William Murphy

THE FOUR MASTERS MEMORIAL IS A CELTIC CROSS BY JAMES CAHILL

April 19, 2023 by infomatique

COMMEMORATES THE FRANCISCIAN FRIARS OF DONEGAL

This park was landscaped in 1963 when US President John F. Kennedy was set to drive past it on his way to Áras an Uachtaráin.

Located within a triangle formed by Eccles Street, Berkeley Road and St.Joseph’s Church.

I have never managed to gain access to the park, known as the Mater Plot, where this Celtic Cross is located as it has been closed to the public every time I visit the area.

Four Masters Memorial (1876)
By James Cahill (d.1890)
Commissioned by Sir William Wilde (1815-1876)

This high cross on a large plinth commemorates the Franciscan friars of Donegal town, who between 1632 and 1636 compiled from early sources a history of the ancient kingdom of Ireland which became known as the Annals of the Four Masters.

The Annals are chronicles of the medieval history of Ireland. Sir William Wilde (father of Oscar Wilde) was the chief instigator of the memorial to the four writers who created the Annals. Wilde was an eye and ear surgeon and an antiquarian, who took an active role in sculptural commissions in Dublin. He was passionately interested in the history of Ireland and was a very active member of the Royal Irish Academy, hence the theme of this sculpture.

James Cahill was born in Delvin, Westmeath. On the death of his father, a builder, his mother moved to Dublin, and he became a pupil in the Royal Dublin Society School, where he won prizes in 1851 and 1852. He sent a sculptural group (part of a marble monument executed for the Presentation Convent in Wexford) to be exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1852, and then went to Rome where he remained for a few months.

On his return to Dublin in 1853 he entered Hogan’s studio, where he worked as a pupil and assistant until 1858. He executed a number of works for churches and also portrait busts and statues. His most important production was the statue of Daniel O’Connell, erected in Ennis in 1865. His works appeared in the Royal Hibernian Academy at intervals between 1856 and 1886. He died in Dublin on 28th October, 1890, aged about 60, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

ICONIC MAYES PUB CEASED TRADING

April 18, 2023 by infomatique

NOW A CENTRA – AT LEAST THEY KEPT THE CLOCK

Late in May 2021 is was announced that the iconic Mayes Pub on Dorset would cease trading. Since then I was not paying attention so I was really surprised to discover that the building was now home the a Centra. I suppose that the good news is that they retained the clock.

Centra is a convenience shop chain that operates throughout Ireland. The chain operates as a symbol group owned by Musgrave Group, the food wholesaler, meaning the stores are all owned by individual franchisees.

The chain has three different formats available to franchisees — smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger Supermarkets. The majority of the stores follow the Quick Stop format, or are simply branded Centra, as Musgrave also offers the SuperValu format, which is geared towards larger supermarkets. There are currently approximately 480 Centra stores in the twenty six counties and approximately 80 in Northern Ireland. In 2016, Centra posted a 3% increase in sales to €1.59bn.Centra’s main competitors are Gala, Spar and Londis, as well as a number of smaller groups such as Costcutter.

The chain was originally launched in the Republic of Ireland as “VG” in 1960. In 1979, the VG chain was rebranded SuperValu with the smaller outlets subsequently rebranded as Centra. The company brought both of these stores to Northern Ireland, the latter through the acquisition and subsequent rebranding of Wellworths stores.

NOW A CENTRA - AT LEAST THEY KEPT THE CLOCK 001

NOW A CENTRA - AT LEAST THEY KEPT THE CLOCK 002

GEORGE COSGRAVE CAR SALES WAS BASED HERE

April 18, 2023 by infomatique

A REALLY UGLY SITE ON DORSET STREET

I live near Dorset Street and I believe it to be one of the ugliest streets in Dublin and the George Cosgrave Car Sales building was, and still is, one of the worst examples of how bad the street can be.

I should mention that George Cosgrave died in August 2021. George was well known for his car sales on Dorset Street where he traded for 37 years before moving to Clarehall. George was also an active member of The Irish Jaguar & Daimler Club.

Some early Georgian houses are dotted along the street, primarily identifiable by the stone Gibbsian doorcase entrances, and close to the crossroads with Blessington and North Frederick Streets. Much of the street redeveloped during the Victorian era, with a number of significant buildings built, such as the Gothic style stone-built Dominican priory, designed by J. L. Robinson in 1884–87 at the corner of Dominick Street, while across from it is the red brick Italianette former fire station, designed by C. J. McCarthy and completed in 1903. Much of the street consists of vernacular Victorian terraces, with shops opening straight onto footpaths at ground-floor level. During the latter part of the twentieth century, stretches of the street were again redeveloped by Dublin Corporation for social housing flat complexes near Dominick Street.

CLONTURK PARK

April 17, 2023 by infomatique

THIS IS AN AREA THAT I HAVE NOT VISITED BEFORE

Clonturk is an area on the Northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is located in the south of the suburb of Drumcondra, just north of the River Tolka, but previously, Clonturk had been an alternative name for Drumcondra and the wider area. Clonturk lies within the Dublin 9 postal district. The name Clonturk translates from the Irish as “Pasture of the boars”. There is some evidence that the name originally was Ceann Torc or the “Headland of the boars”, but had changed to Clonturk by the middle of the 16th century, perhaps under the influence of the more famous neighbouring placename Clontarf.

The name ‘Clonturk’ mainly survives today through the existence of Clonturk House on Ormond Road. Clonturk House was built in 1830 by the then City Architect, as a gentleman’s residence and was extensively renovated in 1880 and given its Georgian frontage. For a number of years until 1960 Clonturk House was run by the Presbyterian Church which gave accommodation to girls attending school in Dublin both as fee-paying and on a subsidised basis. Until 2009 it was a home for blind men, run by the Rosminians order. The balustrade which now forms its boundary came from the original Carlisle Bridge and was moved there when this structure was replaced by the present O’Connell Bridge.

A number of neighbouring streets bear the name Clonturk, including Clonturk Park, Clonturk Gardens, and Clonturk Avenue, probably as a result of their proximity to Clonturk House. There is also Clonturk Community College, further north on the Swords Road at Whitehall.

SHOULD FAIRVIEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BE NAMED BRAM STOKER BRIDGE

April 16, 2023 by infomatique

I USED A CANON 5D MkIII CAMERA AND A VOIGTLANDER LENS

Back in 2015 there was a proposal to remove the Fairview Footbridge and replace it with a pedestrian crossing. The good news is – the pedestrian bridge has survived.

The footbridge in my photographs replaced an older one that connected the new Fairvew playground and park to the businesses and bus stops on the North side of Fairview Road. And I must say that I like it.

This bridge appears to be popular with locals so I was surprised to come across the following by a local politician known as Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: “I am interested in hearing your views in relation to recent suggestions from Dublin City Council that they will remove the Fairview Footbridge, and replace it with a pedestrian crossing, to make way for the Clontarf – Amien Street cycle lane. Over 3 years ago I successfully lobbied for the Bridge to be refurbished, and €500,000 was invested by the council at the time” [dated July 6 2015].

According to a survey conducted by Dublin City Council: Fairview Footbridgegenerated mixed views and opinions although many commended the recent improvements made to the footbridge, requests for improvement to the appearance and accessibility of the Bridge were made. It was mentioned that access to the bridge for prams, bicycles and those with limited mobility is an issue. Naming the footbridge was a common request with the most popular suggestion being the ‘Bram Stoker Bridge’.