During the recent posts on Dun Laoghaire, I promised to briefly return to this charming piece of civic detail. It is known as the Victoria Fountain. It was erected to commemorate the visit of that queen to Dublin, passing through Dun Laoghaire in 1900, in what would turn out to be the last full year of her… Read More Dun Laoghaire Detail, revisited.
Some snaps and details from a recent walking tour (April 13th) with architectural historian & expert in 18th Century Dublin shops, Sarah Foster. Unfortunately the day was a cold and grey, so forgive the dull light. Some of these details (like the gargoyle above) Sarah pointed out, in a few other cases I wandered off the route to snap things that… Read More Plaques, gargoyles and granite shop fronts.
This post is for all visitors and was inspired by my students. They often tell me they find it hard to get reliable information on the most interesting places to see here. This sounds a bit unlikely at first? With Ireland’s long-established tourism, you’d imagine we’re bursting at the seams with reliable, objective lists and maps,… Read More Arran’s Top Dublin Sights & Visits.
I recently posted on an event that runs in Dublin November each year called Open House, dedicated to architecture by helping to educate and inform us all about the history and practice of that great art, and by giving the public access to some of the best buildings in the country. It’s one of my… Read More Custom-made Beauty. – Power, genius and intrigue, in 18th century Dublin.
Every autumn, there are two wonderful events in Dublin. The first, in September is called “Culture Night” which is pretty self-explanatory but covers all the arts. The second event is called “Open House”. It aims to interest and engage and to give people direct access to architecture, from old medieval and Georgian buildings, to the latest bits of… Read More Autumn, when Dublin comes to Life. a little picture essay of Pearse St.
Following on from Saint Brendan in our previous post; another stone carving, from another church. This time from the lovely and medieval St Nicholas of Myra church, right in the centre of Galway city. As you see, this stone carving above shows an angel. But this particular angel is unique, for reasons shortly to… Read More Answer Picture 3… Saint Nicholas Church Galway.
a stone carving from a capital that adorns a column in Saint Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea, Co Galway. The Cathedral was designed by William Byrne and funded by the wonderful Edward Martyn, Catholic land-owner, Humanist, scholar, patron, and playwright. Martyn was an absolutely vital figure in Ireland’s Gaelic Revival, a hugely important benefactor to the arts. Among his many… Read More St Brendan’s Cathedral & St Brendan Navigator.
We asked readers to try and identify four architectural details, from buildings around Ireland. If you have not seen the quiz yet, you can find it here. Or, if you just want the answers, and a bit of additional detail, here’s the answer to picture 1. (below) This fierce and fabulous sea creature is… Read More Answer 1… Dolphin House, & the influence of John Ruskin.
A small set of curious pictures, just four today, for readers to puzzle over. In a break with tradition, these images are not all from the capital. Two pictures are from Dublin, but the other two from elsewhere in Ireland, from much further afield. Enjoy, and please feel free to share with friends or colleagues.… Read More Four details… four pictures from Dublin and around Ireland.
Doors of Dublin quiz, results and reflections. It has to be acknowledged again this was a tough quiz. Too tough for most it seems. Over two hundred people read the post, but only around 1o people had a crack at answering the picture questions.. less than 1 in 20 readers ! That’s a… Read More Results of Doors of Dublin Quiz.
Arran Q Henderson 