KILLINEY


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Killiney (Cill Iníon Léinín in Irish, meaning "church of the daughters of Leinin") is a townland in south County Dublin, Ireland on the outskirts of Dublin city within the administrative area of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin. It features a village centre and a range of surrounding housing developments.

Killiney Hill Park was opened in 1887 in honour of Queen Victoria’s 50 years on the throne. The park boasts magnificent views of Dublin Bay, Killiney Bay, Bray Head and the mountain of Great Sugar Loaf (506 m), stretching from the Wicklow Mountains right across to Howth Head. The Park’s topography is quite dramatic and its highest point, at the obelisk, is 170 metres above sea level.
Other major and minor attractions include Killiney Beach, Killiney Golf Club, a local Martello Tower, and the ruins of Cill Iníon Léinín, the church around which the original village was based.
The coastal areas of Killiney are often favourably compared to the Bay of Naples in Italy. This comparison is reflected in the names of surrounding roads, like Vico, Sorrento, Monte Alverno, San Elmo, and Capri. On clear days, the Mourne Mountains of County Down can be seen, although this is less and less frequent due to air pollution. The park was once part of the estate of Killiney Castle, now a hotel.

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Some cool digital images:

OXFAM


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Famous for his portraits of celebrities like Kate Moss and Kylie, renowned photographer Rankin has joined forces with Oxfam Ireland to bring the faces of those caught up in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Dublin.

Starting April 30th and running until July 31 st at Wolf Tone Park (beside the Jervis Street shopping centre, Rankin’s exhibition – sponsored by Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas aid programme and supported by Dublin City Council – sees his celebrity portraiture being used with entirely different subjects – the residents of Mugunga camp, home to over 250,000 people displaced by Congo’s harrowing violence.

Photographed against Rankin’s trademark white backdrop rather than in their everyday surroundings, those in the portraits boldly defy the war victim tag and shine out as real people with individuality, humour and warmth. Jasmine, a young girl, mimics Rankin with her own camera made from a tin can; Tumani a tailor, smiles broadly as she balances her sewing machine on her head; and Marina, a grandmother, stands proudly with her grandchildren by her side.

The exhibition’s name Cheka Kidogo, meaning “laugh a little” in Swahili, celebrates the spirit of the Congolese people in the face of adversity, but was also the phrase that people called out to their friends being photographed. The exhibition will move on to Belfast after its showing in Dublin .

Rankin said:

“I think we have become anesthetised to traditional photographs of conflict victims. By taking my celebrity portraiture style of photography and applying it to the survivors in the camps in Congo I have tried to get beyond the statistics and show the human side of the conflict.

“It is crazy that we hear nothing about the Democratic Republic of Congo. The level of suffering there is horrendous, but it hardly makes the news. I heard awful stories of young girls being raped and people fleeing attacks on their villages. Despite the suffering that they have been through the people of Congo are just like us and need our help. I hope the exhibition will wake people up to what is going on.”

The scale of Congo ‘s suffering defies belief. Since 1998, the country has lost 5.4 million people to conflict, and the deadly disease and hunger that it has unleashed. Over a million people are displaced in the eastern part of the country, with over 500,000 people having fled from violence in the last year alone. Rape is epidemic. This year more than 1,100 women a month have reported being raped, although the real figure is likely to be much higher.

Speaking about his experience in the Congo , Rankin said:

“I felt energised by the strength of the people and their will to survive and to make their lives better. Yet they all have these really awful stories. They have all seen their brothers and sisters, wives, husbands, daughters or sons killed in front of them, and you can see it in their eyes.”

Jim Clarken Oxfam Ireland ‘s Chief Executive who has just returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo said “ I know first hand the devastation this forgotten emergency is having on the people there, and know the importance of continued support for this region."

Oxfam Ireland is very proud to host the exhibition and hopes it will raise awareness of the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Oxfam’s ongoing work in camps for millions of displaced people. To make a donation to Oxfam Ireland ‘s DRC appeal, please go to www.oxfamireland.org, text DRC to 51500 (standard text rate applies) or call 1850 30 40 55 (ROI) and 0800 0 30 40 55 (NI)

Dublin City Through The Lens Of A Sigma DP1


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Dublin protest over health service
Saturday, 29 March 2008 18:29
A major demonstration calling for a better public health service has taken place in Dublin today.

The march and rally was held by an umbrella group of health unions and patient campaign bodies.

At least 4,000 people attended the march.

Today’s demonstration involved the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, medical and nursing organisations and families affected by the superbug MRSA.

Reacting to the rally, a spokesperson for Minister for Health, Mary Harney, said €1bn extra is being spent on the Health Service this year.

