I am somewhat disappointed by the fact that the majority of Christmas Trees throughout the city are lacking lights.
The plaza features the [relocated] sculpture Crann an Oir (tree of gold) by Derry sculptor Éamonn O’Doherty, which became a symbol of the Central Bank, Irish Banking, and the Celtic Tiger boom and bust. The sculpture, also known as the “Golden Ball” but I thought that it was known as the “Money Tree”.
The Central Bank’s lobby contained Abstract Beaded Pattern, a large artwork by Patrick Scott. It was put into storage prior to the Bank’s move from the premises in 2017.
Central Plaza, also known as the Central Bank of Ireland Building for its former tenant, is an office building on Dame Street in Temple Bar, Dublin. It was the headquarters of the Central Bank of Ireland from 1979 to 2017.
It is Ireland’s only suspended structure building’, with its 8 floors hanging from central concrete cores. Each floor was built on the ground and then raised into place. It was controversial for being out of scale with its surroundings and for being constructed 30 feet (9.1 m) taller than approved.
As of 2022, the building was undergoing renovations including the addition of a rooftop venue and observation deck.
Central Plaza, which features the former Central Bank of Ireland on Dame Street and College Green, was redeveloped by Hines and Peterson. The central bank building was designed by architect Sam Stephenson in the 1970s.
I thought that the sculpture outside the Central Bank was the ‘Money Tree’ but I now know that officially it is called “Crann an Oir” which means “Tree of Gold”. Early in 2015 the Central Bank announced that it intended to spend €500,000 to move its iconic golden ball from outside its then current headquarters on Dame Street in Dublin to its new base on North Wall Quay.
The piece, by the late Eamonn O’Doherty, was chosen in 1991 after a competition.
Éamonn O’Doherty (1939 – 4 August 2011), born in Derry, Northern Ireland, was an Irish sculptor, painter, printmaker, photographer and lecturer. He was best known for his sculptures in public places. He died, aged 72, in Dublin.
Well known sculptures by Éamonn O’Doherty include the Quincentennial Sculpture on Eyre Square in Galway and the Anna Livia monument, in 2011 moved to the Croppy Acre Memorial Park, in Dublin.
O’Doherty also won awards for his paintings, amongst other on the Irish Exhibition of Living Art. An exhibition of his photographs from the collection of the Irish Traditional Music Archive toured around the United States.
I am still testing my new Sony FX30 and today I recorded some video footage. I used a Sony FE 20MM F1.8 lens and I think that it performed better than my much liked Zeiss Batis 25mm lens.
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