Monday, 31 August 2009
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Friday, 28 August 2009
Árd Oifig an Phuist/ General Post Office - Dublin
Post Office, Stamps, LetterBoxes, Post Boxes, Love Letters in the sand....
What's it all about? It's Postcard Friendship Friday time of course! And for more, much more of the same you have to zoom over to Marie's place at Vintage Postcards. Welcome back Marie - Happy PFF.
What's it all about? It's Postcard Friendship Friday time of course! And for more, much more of the same you have to zoom over to Marie's place at Vintage Postcards. Welcome back Marie - Happy PFF.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Home is...(3)
Continuing my look at different types of homes in Ireland, this week I travel to Kildare. The counties surrounding Dublin, including Kildare have experienced a massive population growth in the last 10 to 15 years. As property in Dublin became too expensive for workers on average wages, more and more people, especially young married couples started buying houses in towns like Naas, Navan, Drogheda and Wicklow. And Property Developers spotting the potential snapped up large plots of land and built new housing estates to cater for the demand. Unfortunately, there was very little employment in those towns and so a vast area surrounding Dublin became known as "The Commuter Belt", with thousands of workers commuting to jobs in Dublin daily, mostly by private car because of the absense of reliable public transport.
The houses in the new estates are usually 3 Bed semi-detached, and most estates have very limited facilities, usually just a small corner shop, sometimes a very small shopping centre, so that a car is a necessity for going to the nearest town.
The above houses are in Morell Estate in Naas.
The houses in the new estates are usually 3 Bed semi-detached, and most estates have very limited facilities, usually just a small corner shop, sometimes a very small shopping centre, so that a car is a necessity for going to the nearest town.
The above houses are in Morell Estate in Naas.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
But Is It Art?
Art is subjective! One (wo)man's art is another's - " what the heck is that supposed to be?"
At the moment I am renovating my humble abode, and I want to put some inspiring images on my walls. So, as I love photography I decided to make a print from some recent photo - only there was nothing recently inspiring! Instead, I cobbled together some random, left-over images and....
Alright, it's not exactly Andy Warhol!
I showed it to a friend and asked him what did he think? He studied it for a few moments and said, "well, it's .... em... it's nice!"
At least he was honest then! So it's going in the Bathroom!
But on a more serious note, if you want Photographic Art... another friend, Maja (who is by the way, not a bad photographer) has introduced me to an amazing Polish photographer - check him out at - tomasztomaszewski.com/
At the moment I am renovating my humble abode, and I want to put some inspiring images on my walls. So, as I love photography I decided to make a print from some recent photo - only there was nothing recently inspiring! Instead, I cobbled together some random, left-over images and....
Alright, it's not exactly Andy Warhol!
I showed it to a friend and asked him what did he think? He studied it for a few moments and said, "well, it's .... em... it's nice!"
At least he was honest then! So it's going in the Bathroom!
But on a more serious note, if you want Photographic Art... another friend, Maja (who is by the way, not a bad photographer) has introduced me to an amazing Polish photographer - check him out at - tomasztomaszewski.com/
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Friday, 21 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Home is...(2)
2/3 Bed, Terraced/semi-detached, Cabra, Dublin 7.
Last week I featured social housing flats/apartments in Oliver Bond, Dublin 8. This week we have a look at another social housing initiative, this time on Dublin's Northside in Cabra. There was a lot of sub-standard housing in Dublin in the early part of the 20th century, especially in the city centre area where there were vast numbers of people living in overcrowded tenement buildings. So in1937 plans were drawn up to build 1,950 houses, a school and a church in the Parish of Fingal, and the scheme called Cabra West was commenced in November 1938. The first houses were built on Swilly Road. My neighbour told me that his Auntie was housed in Cabra West after the German Luftwaffe bombed North Strand in Dublin in 1941 - supposedly by mistake, because Ireland remained neutral during the 2nd World War.
