CONTENTS
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ATHLUNKARD BRIDGEHaving photographed all the other bridges in Limerick over the years, Athlunkard Bridge had long been on my list to visit and capture. During a week-long stay… ATTRIBUTION UNCERTAINRecently, a query about the attribution of a particular sculpture in Drogheda prompted a deeper investigation. My initial understanding, based on information…
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BIRDY BY ROWAN GILLESPIE'Birdy' is often described as a timid figure, poised precariously, much like a fledgling on the verge of its inaugural flight. This evokes a sense of nervous… BOTANIC GARDENS DUBLINThe National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, represent a true horticultural jewel and a significant scientific institution. Established in 1795 by the… BRENDAN BEHAN'S GRAVEBrendan Behan, the celebrated Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright, is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. His grave is marked by a…
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CACTUS PROVISOIRE BY ALEXANDER…Unlike the "red metal yokes" commonly associate with Irish towns and villages, "Cactus Provisoire" possesses a unique significance. It was specifically selected… CANAL BOATS AT PORTOBELLOIn the Portobello Area of Dublin I noticed at least two canal boats or barges that appear to be permanently moored. CANAL WALK SESSION ONEThe final phase of the city to university riverbank walkway has been completed, offering a continuous route of over three kilometres from Limerick's city centre… CELTIC CROSSES DOMINATE THE…Glasnevin Cemetery is renowned for its striking number of large Celtic Crosses, which powerfully embody a fusion of historical, cultural, and economic factors.… CHAC MOOLEnrique Carbajal González, known by his pseudonym Sebastián, is a Mexican sculptor celebrated for his monumental public works in steel or concrete. His "Chac… CHILDREN OF LIRThe sculpture by Oisín Kelly depicts the four children of Lir – Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn – in their transformed state as swans, rising from the water.… CLONTARF ROAD RAILWAY STATIONThe current Clontarf Road station was opened on 1 September 1997. This is a newer station, replacing the original Clontarf Station which was located further… CORBALLY OPEN AIR BATHSMy prior visits to Limerick always piqued my curiosity about a little-known feature on the River Shannon: the Corbally Baths. Despite my interest, I… CORBALLY OPEN AIR BATHSMy prior visits to Limerick always piqued my curiosity about a little-known feature on the River Shannon: the Corbally Baths. Despite my interest, I… CRESCENT AREA OF BELFAST MAY…Every time I'm in Belfast, I make a point of visiting Upper Crescent. My initial photographic endeavour captured a significant section of the terrace in a state… CRESCENT CHURCH MARCH 2022The Crescent Arts Centre and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Belfast, share a fascinating history, housed within a building complex that has undergone…
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DECLINE OF THE UPPER CRESCENTBy 2014, many buildings in the Upper Crescent were in a severe state of disrepair, appearing derelict. This deterioration was not an isolated or sudden event… DORSET STREET FIRE STATIONImportantly, the historic Dorset Street Fire Station building has not only survived but has been beautifully restored and is in very good condition. It is being… DUNDRUM TRAM STOPThe Dundrum Luas stop, located in South Dublin, is a key point on the Luas Green Line, a light rail system that largely reuses the alignment of the historic… DUN LAOGHAIREToday I visited Dun Laoghaire and when I arrived the weather way beautiful but within about two hours it began to rain while the rest of Europe was suffering…
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EIRE BY JEROME O'CONNORThe initial concept for the 'Éire' sculpture arose from a deeply rooted historical context. It was originally intended as part of a "Kerry poets memorial" in… EXAMPLES OF SARCOPHAGIThe stone casket-shaped graves that I photographed during a recent visit to Glasnevin Cemetery are known as sarcophagi (singular: sarcophagus) or chest tombs.
