Leaca, leacain or leacan in Irish means the side of a hill.
The Lacken Walk, which forms part of the River Nore Linear Park, follows the east bank of the River Nore as it flows south for Bennetsbridge. Access from either the ring road at Ossory bridge or from the “Lacken Steps” at the end of Maudlin Street/Dublin Road (near the viewing area). The Lacken Walk comprises a mix of old pathway dating back to the 1950’s which travels to the rear of the old Health Board grounds at St. Canice’s. As the path opens out into the flood plain a board walk is provided to take walkers across the often wet and flooded ground. This in turn leads to a new pedestrian bridge which crosses over the Nore and links to the Canal Walk on the western bank of the river. From here one can walk back towards the city centre and access the Castle gardens when the pedestrian door in the Castle is open during opening hours.
The medieval origins of Lacken Mill, which stands across the River Nore, opposite Ormode Mill, remain visible today. Discoveries made in the 1980s revealed a medieval stone arch as well as a stone slab bearing an incised carving of a man in 16th century costume, part of the Archer’s coat of arms. The mill’s brick façade is also built on a 15th/16th century structure. In the 19th century, the Sullivan family, who lived in Lacken Hall and owned the Brewery on James’ Street, renovated the mill, bringing it up to 19th century standards.
A well-composed large-scale building forming an important element of the long-standing industrial legacy of Kilkenny occupying a site that has had associations with milling for many centuries: a mill is identified as having operated on site as early as the fourteenth century. Although having fallen into ruins the composition survives substantially intact as identified by the regular pattern of openings across each elevation with the mill presenting a picturesque feature of some Romantic quality overlooking the River Nore.
PHOTOGRAPHED AUGUST 2018 PUBLISHED 15 JANUARY 2024
There were two buildings on the banks of the river Nore and they were collectively known as The Tea Houses and as part of the ongoing development of the Abbey Quarter site, Kilkenny County Council recently completed the refurbishment of the Tea Houses on Bateman Quay. The buildings are located at the entrance to the new Riverside Garden and Skatepark amenity area which was officially opened in the summer of 2021. The Tea Houses are also strategically located adjacent to the bus stops for the City Bus Service and the Market Yard car park.
The Houses, dated 19th Century, and were known as “Pleasure Houses” have a history of operating a coffee/café type service as historically they were used by the gentry to take their afternoon tea on the banks of the River.
There is also a memorial tree here the “Tree Of Heaven” erected by the Bereaved Parents Support Group Kilkenny
There is now a pedestrian bridge connecting John’s Quay to Bateman Quay which is home to a courthouse and the new Thomas Woodgate Memorial.
On the former Smithwick’s Brewery and Bateman Quay sites, historical maps reveal that the area was subdivided into long plots of ground with one end on the main street known as burgage plots. These burgage plots were first established by William Marshall in 1207. A ‘burgess’ rented a burgage plot for a shilling a year and built a house on the street. Behind the house stretched a long narrow garden for growing fruit and vegetables. The burgesses built sheds in these gardens and in some instances, a dovecote, which ensured a supply of fresh meat for the family all year around.
The last time I photographed this I could not read the description as it had been painted over with graffiti … this time I could see that it was “Bushy” by Corban Walker. As I could not find any information online I decided that it could have been a 5G communications mast or a bee friendly structure.
In August 2022 I discovered that the seven metre tall structure is a “slender aluminium sculpture” with a “simple stacked cellular grid”.
I later came Dublin City Council’s description: “Corban Walker has created an elegant, large-scale work based on many configurations of a cellular grid.”
“The interplay between projecting and recessed sections of the sculpture will create a lively, joyful vision of simplicity that belies the complexity of its making. Standing at over 7 metres high, the minimalist work will enhance the reflective and meditative environment of the duck pond and assert itself as a distinctive new feature of the park.”
Bushy is the fourth of six new sculptures commissioned as part of Dublin City Council’s Sculpture Dublin initiative.