Today Cabra is a typical Middle Class residential area and while there was an issue with drugs in the past the area is now much sought after. The houses were originally 2 bed, but a lot of people have added a third bedroom. There is a small front garden and a large back garden, where I have actually seen apple trees and vegetables being grown.
Last week I featured social housing flats/apartments in Oliver Bond, Dublin 8. This week we have a look at another social housing initiative, this time on Dublin's Northside in Cabra. There was a lot of sub-standard housing in Dublin in the early part of the 20th century, especially in the city centre area where there were vast numbers of people living in overcrowded tenement buildings. So in1937 plans were drawn up to build 1,950 houses, a school and a church in the Parish of Fingal, and the scheme called Cabra West was commenced in November 1938. The first houses were built on Swilly Road. My neighbour told me that his Auntie was housed in Cabra West after the German Luftwaffe bombed North Strand in Dublin in 1941 - supposedly by mistake, because Ireland remained neutral during the 2nd World War.
Today Cabra is a typical Middle Class residential area and while there was an issue with drugs in the past the area is now much sought after. The houses were originally 2 bed, but a lot of people have added a third bedroom. There is a small front garden and a large back garden, where I have actually seen apple trees and vegetables being grown.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
And...
The almost completed new Courts building further up river near the Phoenix Park. This massive semi-circular glass fronted building is going to be controversial - some will love it and some will absolutely hate it (and that's not just the criminals). They are putting the finishing touches to it at the moment and landscaping around it so I will post more photos soon.
To the left of my photo the Wellington Monument rises high above Parkgate Place offices/apartments.
(Only just noticed it now - you can actually see the outline of the new Courts building in my 2nd photo above)
To the left of my photo the Wellington Monument rises high above Parkgate Place offices/apartments.
(Only just noticed it now - you can actually see the outline of the new Courts building in my 2nd photo above)
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Newsflash!!! Vikings Invade Dublin...
For CBS Evening News, this is Dan Rather reporting...
Oops, wrong tape!
Actually, the Vikings invaded Dublin around 841 a.d., they burned and r.. and pillaged. They were going back home to Scandinavia for the Winter, but the forecast was BAD, lots of storms brewing over the North Sea, so they built a few Apartments, and called the place Dublin (from the Irish words "Dubh Linn"- a black pool). Olsen, Jansen and Larsson looked into the black pool and thought, hmm... this could make us a few Kroner! But it never came to anything! They drank a few pints of the "black stuff", sang a few A-ha and ABBA and Robyn songs, met a few local lassie's and after a few more pint's of the "black stuff", thought the local girls with red hair and freckles actually looked kinda cute...
The Viking's stayed in Dublin!
A few years later - well, around 1759, a Mister Arthur Guinnesson had a bright idea - let's bottle this "black stuff"! And the rest as they say is history!
My photo shows an Amphibious World War Two American/Canadian vehicle called DUKWs, used by Allied forces during the invasion of Normandy. Affectionately known as "Ducks", surviving models are now used for a unique tour of Dublin by a company called Viking Splash Tours. Forget about your average open-top bus tour - this one brings you around the usual city sights, and then - drives into the sea at Grand Canal Docks!
During the tour, you have to wear a Viking "hat" and occasionally roar a Viking battle cry at the top of your voice at passersby, it's great fun!
I don't normally do prose - just photo's, but got carried away after visiting Valerie, Protege, Gaelikaa and A Little Birdie told me so.
Oops, wrong tape!
Actually, the Vikings invaded Dublin around 841 a.d., they burned and r.. and pillaged. They were going back home to Scandinavia for the Winter, but the forecast was BAD, lots of storms brewing over the North Sea, so they built a few Apartments, and called the place Dublin (from the Irish words "Dubh Linn"- a black pool). Olsen, Jansen and Larsson looked into the black pool and thought, hmm... this could make us a few Kroner! But it never came to anything! They drank a few pints of the "black stuff", sang a few A-ha and ABBA and Robyn songs, met a few local lassie's and after a few more pint's of the "black stuff", thought the local girls with red hair and freckles actually looked kinda cute...