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FIRST TIME TO USE THE SONY A1 IIToday, I embarked on a photographic outing, eager to test my new Sony A1 II combined with the FE 28-70mm F2 lens. My initial plan was to visit St Anne's Park;…
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GRANGEGORMAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUSThe Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Grangegorman Campus is a modern, purpose-built educational facility situated in the heart of Dublin, Ireland.…
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HENDRONSThe site is currently marketed as "Development Land" by Robert Colleran. It is known that sales terms were previously agreed for a 330-bedroom student…
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I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WAS IN…The good news is that the riverbank walkway in Shannon Banks has seen upgrades under the NTA Active Travel programme, aiming to improve accessibility and…
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MERRION SQUAREPositioned in the northwest corner of Merrion Square, directly opposite his childhood home at No. 1, the Oscar Wilde Memorial is a unique and The A7RV is quite… MILLTOWN AREAMilltown, a charming suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland, boasts a rich industrial heritage evident in its notable landmarks: the old Shanagarry Chimney… MILLTOWN TRAM STOPInterestingly, the current Milltown Luas stop re-uses the alignment of the former Harcourt Street railway line. This railway line, which closed in 1958, had a… MOTHERSHIP BY RACHEL JOYNTBeyond its artistic merit, Mothership carries significant symbolism. The sea urchin itself serves as a powerful statement about clear seawater, directly… MOTORBIKE DESTROYED BY FIREOn 9th July 2025, I observed a completely destroyed, burnt-out motorbike on the TU Grangegorman campus, a mere two or three minutes' walk from my flat. MOUNT SAINT LAWRENCE CEMETERYMount Saint Lawrence Cemetery, officially opened in 1849, rapidly became Limerick City's primary burial ground. Its establishment was a direct response to the…
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O'CONNELL STREETOriginally a much narrower street in the 17th century, O'Connell Street was widened in the late 18th century and renamed Sackville Street. The street as it is… OLDER SECTION OF THE CEMETERYGlasnevin Cemetery, established in 1832 by Daniel O'Connell, is not just a burial ground but a significant historical and cultural site, often referred to as… OSCAR ON THE ROCKPositioned in the northwest corner of Merrion Square, directly opposite his childhood home at No. 1, the Oscar Wilde Memorial is a unique and popular Dublin…
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PARLIAMENT SQUARE TRINITYThe Campanile at Trinity College Dublin is an iconic and much-loved landmark, standing proudly in the centre of the Parliament Square. Completed in 1853, it was… PEARSE TRAIN STATION 26 JULY…As the site of Ireland's first railway line, Pearse Station holds a special place in the country's transport history. The building itself has been a witness to… PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN IRELANDPublic transport in Ireland is a comprehensive network primarily overseen by the National Transport Authority (NTA). While the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) group…
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QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL FOUNTAINThe Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain in Dún Laoghaire holds a complex and often contentious place in the town's history. It was erected in 1900 to commemorate…
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REALLY LARGE MURALDynamic patterns and bright colors of Digo Diego's mural covering the Honan's Quay building, illustrating the artist's philosophy of art as education and… RESCUED FROM BURNING BUILDINGOn a seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning, the bustling rhythm of Dublin's north inner city was shattered by the outbreak of a ferocious fire on Granby Row.… ROAD INCIDENT 30 JULY 2025My recent photography excursion along River Road R102 in Dublin took an alarming turn on 30th July, an experience that caught me entirely by surprise despite my… ROGER CASEMENT STATUEBorn in Sandycove, County Dublin, in 1864, just a stone's throw from the sculpture's current location, Casement's early life gave little indication of the… RUSSELL MEMORIAL FOUNTAINA detailed view of the ornate domed canopy of the Jaffe Memorial Fountain in Belfast, showcasing intricate filigree work and a weathervane finial