THIS SCULPTURE BY CORBAN WALKER IS BUSHY [IT IS LOCATED IN BUSHY PARK]-224760-1
THIS SCULPTURE BY CORBAN WALKER IS BUSHY [IT IS LOCATED IN BUSHY PARK]-224759-1
THIS SCULPTURE BY CORBAN WALKER IS BUSHY [IT IS LOCATED IN BUSHY PARK]-224757-1
THIS SCULPTURE BY CORBAN WALKER IS BUSHY [IT IS LOCATED IN BUSHY PARK]-224758-1
THIS SCULPTURE BY CORBAN WALKER IS BUSHY [IT IS LOCATED IN BUSHY PARK]-224756-1
Statue of Anne Devlin and plaque in commemoration of the housekeeper of Butterfield House which Robert Emmet rented from 1803 onwards under the pseudonym of Robert Ellis and used for the planning of his rising. After the failure of the rising she suffered torture and imprisonment. The statue by sculptor Clodagh Emoe, was oficially unveiled by Mayor Maire Ardagh of South Dublin on the 4th of March 2004, the anniversary of Robert Emmet’s birth.
Clodagh Emoe initiates collaborative projects and creates works that explore how meaning is formed through our connection with each other and the natural world. Her practice draws on ritual to create moments or spaces that invite thought and instill agency. Her exercises, a term she uses to describe her event-based participatory works foreground experience and perception creating instances where ideas might be played out and felt.
Clodagh has initiated numerous collaborative projects; Mystical Anarchism (2009-2013) with philosopher Simon Critchley (Prof. of philosophy, New School for Social Research), Creating the Common/The Unveiling (2010) a theatrical event parodying a failed unveiling of a monumental sculpture in sheltered housing for the elderly, The Plurality of Existence… (2015-2017) public audio works for Dublin, Cork, Carlow and Galway and Crocosmia (2018) exploring metaphor through horticulture to cultivate inclusion and belonging with individuals seeking asylum.
Clodagh’s work has been commissioned by Serpentine Gallery, London; Taipei Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul; Nylo, Reykjavik; Documenta XIII, Kaisel; Visual, Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow; Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery; Project Arts Centre; IMMA, Dublin and Maynooth University. She has been recently nominated for the David and Yuko Juda Award UK.
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224771-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224770-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224769-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224768-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224767-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224765-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224766-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224764-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224763-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224762-1
ANNE DEVLIN STATUE AT RATHFARNHAM VILLAGE [BY CLODAGH EMOE]-224761-1
Sophi Odling is an Australian artist who paints large-scale murals around the globe. Her work focuses on the beauty amongst the chaos in our everyday lives. The vivid narratives reflect human behaviours, environments, and cultures that she encounters.
Born in 1983 in Seoul, South Korea, Sophi grew up in Sydney, Australia, where she currently lives and works. In 2005 Sophi completed her BFA at UNSW College of Fine Arts. In 2017 Sophi started painting murals after a 14 year career in fashion. Her murals can be seen in America, Europe, South East Asia, Central America and Australia – and now in Dún Laoghaire!
Sophi presents her work in hope to celebrate the acceptance of cultural diversity, borderless minds, and the innocence of youth.
Sophi described her work for DLR Anseo in three words – embracing, night, and warmth. Titled ‘The Light Keeper’, it takes inspiration from the shelter and protection provided by the two light houses of Dún Laoghaire.
In summer 2021, a host of street artists arrived in Dún Laoghaire to turn the town’s streets into an open air canvas. The result was Dún Laoghaire Anseo which saw fifteen walls transformed by some stunning pieces of art that brightened the streets of the town. In 2022, ten more artists were invited back for Dún Laoghaire Anseo 2022. This year we have expanded across the county, bringing art not just to Dún Laoghaire but also to the walls of Dundrum, Deansgrange, Sallynoggin and Sandyford.
Meaning “here” in Irish, Anseo explores what makes our county a unique place. It’s our take on the essence of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, borrowing from its maritime heritage, its rich cultural history and reflecting themes of biodiversity.
Anseo brings together the best in contemporary street art, with a mixture of established, up-and-coming, and local artists, supported by Creative Ireland.