The Viking's stayed in Dublin!
A few years later - well, around 1759, a Mister Arthur Guinnesson had a bright idea - let's bottle this "black stuff"! And the rest as they say is history!
My photo shows an Amphibious World War Two American/Canadian vehicle called DUKWs, used by Allied forces during the invasion of Normandy. Affectionately known as "Ducks", surviving models are now used for a unique tour of Dublin by a company called Viking Splash Tours. Forget about your average open-top bus tour - this one brings you around the usual city sights, and then - drives into the sea at Grand Canal Docks!
During the tour, you have to wear a Viking "hat" and occasionally roar a Viking battle cry at the top of your voice at passersby, it's great fun!
I don't normally do prose - just photo's, but got carried away after visiting Valerie, Protege, Gaelikaa and A Little Birdie told me so.
Monday, 17 August 2009
It's been scientifically..
...proven that bright colours and sunshine make us happy!
(Actually babies discovered that way before Scientists)
Merchant of Happiness...
...at work!
This old run-down building in Temple Bar is getting a makeover. And seeing that August in Dublin has been dull, dark, dreary, depressing so far (ah - alliteration again), this Artist is putting a bit of colour (and happiness) into our life.
This old run-down building in Temple Bar is getting a makeover. And seeing that August in Dublin has been dull, dark, dreary, depressing so far (ah - alliteration again), this Artist is putting a bit of colour (and happiness) into our life.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
What Are You Doing Sunday?
I saw this group assembled near the Papal Cross area of the Phoenix Park. I was curious and got closer to see what was happening. They were Brazilian people and were members of "Assembly of God", an Evangelical Christian denomination (Grupo de Evangelismo). They are being addressed in Portugeuse by a preacher and some are holding Holy Bibles, some are wearing Brazilian football jerseys and most of them are young people. I don't know if they gather here regularly, or it they also have an actual church building somewhere in the city, but they certainly came prepared - with snacks and minerals and music, and of course a few footballs.
A few weeks ago I came across a group called the Korean Catholic Community in Ireland playing volleyball near the same place, and that's the thing about the Phoenix Park - you will always see something interesting there.
A few weeks ago I came across a group called the Korean Catholic Community in Ireland playing volleyball near the same place, and that's the thing about the Phoenix Park - you will always see something interesting there.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Friday, 14 August 2009
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
And lucky old me also received a card from Lynne in Minnesota, USA. It features the magnificient Mississippi river - that we all learned how to spell at an early age in school!
(Incidentally one of my all-time favorite songs is "Missin' Mississippi" by the late, great Ted Hawkins.)
You will find Lynne blogging on the banks of the Mississippi at Postcardy.blogspot.com
(Incidentally one of my all-time favorite songs is "Missin' Mississippi" by the late, great Ted Hawkins.)
You will find Lynne blogging on the banks of the Mississippi at Postcardy.blogspot.com
...and Stamps
Born Again Stamp Collector Me has had a good week! In my collage the first stamp came via a letter from my friend Maja in Polska. The postmark is Bialystok, but I don't know the history behind the beautiful 3 Zloty stamp. The 2nd stamp is commemorating 25 years of An Post - the Irish postal service, which prior to 1984 came under the control of the Department of Posts & Telegraphs. Going clockwise the next stamp(s) commemorate famous US Navy Fleet Admiral Chester W Nimitz. And lastly 2 nice US stamps, with thanks again to "steviewren".
And why all this hullabaloo about stamps and postcards?
Because - it's Friday again! Can only mean one thing- time to visit Marie at Postcard Friendship Friday
And why all this hullabaloo about stamps and postcards?
Because - it's Friday again! Can only mean one thing- time to visit Marie at Postcard Friendship Friday
Thursday, 13 August 2009
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