Old Graveyard

ST JOHNS’S CHURCHYARD ON THE DUBLIN ROAD IN KILKENNY – THE WEDNESDAY SESSION

June 16, 2025 by infomatique

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY WILLIAM MURPHY JUNE 2025

ST JOHNS’S CHURCHYARD ON THE OLD DUBLIN ROAD IN KILKENNY [THE WEDNESDAY SESSION]

As my first visit did not go well I revisited this graveyard twice.

The first thing that I did after checking into the Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel was to visit the old graveyard on the Dublin Road. I decided to use Autofocus, even though I don’t normally use AF, but could not get it to work so I decided to forget about AF and try again at a later date. Two days later I encountered more focusing problems and could not get Macro to work.

On my return home I sought some assistance as I knew that it had to be me rather than the camera.

Here is the response that I received:

You are definitely not unique! Many Leica Q and Q3 users have experienced this exact issue. It’s a common “gotcha” for new owners or even experienced users who temporarily switch to manual focus and forget to re-engage the AF lock.

The design of the Leica Q3’s lens, with its dedicated manual focus ring and the small button to switch between AF and MF, is a classic Leica characteristic. While it offers a very tactile and intentional way to control focus, it’s not as immediately intuitive as the AF/MF switches found on many other camera lenses.

Here’s why it catches people out:

Muscle Memory: Many photographers are used to an AF/MF switch on the lens barrel or camera body that clearly indicates the current focus mode. The Q3’s button to lock the ring into AF or MF can be easily overlooked or forgotten.

Subtle Indication: While there’s a visible indication on the lens when it’s in AF mode (the “A” aligns and locks), it’s not always obvious, especially when you’re caught up in shooting.

Switching Habits: If you’re someone who occasionally uses manual focus for specific shots, it’s easy to make the switch and then simply forget to press the button to lock it back into autofocus when you return to auto.

“It should just work”: With a premium camera like the Leica Q3, there’s an expectation that autofocus will just function without needing to manipulate a physical lock. This can lead to frustration when it doesn’t.

You’ll find numerous discussions on photography forums (like Reddit’s r/Leica or Fred Miranda forums) where users share similar experiences with the Leica Q series’ focus ring. It’s a well-known quirk of the camera.

So, rest assured, you’re in good company. It’s a common learning curve with the Leica Q3, and now that you’ve discovered it, your autofocus experience should be much smoother!

UNEARTHING YOUR IRISH ROOTS IN KILKENNY

December 12, 2024 by infomatique

A JOURNEY THROUGH ST JOHN’S CEMETERY

MORE ABOUT KILKENNY

Are you fascinated by your Irish heritage and eager to connect with your ancestors? A trip to Kilkenny, Ireland, could be the perfect opportunity to trace your family history and immerse yourself in the rich culture of the Emerald Isle.

Kilkenny, a charming medieval city in southeast Ireland, boasts a wealth of historical sites, including St. John’s Cemetery. This ancient burial ground, located on Dublin Road, offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of past generations.

A Unique Burial Ground

The first thing you’ll notice about St. John’s Cemetery is the distinctive orange/brown hue of its gravestones. This unusual colouring sets it apart from many other Irish cemeteries and adds to its unique character.

The cemetery bears the marks of time, with some gravestones and monuments showing signs of decay. However, this only adds to its charm, offering a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the enduring nature of human memory.

A Rich History

St. John’s Cemetery has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the 14th century. It was once the site of a leper hospital and a 17th-century Catholic chapel, highlighting its early ecclesiastical significance.

The earliest inscription found on a tombstone dates back to 1699, providing a tangible link to the past. The cemetery is also the final resting place of many prominent Kilkenny citizens, making it a treasure trove of local history.

Tracing Your Ancestors

If you’re researching your Irish roots, St. John’s Cemetery could hold valuable clues to your family history. Many of the gravestones bear intricate inscriptions, providing details about the deceased and their families.