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SCULPTURE BY HENRY MOOREHenry Moore's bronze sculpture, "Reclining Connected Form," created in 1969, holds a prominent position in Library Square, behind the historic Campanile at… SONY A1 ARRIVED 18 JULY 2025The A1 II's autofocus system is particularly noteworthy, featuring 759 on-sensor phase detection points covering approximately 92% of the image area, capable of… SO WHO IS DUNCANEarly in the year I investigated graffiti by 'Duncan Aged 51 3/4 and basically got nowhere. Today I came across another example on Parnell Street and as it… SPHERE WITHIN SPHEREThe "Sphere Within Sphere" (Sfera con Sfera) sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro is far more than just an aesthetic addition to the Trinity College Dublin campus;… SPHERE WITHIN SPHERE 2023The "Sphere Within Sphere" (Sfera con Sfera) sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro is far more than just an aesthetic addition to the Trinity College Dublin campus;… ST ANNE'S PARK 19 JULY 2025Today, I embarked on a photographic outing, eager to test my new Sony A1 II combined with the FE 28-70mm F2 lens. My initial plan was to visit St Anne's Park;… SYMBOLS ON SUSSEX STREETThe distinctive symbolic artwork seen on several walls is the work of Signs of Power, the professional name for the Dublin-based artist Vanessa Power. She was…
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THE BEST NIGHT EVERThe sculptor behind "The Best Night Ever" is Bob Quinn, born in 1948. Bob enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the Irish advertising industry, working as… THE BUILDINGS HAD BEEN RESTORED…The Upper Crescent in Belfast has undergone a remarkable transformation between 2015 and 2022, evolving from a state of significant dereliction to a fully… THE HUMPBACK BRIDGES REMAINWhile some old hump-back bridges have been bypassed with new structures to improve accessibility, the original bridges remain open for those who wish to use… THE LEICA Q3 DOES HAVE ISSUESThe Leica Q3, while a highly-regarded and capable camera, can present a steep learning curve and several frustrating issues for first-time users. These problems… THE POND AREAThe design of the pond area is quite naturalistic, with meandering paths that allow visitors to stroll alongside its banks, offering different perspectives and… THE TAIT FOUNTAINA tall, ornate cast-iron drinking fountain, redin colour, with a filigree dome and intricate detailing, standing in a public park THE VICTIM BY ANDREW O'CONNORLocated within Dublin's historic Merrion Square Public Park stands "The Victims," a powerful sculpture by American-Irish artist Andrew O'Connor. This… THOMONDGATE MURALAbout two years ago, the talented team at Draw Out Urban Exhibitionists — a company dedicated to transforming urban spaces through public art — completed a… TRIBUTE HEAD SCULPTUREThe "Tribute Head" in Merrion Square remains a powerful and enduring work of art. It is a testament to Dame Elisabeth Frink's profound humanism, a symbol of… TRIBUTE TO DERMOT MORGANThe 'Joker's Chair' was installed in Merrion Square in 2002, four years after Morgan's sudden passing in 1998. It was unveiled by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. TWO SUNDIALSThe National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, feature two distinct and intriguing sundials TWO TRAIN STATIONS SERVING…Both stations and the areas around them have faced issues with anti-social behaviour and safety, particularly for pedestrians travelling at night.
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URBAN EXPRESSION AND DEPRESSIONPhotographs taken on Sussex Street in Dún Laoghaire on 3rd July 2025 capture a scene of stark contradiction. One wall of the Boylan Youth Centre bursts with a…
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VICTORIAN ERA GLASSHOUSESThe Glasshouses at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin are a magnificent collection of Victorian-era structures, celebrated for their architectural beauty and the…
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WAS THE SENIOR COLLEGE IN DUN…The building shown in the photographs served for many years as the Senior College Dún Laoghaire (SCD). Established in 1982 under the statutory authority of the… WATERFRONT IN POOR CONDITIONMy collection of photographs highlights the "poor conditions" of the sea interface at Newtownsmith Sandycove, necessitating a detailed examination of its… WESTERN WAYThe Western Way in Broadstone, Dublin, proved to be an interesting subject for my lens test, given its rich history. Developed around 1880, this significant… WIND SAIL SCULPTUREEamon O’Doherty (1939-2011) was a prolific artist, celebrated for his large-scale public sculptures. His artistic footprint extends globally with over 40 works…