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A few nice digital photographs:

DUNDRUM SHOPPING CENTRE


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This is a view from inside Dundrum Shopping Centre. Shortly after taking this photograph I was approached by a lady and two security men and asked to leave the centre. When I asked why, I was told that cameras were not permitted … this really annoyed me.

Get On Your Bike – 450 Bicycles Now Available At 40 Locations


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More than 1,000 journeys were made in the first six hours of Dublin’s new public bicycle scheme which was launched earlier on September 13 (2009).
Dublin City Council said some 2,000 people have already signed up for the dublinbikes service, which allows commuters to use 450 unisex bikes stationed at 40 bases around the capital.

The dublinbikes scheme runs from 5.30am to 12.30am every day of the week.

Users, who must register online at www.dublinbikes.ie, pay a €10 annual membership fee and leave a €150 security deposit through a credit card or bank draft.

The first half hour is free, with six hours costing €4.50 and then €2 for every half hour after that.

A cyclist can pick up a bicycle at one point, leave it to another point within an hour and pick up another bicycle without incurring any extra charge.

Each of the distinctive silver bicycles have three gears, a basket and a lock for those who park in between bicycle stations.

It is hoped each bicycle will be used nine times per day, yielding about 4,000 bike journeys. The scheme is similar to the one that has been operating in Paris, Lyons, Copenhagen and 15 other cities.

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A few nice digital photographs:

St. Patrick’s Day In Dublin – The Shadows Of Colour by city Fusion


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Eight pageant groups from Ireland and beyond made up this year’s Festival Parade. Each featured their individual interpretations of ‘The Extraordinary World’ theme, transforming our capital’s streets into a kaleidoscope of colour. Festival sponsor, Irish League of Credit Unions, brought Gulliver’s Travels alive with their pageant Lilliput. Spectators were greeted by Gigantic Gulliver who awakens to find himself in Lilliput surrounded by performers wearing blue and white flower backpacks to reflect the Credit Union’s identity. Also part of the performance were 50 energetic drummers and dancers representing the 50 years of Credit Unions in Ireland.

Kildare pageant company Artastic transported us all into a Topsy Turvy World of strangely magical creatures such as talking cats in bowlers hats, candyfloss mops and life-sized dolls.

The Cats Pyjamas based in the West of Ireland, which is run by brothers Peter and Conor Casteby, has been working with the Early School Completion Programme run by Dublin VEC to present their chaotic and imaginative extraordinary world.

Wexford group, Buí Bolg have taken their ordinary world of housework and golf and made it a weird and wacky extraordinary world of giant guinea pigs, polar bears and a lion ringmaster.

Also taking part in the Festival Parade for their fourth year was City Fusion which celebrates the diversity of Dublin City’s cultural landscape. Produced by St. Patrick’s Festival with the support of Dublin City Council, 90 individuals from as far and wide as Belarus to Tanzania came together as one body to shine a light on The Shadows of Colour.

Spraoi from the South East of the country have created their Eggstraordinary World with the help of a dedicated team of 300 volunteers from Waterford and beyond who helped design the giant chicken and eggs that made up this pageant challenged by a group of chefs.

Celtic Mela by Inishowen Carnival Group did delve into the vibrancy of cultures in Ireland today. This pageant features a myriad of flowing back packs, hand painted silk flags, large props and puppet heads, with a vibrant mix of colour, music and imagery from Celtic, Indian and African cultures and featuring over one hundred performers from arts and cultural groups from across North East Donegal.

Also from Donegal, LUXe with their Isadora presentation attempted to achieve utopian heights. The “Babel Tower Travellers” was designed draw us into a world of decorative Gypsy iconography, colour, music and symbolism.

Year on year the Festival Parade attracts performance groups from all over the world and this year will include a Mediterranean flavour. Spanish street theatre company, Sarruga, who are renowned for their giant sculptures inspired by mythical creatures, were part of St. Patrick’s Festival Parade. Their giant insect, ten times the size of humans are primarily made of and decorated with painted heavy duty wrapping paper and acquire a spectacular beauty when illuminated from within or externally.

International marching bands joined the parade from as far a field as India, North Carolina, Louisiana, Bulgaria, Austria, France, Spain and the UK, while representing the Irish marching bands were the Clondalkin Youth band. Not breaking with tradition, the Parade Ceremonial Section was be led by the Army No.1 Band, the Band of An Garda Síochána and Dublin Fire Brigade of Pipes and Drums.

Each year St. Patrick’s Festival Parade is an opportunity to celebrate our culture and heritage on the most prominent national day. This year Ireland continued to lead the way with an unforgettable parade and national celebration transporting us all to ‘The Extraordinary World’!

