Back in 2013, I invited readers of my blog to identify this mysterious looking map, below. As many people either knew or guessed, it’s a sketch concerning Ulysses, the legendary novel routinely claimed as the best or most influential tome of 20th century literature, and written of course by James Joyce (below). I had come across the… Read More Nabokov, Perec, Joyce & Bloom; Ulysses, Maps & Games.
Another in the current orgy, of seaside-related posts. I can not help it. It is summer after all. And it was A Spectacular day today, blazing with sunshine. Very un-Irish, although we appreciate it more than anyone else in the world, and the town and country alike always look their beautiful best. Yes, sunshine. Was… Read More East is East, and West is West, Dun Laoghaire’s magic piers. Part 1.
It has been the maddest few weeks of work for a very long time… For many years now I have run cultural programs for schools and colleges, or led one-off tours for schools and language schools, of history or art history, around the city of Dublin. Sometimes I take them to the National Museum, or… Read More Exciting times… and a new start.
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.
The last post was an epic, annotated list on the best sights & visits in Dublin. At the end is appended a few of my favorite coastal walks outside the city. Today, just a bit more detail on my favorite South side walk, from Dun Laoghaire to the end of Killiney beach, specifically the best route, via Sandycove, the 40 Foot,… Read More From the Granite to the Pebbles | Arran’s best 3- harbour walk.
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.
On of the best walks near Dublin is the circumnavigation of the Howth peninsula. I love to do the entire 360 circuit, and prefer it anti-clockwise, if you like, as you begin on the south-facing side and so catch more sun. Just leave the car at and start walking somehwere between the modern church near Sutton cross and Sutton dinghy… Read More from Sea to shining Sea, a picture walk, on Howth head.
This is the companion photo essay to the recent Pearse St post. https://arranqhenderson.com/2013/02/20/autumn-when-dublin-comes-to-life-a-little-picture-essay-of-pearse-st/ This walk took place on the same Open House weekend. And our little gathering of arcitectural and social history afficianados were led by the same guide, the excellent Lisa Cassidy. We started just behind the Four Courts, at Chancellery House, (above), designed by Herbert Simms, commemorated in… Read More a shorter photo essay- Four Courts to Green St & around.
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.
Arran Q Henderson 