HEADLESS URBAN EXPRESSION

There Is Much To See Here

URBAN EXPRESSION IN LIMERICK JULY 2016

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A VERY LIMITED SELECTION OF STREET ART

Much of the street art that I saw in Limerick was no longer to be seen when I last visited the city in 2022 as many of the locations had been demolished.

WE ARE HERE

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URBAN EXPRESSION AT SWANVILLE PLACE IN RATHMINES

It did not occur to me, until recently, why many places in Rathmines have “swan” in the name.

The Swan River is a hidden river in Dublin, Ireland. It is one of the many rivers that were culverted in the 19th century to make way for development. The Swan River is a tributary of the River Dodder and flows underground for most of its length. It rises in Terenure and Rathmines and flows under Morehampton Road and Clyde Road before joining the Dodder near the Aviva Stadium. The Swan River is only visible in a few places, such as in the basement of the former Swan Centre in Rathmines and at the end of a culvert in Mount Pleasant Avenue.

GULLIVER MURAL BY MEAGHAN QUINN AT THE OLD MART ON SUMMERHILL ROAD IN TRIM

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I USED AN OLD CANON 5DIII CAMERA

In July 2011 Trim Tidy Town’s all-out effort to win big in the National Tidy Towns Competition included a number of striking murals springing up around the town. One of the most colourful was a depiction of Gulliver at the old mart, which has become quite a tourist attraction. Until a few days ago I was unaware of the 30ft long mural. The painting of Gulliver and other murals at Spicer’s wall on Watergate Street and underneath the bridge at the Maudlins roundabout are the work of professional artist Meaghan Quinn.

The mart was the venue for the weekly livestock sales for 53 years until 2004 is destined to be used for a housing development. TE Potterton has been trading as an auctioneers since 1886, operating weekly livestock sales at Castle Street in Trim from 1957 until it relocated to an open site less than a mile away on Summerhill Road in 1962. The Trim Mart was for many years one of the largest on the north east.

Following its opening in May 2023 by Minister Heather Humphreys, Solstice Arts Centre undertook the management duties of the new Swift Cultural Centre in Trim on behalf of Meath County Council. The name reflects both the importance of the acclaimed author of “Gulliver Travels” and Trim resident, Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), as well as the significance of the swift to Trim’s wildlife and urban ecosystem. The Swift Cultural Centre will collaborate and share meeting rooms and cultural spaces with Trim Library to provide a diverse and enriching community learning, engagement and performance programme for the public. Community use by local artists, societies and community groups remain the primary and core value of the space.
The €9m development of the theatre and library included the refurbishment of the former St. Patrick’s Chapel for use as part of the centre. With a seating capacity of up to 235 people, Swift Cultural Centre provides a much-welcomed space for local drama, music and theatre groups.

Gulliver’s Travels, or Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships is a 1726 prose satire by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift, satirising both human nature and the “travellers’ tales” literary subgenre. It is Swift’s best-known full-length work and a classic of English literature. Swift claimed that he wrote Gulliver’s Travels “to vex the world rather than divert it”.

The book was an immediate success. The English dramatist John Gay remarked, “It is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery.” In 2015, Robert McCrum released his selection list of the 100 best novels of all time, where he called Gulliver’s Travels “a satirical masterpiece”.

URBAN EXPRESSION AND DEPRESSION REF-226401-1

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LANEWAY CONNECTING MORNINGTON WAY TO PATRICK STREET IN TRIM

I visited St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Trim on the day after Christmas and after leaving the church I noticed that there was a large carpark across the street from the church which gave me an opportunity to photograph the complete building. After taking a few photographs I noticed a laneway which I decided to explore. I walked along the lane until I got to Mornington Way and Mornington Heights Estate which I did not explore in detail because of an intense rain storm which forced me to return home.

In 2009 it was reported in local newspapers that at least thirty seven people had been afflicted with cancer in the Mornington Heights estate in Trim in the past 12 years – and that sixteen of them have died, according to statistics compiled by a group of local residents who are seeking answers to what they say are high rates of the killer disease in their estate. It is interesting to note that Mornington residents had also been campaigning for a mast on the green area in their estate to be removed. They also want the other masts in the locality moved away from residential areas. I tried my best to find any further information relating to this cluster of cancer cases and failed to find any additional information.

Mornington Heights is a residential estate located in Trim, County Meath, Ireland. It is a large estate with a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes. The estate is situated on a hill overlooking the town of Trim, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The estate is well-maintained and has a variety of amenities, including a playground, a park, and a community centre. The average price of a home in Mornington Heights is €252,000. This makes it a relatively affordable option for those looking to buy a home in Trim.

PHONE ZOMBIES IS A STREET ART MURAL WITH A MESSAGE LOCATED ON CAMDEN ROW

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NEAR ST KEVIN’S CEMETERY

This mural was produced by Kevin McSherry and Katherina Rupit.

Phones, tablets, even watch screens are everywhere you turn. According to Common Sense Media, teens spend an average of seven hours and 22 minutes on screens every day! And that doesn’t include computer time for schoolwork.

Some studies show that too much screen time can affect your body. Adolescence is a critical time for brain development so teens may be especially at risk. While watching videos or texting with friends is fun, it’s crucial to limit screen time.

It is interesting to note that the mural is close to the entrance to St Kevin’s Cemetery. At the start of the 19th century this cemetery, like many others in Dublin, became a target of the body-snatchers, although it was surrounded by high walls (changed to railings in the 1960s). In February 1830 a Frenchman named Nagles and his friend were attacked by a group of “sack-em-ups” lying in wait near the cemetery. The criminals’ attention was diverted by the arrival of a cart-load of dead bodies, giving Nagles the opportunity to escape and notify the police at Arran Quay, who apprehended the culprits. On one occasion a body-snatcher was chased as far as Thomas Street, where he finally dropped his booty—the body of a young girl.

SALE AGREED FOR 30 MANOR STREET – WAS ONCE A SHOP BUT IT BECAME A MAJOR EYESORE BECAUSE OF NEGLECT

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PHOTOGRAPHED DECEMBER 2023

This was in reasonable condition when it went on the market but over the years it shows signs of neglect and for some reason it became attractive to pigeons.

The building is on Manor Street with rear access from Shea’s Lane the accommodation is currently described as residential over retail requiring extensive works to restore to a habitable condition.

Here is an optimistic description that I encountered: “30 Manor Street is a commercial property located on the main street in the heart of Stoneybatter, Dublin 7. It is currently for sale and is in need of full refurbishment. The property has a fantastic frontage onto Manor Street and also has rear access from Shea’s Lane. It has a large rear garden measuring 45 meters long with the potential for further development. The property is zoned for mixed use, so it could be used as a residential unit, retail space, or office. It is a great opportunity for someone to create something special in one of Dublin city’s most sought after addresses.”

More about the pigeon issue: www.dublininquirer.com/2017/11/15/in-stoneybatter-ambival…

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