With a little patience and perseverance, you might just uncover the final resting place of one of your ancestors, connecting you to your Irish heritage in a profound way.

Tips for Visiting St. John’s Cemetery

Plan your visit: The cemetery is open to the public during daylight hours.
Dress appropriately: Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the weather.
Be respectful: Remember that this is a sacred place.
Take photos: Capture the beauty and history of the cemetery.
Share your experience: Let others know about your visit and what you discovered.

THE OLDER ST JOHN’S CHURCH IN KILKENNY AUGUST 2018 -234331-1

June 15, 2024 by infomatique

ANGLICAN COMMUNION

KILKENNY PHOTO COLLECTIONS AUGUST 2018

During my 2018 visit to Kilkenny it rained almost constantly. I had almost given up and was sheltering in my hotel room across the street from this old church when I noticed a break in the weather and that there were many people outside the gates of the church so I took the opportunity to visit the churchyard as I could not gain access earlier in my visit.

St. John’s Priory, established in the 13th century by the Augustinian Order, is much older than St John’s Catholic church which is nearby. It is a remarkable example of medieval architecture and a National Monument of Ireland.

The Lady Chapel, the most well-preserved part of the priory, is now used as a parish church of the Church of Ireland. It’s known for its beautiful stained glass windows, which were once considered some of the finest in Ireland, earning it the nickname “Lantern of Ireland.”

The ruins of the rest of the priory, including the nave and chancel, are also of great historical and architectural interest. They provide a glimpse into the lives of the Augustinian canons who lived and worshipped there for centuries.

ST. JOHN’S GRAVEYARD IN KILKENNY REF-227174-033

January 18, 2024 by infomatique

PHOTOGRAPHED DURING AN INTENSE RAIN STORM IN MAY 2016

There are five war dead buried here. I photographed the grave of 18816 Gunner Matthew Loughren and as he died in March 1919 he did not die in combat. He finished his career in the British Army Labour Corps a unit formed in 1917 for manual and skilled labour on the Western Front and Salonika during the First World War. In previous centuries the British Army had fulfilled this role through the Royal Pioneer Corps (1762–1763), the Corps of Pioneers (1795–1800) and the Army Works Corps (1855-c.1856). Though it disbanded in 1921, it is often seen as the predecessor to the Royal Pioneer Corps of the Second World War.

If one visits Kilkenny in May one can expect on average 13 wet days and when I visited in May 2016 it rained almost constantly for four days which was the full duration of my visit.

Based on previous experience I brought proper rain gear with me to Kilkenny. Over the years I have photographed this old graveyard many times but my May 2016 visit was very different as the rain was intense making it almost impossible to photograph and unfortunately my equipment (Sony A7RII and Zeiss Batis 25mm) was compromised. Unfortunately, I had to wait until the end of 2017 before the Sony A7RIII became available. The Mk III was a much better camera and the MK IV is in a different league. Water got into the Batis 25mm lens so at times depending on weather conditions it can be unusable because of condensation.

When I first visited this old graveyard I noted that the colour of the gravestones was different to what I normally see in Irish graveyards [orange/brown rather than grey/white]. I assume that gravestones were covered in what was an orange algae, lichen or fungi however in 2022 I noticed that, in many cases, the orange material had been bleached pure white … I assume that this is a pollution problem.

https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A-Guide-to-Lichens-in-Burial-Grounds.pdf

Official Description: “A picturesque graveyard forming an appealing feature in the streetscape on the road leading out of Kilkenny to the south-east. Having origins in a fourteenth-century leper hospital the grounds are of special significance as the location of a seventeenth-century Catholic chapel, thereby representing an early ecclesiastical site in the locality: furthermore it is believed that fragments survive spanning the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, thereby emphasising the archaeological importance of the site. The graveyard remains of additional importance for the associations with a number of Kilkenny’s foremost dignitaries or personalities while a collection of cut-stone markers displaying expert stone masonry identify the considerable artistic design”