The O2 music venue (viewed from Hanover Quay across the River Liffey)

Skating

The Lir Theatre/Theater

The Lir Academy

Contemplation (An Dún Cuimhneacháin)

An Dún Cuimhneacháin in Merrion Square Park is a National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State. The pyramid-shape, granite memorial designed by artist Brian King, was the winning entry in an international competition that attracted more than 30 artists. It depicts members of the four component parts of the Defence Forces -- Army, Navy, Air Corps and Reserve -- cast in bronze standing guard over an eternal flame that emanates from the Defence Forces Badge at the centre of the structure.

Ringsend Road

Looking down Ringsend Road from Pearse Street and the Grand Canal bridge. On the right, the now derelict Boland's Flour Mills which were famously taken over by rebels during the Easter Rising against British rule in 1916. On the left some of the modern apartment blocks which surround the Grand Canal Dock.

The Streets of Dublin (3) - Upper Mount Street

Squirrel, Merrion Square Park

Clogher Strand, Dingle Peninsula by Margaret Hayden

Yesterday at the Merrion Square Open Air Art Gallery I viewed many many beautiful paintings. I was particularly impressed by the stunning landscapes of Artist Margaret Hayden, and I loved this one of Clogher Strand in Kerry with the Great Blasket Island in the distance. Margaret and her husband Liam travel around Ireland and she always brings her sketch pad, so beautiful places like Clogher Strand make their way on to her canvasses.
She is a prolific Artist and also produces Abstract & Modern, Portraits, Figure Studies, Trees & Woodland Scenes, Floral & Still Life and also Landscapes & Seascapes from their travels in France and Italy. She works with Acrylics, Oils, Pastels and Watercolour and patrons from 35 different countries have purchased her works.

Bernardo O'Higgin's Monument, Merrion Square

Merrion Square Open Air Art Gallery

Merrion Square Open Air Art Gallery takes place every Sunday. It is organised by Dublin City Council and almost 200 artists sell their own work there. They hang their paintings on the railings on three sides (West, North and East) of Merrion Square.

This is Dublin’s only free all year open-air weekend art exhibition. It is the perfect place to pick up quality art. Every year new artists are allowed to exhibit so the work and artists keep changing. If you have an eye for art, you could well come away with your very own treasure.

For the last 26 years Merrion Square art has been regular feature in Dublin and on a Sunday afternoon. The Exhibition runs from 10.00am to 6.00pm and the Artists are only allowed to exhibit original paintings so you get to buy original art directly from the artist.No commission is included in the price of the paintings so you will discover that the prices are quite reasonable. You get quality art straight from the hand of the artist. You get to meet the artist, discuss their art and get an insight into the colourful life of the artist. The artists are friendly and are happy to talk about their work with passersby.There is a great variety on display, with of course a great selection of work from traditional to contemporary styles.

Branding (Es muy importante)

Including in Kildare Village! Companies spend MILLIONS promoting their product. And it all started with John Stith Pemberton ...

Little Green Street Gallery

On a earlier blog (Thu Mar 15) I showed a building (top left) from the Market's area of Dublin with some colourful graffiti and asked "Is it Art?". Caite from N.J. in the United States who blogs under "a little shore breeze" posted in reply: " I would say if it was the artist's property..fine. But does one have the 'right' to damage another's property because of your 'art'? I think not."
This troubled me, and eventually, today I got back there to discover that this old building is in fact an Art Gallery, and the murals and graffiti are intentional.
The Little Green Street Gallery has a fascinating exhibition running at the moment based on Tintin the fictional character in The Adventures of Tintin, the series of classic Belgian comic books written and illustrated by Hergé.

Infirmary Road at night

Old Flames - Foster and Allen

An Cháisc/Easter

A few weeks ago I visited The Rock of Dunamase, an old fort in County Laois. Right beside the thousand year old ruined Castle /Dún is a small Protestant church, made of granite, simple and beautiful, surrounded by the graves of people who lived and died in this beautiful, quiet part of County Laois. And it makes me think ... of how religion which can bring so much comfort to us on our (short) journey through this world can also bring division and hatred towards other human beings. And I ask why a church was bombed in Nigeria this weekend as Christians celebrated Easter?

Cáisc shona daoibh / Happy Easter

Members of the Moldovan community in Ireland celebrate Easter at St Michan's Church

Juggler - Henry Street

Sunset, County Wexford

Near Mazarrón, España

Flying over the Pyrenees

I just paid a "flying" visit to España and was amazed to find the Pyrenees( Pirineos/Pirinioak) still snowcapped in April