Molly Malone


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Extract from Irish Historical Mysteries:
Picture the scene: it is Dublin city 300 years ago, on a balmy summer evening on 12 June 1699 to be precise. The city then was not as we know it now, and in place of spacious, straight thoroughfares there was a warren of narrow, winding streets, through which it would be difficult if not impossible to drive a motor car. We walk down one of these streets on that summer e’en in 1699, when suddenly our attention is attracted by a small crowd gathered around a figure on the ground.

Moved by a mixture of curiosity and concern, we join the crowd to discover what is amiss. We see that the object of attention is a young woman, no longer of this world but with a strange look of peace on her ravaged features. She is dressed in a full-length, full-sleeved, lined chemise, an overshirt and basque of wool, and Spanish zapota shoes. Despite the pallor of death, we can see that she was a fine strong and attractive girl, with an especially well-developed bust.

‘Who is it?’, someone asks. ‘Tis Molly Malone the fishmonger, and she is no more’, replies a young lad. ‘God’s judgment has come upon her’, adds a plump housewife, probably the lad’s mother, ‘for as well as her trade of fishmonger she was a part-time hussy also’.

Gay Pride Parade – Green Godess With Red Hair


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From the festival launch night on the 18th June, until the Parade through O’connell Street on the 26th, Dublin’s Pride Festival offered events for all tastes and age-groups.

The Flagship event , the 2010 Dublin Pride Parade took place today, the last saturday of June.
The grand marshall of today’s parade was Dr Lydia Foy, who won a landmark legal case declaring that a person who underwent a sex change had the right to have his or her new identity recognised in official identity documents.

Last year, over 5,000 people turned out for the parade and the outdoor show that followed in the amphitheatre of the civic offices.

This year even greater numbers attended the parade, more than 20,000 according to the Irish Times, and it would appear that all of Dublin enjoyed the event despite the disruption to transport.

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Check out these digital images:

TEMPLE BAR – DUBLIN CITY CENTRE


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The area is bounded by the Liffey to the north, Dame Street to the south, Westmoreland Street to the east and Fishamble Street to the west. It probably got its name from the Temple family, who lived in the area in the 17th century. Sir William Temple, provost of Trinity College Dublin in 1609, had his house and gardens in the area. Alternatively, it could have been named in imitation of the Temple Bar in London. However it got its name, the earliest historical reference to the name Temple Bar is on a 1673 map.

Fishamble Street in Temple Bar was the location of the first performance of Handel’s Messiah on 13 April 1742. An annual performance of the Messiah is held on the same date at the same location. The republican revolutionary group, the Society of the United Irishmen, was formed at a meeting in a tavern in Eustace Street in 1791.
Temple Bar
Temple Bar

During the 19th century, the area slowly declined in popularity, and in the 20th century, it suffered from urban decay, with many derelict buildings. Its unfashionability probably saved it from Dublin’s property developers, who destroyed much of the city’s historic architecture during the 1960s.

In the 1980s, the state-owned transport company Córas Iompair Éireann proposed to buy up and demolish property in the area and build a bus terminus in its place. While this was in the planning stages, the purchased buildings were let out at low rents, which attracted small shops, artists and galleries to the area. Protests by An Taisce, residents and traders led to the cancellation of the bus station project, and, in 1991, the government set up a not-for-profit company called Temple Bar Properties to oversee the regeneration of the area as Dublin’s cultural quarter.

Graffiti – Cowper Downs


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Some cool digital images:

DUBLIN – MANSION HOUSE – DAWSON STREET


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Mansion House History

The Mansion House was built in 1710 by the merchant and property developer Joshua Dawson, whose name is commemorated in Dawson Street. Dawson originally lived in this house, but at the time, Dublin was looking for an official residence for the Lord Mayor and when the City Fathers heard about this splendid new mansion, they decided to acquire it.

On the 25th April 1715, the Corporation purchased the house at a cost of £3,500 and also agreed to pay a yearly rent to Dawson of forty shillings and a loaf of double-refined sugar weighing six pounds each Christmas. In return, Joshua Dawson agreed to build on an extra room to the house which could be used for civic receptions – the famous Oak Room.

Dublin was the first city in Ireland or Britain to have an official residence for its Lord Mayor. The Mansion House is not unique in having been planned and built as a private residence for a wealthy individual, and later taking on a public function. Most of Dublin’s great mansions now have a civic or political role. The Mansion House is unique, however, in that it retains its residential function in addition to its public function. Most of the surviving great houses were built during the eighteenth century and many went out of private ownership after the Act of Union in 1800.

Feyisa Lilisa from Ethiopia won the Dublin City Marathon today.


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Feyisa Lilisa from Ethiopia won the Dublin City Marathon today. He crossed the line in an unofficial time of two hours, nine minutes, 11 seconds which is just four seconds off the record.

