I have photographed this bandstand a number of times but this time I had a number of problems but the main one was that I had to edit out a number of children who kept getting in the way but it is nice to see that they like the structure as much, if not more, than I do.
The other issue is that they structure is no longer uniformly white and there is much discolouration which appears to be much uglier in the images than it is in reality.
Here is how the developer (Darmody Architecture) described the structure: “Understanding the client brief in terms of the desire for innovation together with the need for a functioning pavilion was a clear starting point. This led us to a sculptural form which embraces the functionality of a performance space while being a poetic element in its own right. Our studies of fluid forms guided us to an aerodynamic structural skeleton with a technical skin inspired by the engineering of modern aircraft and its composite elements. This development of a fluid skin allowed us to explore and enjoy the idea of the lightness and the vitality of summer light. The canopy form was manipulated and folded creating the implied enclosure of space and light.”
The Mardyke is an area in Cork city, on the northern half of the long western part of the island formed by the two channels of the River Lee near the city centre. It was historically left as open space because the land along the north channel of the river is prone to flooding. From east to west these open spaces are: Presentation Brothers College, a boy’s secondary school; the Mardyke ground of Cork County Cricket Club; Fitzgerald Park, which includes Cork Public Museum; Sunday’s Well Lawn Tennis Club; and the athletic grounds of University College Cork.
Wolfe Tone Park reopened almost a year ago [16 May 2022] following major works by Dublin City Council. It is described as a “green space” but I advise you to visit and decide for yourself but there is no doubt that it is an improvement but I am waiting for the bronze cow to return. Note: It has become much greener since May 2022.
As already mentioned in previous posts the park was closed during the pandemic and the the Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services team took the opportunity to restore it to a green space.
The park is the site of a graveyard that was attached to St. Mary’s Church, and is named for Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763–1798), who was baptised in the church. The graveyard was deconsecrated in 1966 and laid out as a green park. From 1998 to 2001, Dublin City Council redeveloped the park as an “urban plaza”.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, the site operated as a “green space”, maintained by Dublin City Council. In 1998, the council held a competition to redesign the park, which was won by Peter Cody of Boyd Cody Architects. The updated layout, in the form of an “urban plaza”, was completed in 2001. After the square’s layout was changed, it was made available by Dublin City Council for events, including the Dublin Fringe Festival. Over the years I began to notice an increase in anti-social behaviour which lead to a campaign from local residents to restore “Wolfe Tone Park as a non-commercial green space. There was an ongoing debate for many years in the council as to the future use of the park. Ultimately the park was closed between 2020 and 2022, and Dublin City Council redeveloped and restored it to a green space.
The 1902 tram was originally built in Philadelphia but spent much its working life in Lisbon before being purchased by a museum in Wales. In 2008 the body of the tram was shipped to Ireland [a farm in Cavan]. Visit www.swissitalianpaddlesteamers.com/lcbtramsoc/no305-sold…. if you are interested in the history of this tram.
I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max to photograph one of my favourite sculptures in Merrion Square Public Park.
Éire Memorial (1974) By Jerome Connor (1874-1943)[Restored And Relocated Within Merrion Square Park]
In 1928 Jerome Connor became involved in a proposal to create a memorial to the Kerry poets, which was to commemorate four leading Gaelic poets of the 17th and 18th centuries at Killarney. He chose a figure of Éire holding a harp seated on a rock, possibly inspired by Walt Whitman’s poem Old Ireland in Leaves of Grass (1861). The unstrung harp was based on the 1621 Cloyne harp in the National Museum. The work went as far as a full-scale replica in wax. However, due to the limited funds available, Connor agreed to forego his artist’s fee and charge only the costs of production, indicative of a personal commitment to this project in his native country.
Despite its allegorical subject, it is a highly realistic piece of modelling but opponents of the scheme blocked payments in 1932 on the grounds that it was “pagan” and lacked religious symbolism – an instance of the narrow religious prejudices of the time. Payments to the sculptor ceased which precipitated his bankruptcy and subsequent poverty. The sculpture was not completed in his lifetime but was cast in 1974, funded by Downes bakery, and placed in Merrion Square, but without the planned pedestal and inscription.
I first came across this park in 2011 when I got off the Luas tram at the wrong stop – Cabra instead of Phibsborough.
The main entrance to Mount Bernard Park is located at Liam Whelan Bridge, Connaught Street with another entrance at Shandon Park. The park was purchased by Dublin City Council in 1983 from the Dominican Nuns and it extends 1.8468 hectares.
Lands located north of Mount Bernard Park in Phibsborough will soon be developed to become an extension of the park, Dublin City Council has confirmed. The site, which was originally earmarked by the National Transport Authority for the Luas Cross City initiative, was acquired by the local authority after the NTA declared that the land was no longer needed for Luas operations. Under the Phibsborough Local Environmental Improvements Plan (LEIP) the council sought to extend Mount Bernard Park to these lands.
Because of restrictions that applied as a result of Joe Biden’s visit one of the few options open to me was to visit the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin … I could not believe how cold the weather was and it rained a number of times while I was exploring the Gardens.
I used a Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS lens which I do not remember buying and what is even more confusing is that I do not purchase anything other than full-frame lenses. Sony describes the lens as follows: This G Lens for E-mount cameras delivers stunning still or movie imagery with the flexibility of 6x power zoom. Maximum aperture is a constant F4 from 18mm wide angle to 105mm medium telephoto, with excellent resolution and contrast throughout. A lever and ring on the lens barrel allow zoom speed to be freely adjusted as required while maintaining a sure, stable grip.
I was disappointed with the performance of the lens as many of the images were not properly focused and there were many examples of motion blur. At the time I could not decide if the fact that the FX30 does not have a viewfinder might have contributed to the poor performance or that I was to blame. On the following day I used a sigma 14mm lens and there were no issues … at a later date I will try the 18-105mm lens with my old NEX-7 whit is not a full-frame camera.
The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland are an oasis of calm and beauty, and entry is free. A premier scientific institution, the Gardens contain important collections of plant species and cultivars from all over the world. The National Botanic Gardens in Dublin are located in Glasnevin, just three kilometres from Dublin City Centre, and are famous for the exquisitely restored historic glasshouses. The National Botanic Gardens in Wicklow are located in Kilmacurragh, where the milder climate, higher rainfall, and deeper, acidic soils of this historic Wicklow garden, provide a counterpoint to the collections at Glasnevin. The two gardens have been closely associated since 1854. The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland are operated and managed by the Office of Public Works.