I first photographed this memorial in March 2021 but forgot to publish the resulting images.
In 2021 I used a Sony 7RIV with a Sony PZ 28-135mm Lens and in 2022 I used a Canon 5D MkIII with a Sigma 24-105mm Lens.
Thomas was from Callan in Co Kilkenny, the son of Edward and Hanora Woodgate of Mill Street, and until recently it was assumed that he was 18 when he signed up to the Royal Air Force in late 1918. He died on board RMS Leinster on 10 October 1918, when it was torpedoed by a German submarine close to the Kish Lighthouse while on its way to Holyhead.
Altogether, 501 lives were lost in that incident, which occurred just a month before the end of the war.
In recent years, while research was being carried out into the hundreds of people from the Kilkenny area who died during that war, it was discovered that Thomas was actually 14 when he was killed.
Thomas is buried in Grangegorman military cemetery in Dublin.
The sculpture was created by CDS Architectural Metalwork. Martin Stapleton began his career working with his father Michael in the Farm Building Business. He began his apprenticeship in 1986 and in 1989 he represented Ireland in the World Skill Olympics where he finished 3rd behind China and Korea. After this intensive training, Martin realised that there was a market for quality metalwork in the construction industry which could be manufactured and installed to an extremely high standard, which was not an “off the shelf” product but instead crafted to suit each individual project requirement. This metalwork utilized mildsteel, stainless steel, copper, brass, glass etc and maximised the fabrication techniques and procedures to produce spectacular results.
I photographed this on Little Christmas (6 January 2024).
Eamonn Ceannt (b.1953, Dublin) is a graduate and former Vice President of UCD. His work is notable for its tactile qualities and sinuous forms. Ceannt has travelled extensively over the years including north Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent and lived for a number of years in Kenya. The influence of native and classical art is evident in his work. ‘Black Tulip’ is one of a series of sculptures based on plant studies. This work was donated to UCD by RKD architects to mark their 100th anniversary.
This sculpture is Rendezvous and it is by Bob Quinn. Quinn (b.1948, Britain) had a successful career as a graphic designer. Since 2002 he is a full time figurative sculptor working mainly in bronze.
As it was Women’s Christmas I decided to visit my mother who will be 104 in May. This date two years ago she decided to move to a Nursing Home and that caught everyone by surprise but the family organised it so that at least one person a day would visit her. This year it was difficult to maintain the schedule as not many family members remained in Dublin for Christmas. The nursing home is effectively within the University Campus and normally I would bring my mother for a walk through parts of the campus but today she was not interested in going outside as it was too cold. The sunlight was beautiful but it was very cold.
The celebration of the feast of the Epiphany in Ireland, January 6th is marked by Nollaig na mBan or Women’s Little Christmas. On this day it is the tradition in Ireland for the women to get together and enjoy their own Christmas, while the men folk stay at home and handle all the chores. It is also common for children to buy their mothers and grandmothers presents on this day, though this custom is gradually being overtaken by Mothers Day.
Although Nollaig na mBan is slowly dying out in many parts of Ireland, in Co. Cork on the South West coast, the tradition is still very strong. Many bars and restaurants in Cork City report a near 100% female clientele on this day, as the Corkonian women meet up with girl friends, sisters, aunts and mothers to celebrate their own little Christmas with Nollaig na mBan.
This image was captured back in February 2012 and I used a Sony NEX-5 camera however using some beta AI soft I was able to make a number of corrections and extract a bit more detail but I am still happy with the leafs.
Vincent Browne (born 1947 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish sculptor who created a well-loved Dublin landmark, Mr. Screen, the squat bronze usher who stands outside the Screen Cinema at the junction of Hawkins Street and Townsend Street in Dublin. His public commissions also include Anti-War Memorial (Limerick, 1987) and the bronze Palm Tree seat in Temple Bar, Dublin.
Irish sculptor, James McKenna, was born in Dublin on the 21st June 1933.
I visited the area in order to photograph this on Christmas Day but because of of weather conditions I was unable to use my camera so I had no option but to wait until St Stephen’s Day.
This area, in Trim, on the banks of the River Boyne has improved over recent years but it is still a bit untidy and the plaque which was missing last year has not been replaced.
Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, also called Máel Sechnaill Mór or Máel Sechnaill II (949 – 2 September 1022), was a King of Mide and High King of Ireland. His great victory at the Battle of Tara against Olaf Cuaran in 980 resulted in Gaelic Irish control of the Kingdom of Dublin.
Máel Sechnaill belonged to the Clann Cholmáin branch of the Uí Néill dynasty. He was the grandson of Donnchad Donn, great-grandson of Flann Sinna and great-great-grandson of the first Máel Sechnaill, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid. The Kings of Tara or High Kings of Ireland had for centuries alternated between the various Uí Néill branches. By Máel Sechnaill’s time this alternating succession passed between Clann Cholmáin in the south and the Cenél nEógain in the north, so that he succeeded Domnall ua Néill in 980. This system had survived previous challenges by outsiders including the kings of Ulster, Munster and Leinster, and the Viking invasions.
In 980, Olav Cuarán, King of Dublin, summoned auxiliaries from Norse-ruled Scottish Isles and from Mann and attacked Meath, but was defeated by Máel Sechnaill at the Battle of Tara. Reginald, Olaf’s heir, was killed. Máel Sechnaill followed up his victory with a siege of Dublin which surrendered after three days and nights. When Maél Sechnaill took Dublin in 980, according to the Annals of Tigernach, he freed all the slaves then residing in the city.
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226383-1
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226384-1
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226386-1
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226388-1
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226385-1
MAEL SEACHNAILL MAC DOMNAILL LOOKED RATHER LONELY ON SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY [A SCULPTURE BY JAMES McKENNA]-226387-1