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THE SUNFLOWER CHINESE RESTAURANT

February 6, 2024 by infomatique

NICHOLAS STREET IN LIMERICK

I photographed this back in 2016 and my understanding is that it is temporarily closed (6 February 2024) as are many restaurants and pubs throughout Ireland.

Nicholas Street was once the main street in mediaeval Limerick, linking King John’s Castle and Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

THE SHANNON RIVER AND KING JOHN’S CASTLE

February 5, 2024 by infomatique

LIMERICK 2016

King John’s Castle also known as Limerick Castle is a 13th-century castle located on King’s Island in Limerick, Ireland, next to the River Shannon. Although the site dates back to 922 when the Vikings lived on the Island, the castle itself was built on the orders of King John of England in 1200.

The River Shannon is the major river on the island of Ireland, and at 360 km (224 miles) in length,is the longest river in Britain or Ireland. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of 16,900 km2 (6,525 sq mi), – approximately one fifth of the area of Ireland.

THE CROPPIES’ ACRE MEMORIAL GARDEN FEATURING A NUMBER OF MEMORIALS

January 25, 2024 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED NOT LONG AFTER THE PARK RE-OPENED

The Croppies’ Acre, officially the Croppies Acre Memorial Garden, is a public park in Dublin, Ireland. It contains a memorial to the dead of the 1798 Rebellion.

The Croppies Memorial Park, closer the Heuston Railway Station, is a different entity.

Note: The naming is somewhat confusing and differs from account to account.

The site, located on the north bank of the River Liffey to the south of Collins Barracks (formerly the Royal Barracks) is traditionally believed to have been used as a mass grave for Irish rebel casualties of the 1798 Rebellion; they were known as Croppies due to their short-cropped hair. It was also called Croppies’ Hole at the time. Some rebels’ bodies were also exhibited at the Croppies’ Hole, tied to pikes.

The National Graves Association maintains that it was also used after 1798 to bury veterans of the conflict, including Matthew Tone, brother of Wolfe Tone. Bartholomew Teeling was also supposedly buried at Croppies’ Acre after being hanged at Provost Prison, Arbour Hill. However, archaeological investigations have failed to find any human remains and its status as a grave is uncertain.

The precise site of the burials was long disputed, all being known was that the dead had been buried on marshy ground near the Royal Barracks. Other reports mentioned that the corpses of the executed were thrown into the Liffey as a public deterrent; the river being tidal at this point. In addition, the River Liffey was realigned in this area to extend the city’s quays. The supposed “Croppies’ Acre” was for a long time a soldiers’ playing field.

The Memorial Park was designed and laid out in 1998.

It was closed in 2012 by the Office of Public Works due to anti-social behaviour, including drunkenness and the use of hard drugs. Ownership was transferred to Dublin City Council and the Croppies’ Acre was reopened in 2016 and that is when these photographs were taken.

JAMESON CASKMATES THE NEW CONCEPT

January 25, 2024 by infomatique

COMMERCIAL STREET ART ON CHANCERY STREET

Back in 2014 I attended the launch and in 2016 I began to notice advertising in the form of Street Art such as that in this photograph taken on Chancery Street.

The Jameson Caskmates release is a unique whiskey that has been made with the help of Cork’s Franciscan Well brewery. Barrels that had been previously used for Jameson whiskey were taken to the Franciscan Well Brewery to use in the ageing of their full-bodied craft stout. Once used for beer maturation they were sent back to the distillery where Jameson whiskey that had already been aged was filled into them for a finishing period.

Background Story: When the Jameson Master Distiller met the Master Brewer from Franciscan Wells for a drink, a plan was hatched to send a few Jameson casks to their brewery down the road for them to age their craft Irish stout. The time came for the casks to return home and our Master Distiller saw an opportunity which piqued his curiosity. He re-filled the stout-seasoned barrels with Jameson Whiskey, and Jameson Caskmates emerged; a whiskey that retains all the triple distilled smoothness of Jameson Original, with a truly unique finish. The subtle suggestion of hops, cocoa and coffee are signposts that it has bumped shoulders with stout; however, Caskmates is undeniably a member of the Jameson family.”

TWISTED AND DISTORTED TREES AT ST ANNE’S PARK

July 22, 2023 by infomatique

AS THEY WERE BACK IN APRIL 2016

When I visited the park in April 2016 I had to shelter for about three hours as the rain was so intense but I was able to devote time to photographing the trees.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of St Anne’s Park in Raheny are the avenues of fine trees, which originally framed the main house. Notably the long and wide East/West Avenue is planted with Holm oaks (Quercus ilex), Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) and Austrian Pines (Pinus nigra). There are several other avenues framed with yews (Taxus baccata), horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocatanum), Holm oaks or Monterey pines. Another feature of St. Anne’s Park is the extensive planting of holm oak. This species, resistant to sea wind, was selected by the Guinness family to act as a shelter belt along its coastal boundary and along the boundary of the park. It was also Lord Ardilaun’s favourite tree.

The Naniken River flows through the park and its banks are dominated by large and mature beech (Fagus sylvatica). Adjacent woodlands contain Holm oak, Monterey cypress, yew, and horse chestnut, as well as self-seeded trees, including wych elm (Ulmus glabra), ash trees and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus).

Woodland species, such as wild garlic (Allium ursinum), Hart’s-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium), lords and ladies (Arum maculatum), lesser celandines (Ficaria verna) and primroses (Primula vulgaris) can be found in the field layer during springtime.