University Campus

THE GRANGEGORMAN CLOCK TOWER

May 25, 2023 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED USING A SIGMA DP3 QUATTRO

Originally opened in 1816 as the Richmond Penitentiary, this iconic tower is one of the most well-known of the 11 protected structures on the Grangegorman site. Built to the designs of Francis Johnston, also known for the Lower House on site and for the GPO on O’Connell St, the Richmond Penitentiary was the first of the penitentiary style in Britain and Ireland. The front facade, which overlooks Grangegorman Lower and the western side of the site, is all that remains of the original structure. The Grangegorman Masterplan shows the building’s final use as academic space for the College of Engineering & Built Environment.

Today I obtained an unused Sigma Quattro DP3 camera and, believe me, it is more than difficult to use for multiple reasons. The first problem that I had was that the internal battery was exhausted and I could not change any settings, I could not even set the date and time. The second problem was that AF would not work so I had to focus manually which was difficult without a viewfinder.

The biggest problem is that LightRoom does not recognise the RAW files and there is no point in using the JPG files and to complicate life one needs not to use any setting above ISO 100. Alto the battery life is the worse that I have encountered.

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FREEDOM SCULPTURE BY ALEXANDRA WEJCHERT

April 7, 2023 by infomatique

MOVED FROM AIB HEADQUARTERS IN BALLSBRIDGE TO THE NORTH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN MAYNOOTH

I never noticed this sculpture before even though it has been here since September 2021.

The stainless steel ‘Freedom’ sculpture by Alexandra Wejchert was installed on the North Campus of Maynooth University under a long-term loan agreement between AIB and the University.

Commissioned by AIB bank in 1985, the stainless-steel sculpture stands at 11.5 m (37 ft) high and was considered among the most ambitious large-scale exterior sculptures in Ireland. Following the relocation of the AIB headquarters from Ballsbridge, the sculpture required a new site and is now a defining feature on the landscape of Maynooth University, as a publicly accessible exterior artwork for the community and the wider region.

Alexandra Wejchert (16 October 1921 – 24 October 1995) was a Polish-Irish sculptor, known for her use of perspex (plexiglass), stainless steel, bronze and neon colours. Wejchert became an Irish citizen in 1979, a member of Aosdána in 1981, and a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 1995. She was recognised internationally when she was the only Irish sculptor included in Louis Redstone’s new directions (1981). She was shown at the Solomon gallery from 1989 numerous times, including a solo show in 1992. A number of her most important pieces were for Irish universities, such as Geometric form at the University of Limerick and Flame at the University College Cork in 1995, her last work. She died suddenly at her home on Tivoli Road, Dún Laoghaire on 24 October 1995. She had one son, Jacob. The RHA held a posthumous exhibition of her work in 1995. Wejchert is said to have influenced the younger generation of Irish sculptors, including Vivienne Roche, Eilis O’Connell, and Michael Warren. Flame was selected to be a part of the Irish Artists’ Century exhibition at the RHA in 2000.

This was my first time to use my Sony A7RIV for more than a year and I used a Batis 25mm lens which I really like.

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THE GRANGEGORMAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 10 MARCH 2023

March 12, 2023 by infomatique

THERE WAS SOME SNOW TO BE SEEN BUT NOT MUCH

Today I used my new Sony F30 and as it does not have an electronic viewfinder I find it somewhat difficult to use also the the images are inclined to be underexposed and tend towards exaggerated blues. Of course some the problems are due to my lack of experience.

Technological University Dublin or TU Dublin is Ireland’s first technological university, established on 1 January 2019, and with a history stretching back to 1887 through the amalgamated Dublin Institute of Technology which progressed from the first technical education institution in Ireland, the City of Dublin Technical Schools. It is the second-largest third-level institution in Ireland, with a student population of 28,500.

The university was formed by the amalgamation of three existing institutes of technology in the Dublin area – Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology, Tallaght, taking over all functions and operations of these institutions. It is the eighth university in Ireland, and the fourth in County Dublin. The university asserts an entrepreneurial ethos and industry-focused approach, with extensive collaboration with industry for research and teaching. The flagship campus is located within Grangegorman, Dublin, with two other long-term campuses, in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, and remaining legacy sites at Bolton Street and Aungier Street.

TU Dublin has approximately 3,500 staff.

DUBLINBIKES DOCKING STATION 103

March 11, 2023 by infomatique

ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE OLD RICHMOND PENITENTIARY BUILDING

A green area – the Cultural Garden – has been strategically placed directly opposite, framing the Clock Tower and offering a place for celebration and commemoration of this historic building and the wider Grangegorman site. This was developed as part of the Site Infrastructure and Public Realm (SIPR) Project over 2013/14. The four-sided clock on top of the building also has historic significance as it is the oldest flatbed mechanical clock in Britain and Ireland. This is now regularly maintained and can be heard chiming the hour throughout the Grangegorman area.

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SITE WIDE ENERGY PLANT AT GRANGEGORMAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

March 11, 2023 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED 10 MARCH 2023

The development of the Grangegorman Quarter is based on the international best practices of environmental sustainability. Early, sustainable masterplanning decisions will be augmented by the requisite governmental requirements and best practices and decisions of the designers of the individual buildings.

The basis of the initial energy plan is subdivided into two components: a site wide energy plant as well as an individual renewable energy plant for each building block. All heating, and a portion of the electricity, will be generated from a centralised combined heat and power (CHP) plant using biofuels and distributed to individual buildings. In addition, each of the individual buildings will provide hot water from hot water solar collectors located on the roofs of each building.