Another, final post from wonderful Languedoc. So many wondrous things to see and do; walking or boating the gorgeous Canal de Midi… …to exploring superb architecture… and extraordinary ecclesiastical art…. …to hillwalking the landscapes of mountain and dramatic, steep sided river valleys. But what makes Languedoc unique, and gives the area its extraordinary atmosphere of mystery and… Read More Cathars | Cathartic.
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.
These toy soldiers appear in the same exhibition as the First World War recruitment posters from recent post, although clearly the uniforms and equipment date from much earlier. They come from France, currently on loan to Collins Barracks from the Musée l’armée, at the famous les Invalides of Paris. But as you see, these particular… Read More Secret Soldiers: Exiled Heroes.
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.
I’ve not to date participated in that Word Press institution known as “the Daily Prompt”. You know the one, it’s for those who like to blog everyday, but occasionally find themselves, temporarily, stuck for inspiration. “The Prompt” is a suggested topic, serving as a nudge to get them writing. I’ve nothing against it; indeed it’s… Read More These were a few of my favourite things.
I was about to abandon the little memoir of my recent Paris jaunt, and blog instead about other things. Time- after all- marches on. Tempus fugit and all that. But then I looked at some photos saved on the computer, of statues, saints and angels, one of Mary Magdalene even. Inevitably, thoughts turned to Paris… Read More Another day in Paris-dise (or Hell for the unlucky)
Since Christmas is a time for families, and since my sister and my niece were not with us this year, my mother and I made a slightly late-in-the day, slightly haphazard and snap decision to go to Paris for 5 days, setting off the morning after Stephen’s Day. I am not going to pretend it… Read More We’ll always have Paris.
In a series of three seperate earlier posts, we’ve looked at the history of Dublin’s cathedral of Saint Patrick’s, from the early Christaina era, in one post, to the Viking ear in another, and finally to the Anglo-Normans, and “the story of the two cathedrals”. It’s all a long, immense, complex web of religious and… Read More Saint Patrick’s History, 4: Richard Boyle, earl of Cork, power, politics and intrigue in Elizabethan & Stuart Ireland.
Important Note 2: Note on photography, maps, and image credits. all photographs in this article are by the author, unless otherwise noted. I’m not precious about it but if you wish to use an image please contact me and if I provide permission naturally I’d like to get a basic acknowledgement and credit and please provide a link… Read More The Origins of Saint Patricks cathedral – part one. 430AD to the early Celtic church.
As an architecture and history obsessive, I often discuss with my students their favorite Dublin visits and “sights”. The great medieval Cathedral of Saint Patrick’s came up in class conversation the other day. I was a little mystified, not to say horrified, when one of my students shrugged her shoulders, and said it was “so-so” ! … Read More Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, my favourite place in the world.
Arran Q Henderson 