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A LOVELY DAY FOR A GUINNESS

March 17, 2023 by infomatique

ST PATRICK’S DAY 2023

When Guinness is poured, the gas bubbles appear to travel downwards in the glass. The effect is attributed to drag; bubbles that touch the walls of a glass are slowed in their travel upwards. Bubbles in the centre of the glass are, however, free to rise to the surface, and thus form a rising column of bubbles. The rising bubbles create a current by the entrainment of the surrounding fluid. As beer rises in the centre, the beer near the outside of the glass falls. This downward flow pushes the bubbles near the glass towards the bottom. Although the effect occurs in any liquid, it is particularly noticeable in any dark nitrogen stout, as the drink combines dark-coloured liquid and light-coloured bubbles.

A study published in 2012 revealed that the effect is due to the particular shape of the glass coupled with the small bubble size found in stout beers. If the vessel widens with height, then bubbles will sink along the walls – this is the case for the standard pint glass. Conversely, in an anti-pint (i.e. if the vessel narrows with height) bubbles will rise along the walls.

A LOVELY DAY FOR A GUINNESS - SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 2023

ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL QUARTER AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

March 17, 2023 by infomatique

17 MARCH 2023

For many years I had a media pass to for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin but in recent years I have decided to give the parade a miss mainly because security became mote and more restrictive to the extent that I impacted on my photograph. This year I was not going to undertake any photography during the festival mainly as I was scheduled to travel to Kilkenny this weekend. However, I cancelled my trip to kilkenny.

Today, 17th March, I had lunch at Eatokyo on Capel Street and as I was finished by 2PM I decided to wander around and take some random photographs using my iPhone. Up until today I had not realised that I had a Lightroom App which allowed me to take .DNG [RAW files] images so I decided to experiment but when I returned home I discovered a number of unexpected problems which I will not discuss here.

The grounds of one of Ireland’s most spectacular and historic heritage sites in the heart of Dublin will feature Tent Mór and Tent Beag, an outdoor Main Stage, performance spaces, relaxation areas, a mini-funfair and the Irish Food and Craft Village.

All daytime events will be free of charge, along with the full day and night programme on St. Patrick’s Day, supported by Dublin Airport. Night time events on the 16th and 18th of March will require a pre-purchased ticket that will be valid for the full evening’s programme.

Festival Quarter will be open to all ages throughout the day, and will be reserved for adults only from 6pm to 10:30pm. Just a short walk from the city centre, easily accessible by Luas and bus, and adjacent to Heuston Station, Festival Quarter will be a bustling hub for locals and visitors alike, from March 16th to 18th.

SMITHFIELD PLAZA 18 FEBRUARY 2023

February 20, 2023 by infomatique

ALSO KNOWN AS SMITHFIELD SQUARE OR SMITHFIELD MARKET

Yesterday I visited the Clock Bar on Thomas Street as it was the end of an era as it would not be opening again on Monday as the building had been sold for redevelopment. On my way hope I passed through Smithfield Square which I do not normally visit at night and as it was dark my iPhone camera did not work well as many of the images had excessive motion blur.

Smithfield is an area on the Northside of Dublin. Its focal point is a public square, formerly an open market and common, now officially called Smithfield Plaza, but known locally as Smithfield Square or Smithfield Market. Historically, Smithfield formed the western part of Oxmantown and lay close to Oxmantown Green.

The area known as Smithfield roughly incorporates the area bounded by the River Liffey to the south, Bow Street to the east, Queen Street to the west, and North Brunswick street in the suburb of Grangegorman to the north.

Notable landmarks include the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery and the Observation Tower.

Recent commercial, residential and cultural developments led to the area becoming newly fashionable in the first decade of the 21st century. However, most notably in the period 2008 to 2010, stagnation set in as developments stalled and the Irish economy/property market nose-dived once the post-Celtic Tiger economic recession struck. The significant issues of variable apartment occupancy rates, coupled with closed retail spaces and a number of unfinished and unoccupied commercial units at Smithfield Market have created a highly visible reminder of the economic and community challenges still to be addressed in this historic part of Dublin.

THE GUINNESS CLOCK AT THE CLOCK PUB ON THOMAS STREET

February 18, 2023 by infomatique

WILL CEASE TRADING 18-19 FEBRUARY 2023

I photographed this pub back in December 2018 as I was in the process of photographing Guinness clocks around the city.

A few days ago I was in the Thomas Street area and a local who was interested in my camera and the history of the area mentioned that I will have my last chance the get the best pint in Dublin on the weekend as the Clock Pub [including the whole block] was to be demolished.

Today it was mentioned in some publications that the building in which the Clock is located has been sold and that the pub would close this weekend [18-13 February 2023] and that the future of the site as uncertain.

THE GUINNESS CLOCK AT THE CLOCK PUB ON THOMAS STREET

SOUTH WILLIAM STREET

February 8, 2023 by infomatique

FEBRUARY 2023

South William Street, runs from the junction with Exchequer Street, Wicklow Street, and St. Andrew’s Street on its northeastern end to the junction of Johnson Place and Stephen Street on its southwestern end.

The street was laid out in 1676 by William Williams and was part of Dublin’s 17th-century expansion beyond its medieval walls. The street has one of the largest and most complete groups of 18th century merchants’ houses in the city. However, M’Cready claims the street is named after King William III.

In 2012, the street was rebranded as being the centre of Dublin’s “Creative Quarter”, an area noted for its “independent design stores, fashion outlets and cafes”. The UK’s Academy of Urbanism has noted that the street has transformed “from the bustling heart of the rag trade to a well-known spot for retail entrepreneurs, start-ups and those in search of a good night out”.

The street is dominated by Powerscourt House, the former Dublin townhouse of Viscount Powerscourt. It was constructed in the 18th century for Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt, a member of the Irish House of Lords. The townhouse was the Wingfield family’s urban residence when they were visiting from the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, County Wicklow.

Designed by Robert Mack, it dates from between 1771 and 1774. The court at the rear of the building was created with the addition of three brown-brick office buildings from 1809 to 1811. The townhouse was purchased and redeveloped as a shopping centre between 1978 and 1981 and is now known as the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre.