A FOUNTAIN WITH WATER ON WOLFE TONE QUAY – WHAT A SURPRISE
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I have frequently complained that the majority of fountains and water features in Dublin are inactive or dry. However, today, I was surprised to see that this installation on Wolf Tone Quay actually had water but maybe it was because of recent heavy rains. If you examine the photographs you may notice that the water jets are inactive.
Wolfe Tone Quay is one of several quays along the Liffey, part of maritime developments within the city stretching back to the thirteenth century. Formerly known as Albert Quay, but known as Wolfe Tone Quay since the early twentieth century, this structure dates from the early nineteenth century and is the most westerly of the northern quays. The quay wall is of well-built ashlar granite and presents a strong visual statement. The quays are of significance in the context of the economic and maritime development of Dublin city as one of Ireland’s principal ports. They are representative of early nineteenth-century engineering technology.
THE RUSSELL MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN IN LIMERICK – THE JAFFEE FOUNTAIN IN BELFAST IS A TWIN
The Peoples Park in Limerick has a number of interesting items including an ornate drinking fountain which, according to Wikipedia, is one of only two on the island of Ireland but I do not fully agree with that claim
I have photographed three Victorian era fountains – One in Belfast (no doubt a twin of the Limerick fountain), one In Limerick and one in Dun laoghaire (which does appear to be much more ornate). There is also a possibility that the 1929 religious shrine at the junction of Reginald Street and Gray Street in Dublin started out as a similar structure.
The Richard Russell fountain, which had been overseas for many months undergoing restoration, was returned to the People’s Park in November 2009.
The fountain was originally erected in 1877 to mark the gratitude of Limerick for Richard Russell, a highly regarded employer. The official unveiling of the restored fountain, which was attended by some one hundred people, was undertaken by the mayor of Limerick, Kevin Kiely.
The restoration process, which retained the original red colour of the fountain, was carried out in Britain at a total cost of €80,000. Two plaques on the structure give due recognition to Richard Russell.
THE JAFFE MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN – NOW LOCATED OUTSIDE THE VICTORIA SHOPPING CENTRE AND BESIDE BITTLES BAR
This is a favourite of mine and believe it or not it has a twin in Limerick known as the Russell Fountain [the only real difference is that one is yellow while the other is red … I prefer yellow].
Otto Jaffe, Belfast’s first and so far only Jewish Lord Mayor, was born in Hamburg on August 13, 1846. His father, Daniel Joseph Jaffe, was a merchant, who came to Belfast to set up a linen export business in 1850.
The Jaffe Brothers were based at Bedford Street in Belfast. Jaffe was educated at Mr Tate’s school in Hollywood, Co Down and spent the decade from 1867 working in New York. He then returned to Belfast in 1877 to take over the management of the family firm.
Jaffe erected the Jaffe Memorial fountain in 1874 to commemorate his father, who had funded the building of Belfast’s first synagogue at Great Victoria Street. Originally sited in Victoria Square, the fountain was surmounted by an ornamental weather vane and was later moved to the Botanic Gardens. Another memorial to Daniel Jaffe, a tall granite obelisk erected in City Cemetery on the Falls Road, has suffered considerable vandalism.
As well as having a successful career in business, Jaffe was a prominent public figure, active in Belfast civic life. His public positions included membership of the Harbour Commission, the Senate of Queen’s College, which later became Queen’s University and the board of Governors of the Royal Hospital. Elected to the town council in 1894, he was Lord Mayor in 1899 and 1904.
Life President of the Belfast Hebrew congregation, Jaffe paid for most of the cost of the community’s new Annesley Street synagogue, near Carlisle Circus and formally opened the building in his guise as the city’s Lord Mayor.
He set up Jaffe Public Elementary School at the corner of both the Cliftonville and Antrim Roads in 1907. However, Jaffe’s philanthropy was poorly rewarded during the first world war when a group of Belfast ladies refused to support the Children’s Hospital if ‘the Germans’, Jaffe and his wife, remained on the board.
THE CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN AT THE ROYAL HOTEL IN BRAY
The fountain and obelisk at the Royal Hotel in Bray was erected, by public subscription, in memory of Dr Christopher Thompson, who died in 1876. I read somewhere that he was the only Medical Doctor in Ireland to have a monument such as this in their honour but I have photographed four others.
Note: I believe that Marie Hayes was the first woman in Ireland to qualify as a Doctor.
Dr. Thompson was born in Dublin in 1815 and joined the British Army, as a Doctor, and was assigned to the Light Infantry in Cobh [known as Queenstown at the time]. At some stage he was promoted and moved to the UK and later took up a position at Portsmouth general Hospital. In 1859 he returned to Ireland where had a house at Duncairn Terrace in Bray.
He was involved in fighting an outbreak of cholera in Bray in 1879 but he died towards the end of the year. He is buried in St. Paul’s graveyard across the road from the memorial.
I believe that his wife died about nine years later and that she is buried in Mount Jerome cemetery which is in Harold’s Cross in Dublin. I will check this the next time I visit the cemetery but it strikes me as a bit odd that she was not buried with her husband.
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