Russian Aleksey Sokolov, who is the record holder, came second in an unofficial time of two hours, ten minutes, 35 seconds.

The Kenyan runner Noah Serem came third.

The first Irish man home was Sergei Ciobanu, a member of the Clonliffe Harriers club, with a time of two hours, 22 minutes, six seconds.

The winner of the women’s race was Katerina Stetsenko from Ukraine at a time of two hours, 32 minutes, 45 seconds.

Annette Keeley, from Raheny, was the first Irish woman to cross the finish line.

This is the 30th year of the Lifestyle Sports – adidas Dublin Marathon, which is run through the historic Georgian streets of Dublin.

The course of the Adidas Dublin Marathon is a classic city loop with start and finish lines in the city centre near the famous Trinity College. The course is fairly flat but with a couple of climbs of about 50 m altitude.

The race finished at Merrion Square where a couple of Ireland’s most celebrated writers, Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats, have resided.

The Adidas Dublin Marathon is run every year in late October. Since the first race in 1980 the number of runners has increased steadily with more than 12,500 taking part in today’s race.

In the 2008 Dublin Marathon almost 9,000 runners crossed the finish line. More than half of the participants are from outside Ireland.

The Adidas Dublin Marathon is known as the ‘Friendly Marathon’ due to the many spectators aligning along the streets to support the exhausted runners with enthusiastic cheers.

Every runner to complete the Adidas Dublin Marathon received a medal and a certificate for their efforts, and the overall winner is endowed with a prize of EUR 15,000.

Test Photograph – Portmarnock


Image by infomatique
I purchased a Canon 2X extender (EF 2X II) and partnered it with my Canon EF 100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 L IS Zoom). The dealer had told me that auto focus would work and unfortunately he was wrong. I found it very difficult to get pin sharp focus and many shots were very blurred.

Portmarnock (Port Mearnóg in Irish) is a town north of the city of Dublin in the part of north County Dublin now known as County Fingal, Ireland

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A few nice images I found:

Strange Fruit Perform – St. Patrick’s Festival 2009


Image by infomatique
Strange Fruit is a Melbourne-based performing arts company that produces and performs a remarkable style of work that fuses theatre, dance and circus, using a unique elevated medium.

Perched atop 4 metre high flexible poles of original design, the troupe delivers a sublime performance, bending and swaying in the air, captivating and engaging the audience in absolute fascination.

Originally based on the image of a field of wheat swaying in the breeze, the poles’ extreme strength and flexibility allow the performer to bow to impossible angles, swaying back and forth in a hypnotising dance as the audience looks up in wonder.

With a world-renowned repertoire that celebrates a wide variety of themes and stories, the company has achieved near-cult status in almost every continent across the globe. Performing regularly at festivals, special events and private functions, their sublime, hypnotic beauty is truly remarkable and must be experienced to appreciate its full effect.

Grand Canal Square – Martha Schwartz (2007)


Image by infomatique
Grand Canal Square, an exciting new urban space in Dublin’s Docklands, was opened in June 2007. The square is located at Grand Canal Dock on the south side of the river Liffey between Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and Pearse Street.

Designed by American Landscape Architect, Martha Schwartz and developed by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, the 10,000 sq metre square is one of the largest paved public spaces in Dublin city. The €8 million project is among the most innovative landscape design projects ever undertaken in Ireland and Grand Canal Square is expected to become a key cultural destination for Docklands and the city.

Grand Canal Square is located at the west end of Grand Canal Dock with one side facing out on to the water. The recently completed tinted glass office building designed by Duffy Mitchell O’Donoghue – No.1 Grand Canal Square – is on the south side, with the Daniel Libeskind designed Grand Canal Theatre on the east side and the Manual Aires Matues designed 5-star hotel on the north side of the Square. There will be shops, cafés and restaurants at ground floor level. Already, the first of these have arrived with ely-hq, Fresh and the art gallery, Urban Retreat already trading successfully. The Square is built over an underground car park at the centre of the Grand Canal Dock development area.

The Square features a striking composition of a red “carpet” extending from the theatre into and over the dock. This is crossed by a green “carpet” of paving with lawns and vegetation. The red “carpet” is made of bright red resin-glass paving covered with red glowing angled light sticks. The green “carpet” of polygon-shaped planters filled with marsh like vegetation provides seating and will connect the new hotel to the office development across the square.

Grand Canal Square is also criss-crossed by granite-paved paths that allow movement across it in any possible direction, while still allowing for the Square to host major public events such as festivals and performances. The layout can accommodate a diverse range of activities throughout the day and night.

For more information on other art commissions www.marthaschwartz.com

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