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TREE CARVING BY TOMMY CRAGGS

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A WORK IN PROGRESS IN APRIL 2016

I photographed the finished work recently [18 July 2023] but was not happy with the images so I plan to visit again before the end of the month.

The tree carving in my photographs is located at the north east corner of St Anne’s Park, Raheny, where Clontarf Road and Watermill Road meet. It is a 10-metre tall Monterey cypress tree that was once dying. In 2018, Dublin City Council decided that the tree had to be taken down for safety reasons. However, before it was felled, artist Tommy Craggs was commissioned to carve a series of wildlife sculptures into the tree. The sculptures depict a variety of animals, including foxes, badgers, squirrels, and birds.

TREE OF LIFE BY TOMMY CRAGGS

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TREE CARVING AT WATERMILL ROAD IN RAHENY

I had problems with my camera and after travelling all the way to check on this tree carving by Tommy Craggs all my photographs were blurred or not properly focused. I plan to revisit later in the month. In the meanwhile I will upload/publish of the carving while it was a work in progress back in April 2016.

[MONDAY JUNE 22 2020] Local representatives and Dublin’s lord mayor have condemned “an attack” on the Tree of Life sculpture beside St Anne’s Park in Raheny, which is believed to have taken place in the early hours of Monday morning. Gardaí say they are carrying out enquiries after the sculpture was set alight.

The tree carving in my photographs is located at the north east corner of St Anne’s Park, Raheny, where Clontarf Road and Watermill Road meet. It is a 10-metre tall Monterey cypress tree that was once dying. In 2018, Dublin City Council decided that the tree had to be taken down for safety reasons. However, before it was felled, artist Tommy Craggs was commissioned to carve a series of wildlife sculptures into the tree. The sculptures depict a variety of animals, including foxes, badgers, squirrels, and birds.

The tree carving has become known as the “Peace Tree” or the “Tree of Life.” It is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, and it is a reminder of the power of art to transform even the most unlikely of materials.

Here are some additional details about the tree carving:

  • The project was funded by Dublin City Council and the Raheny Residents’ Association.
  • Craggs worked on the tree for over two months, using a chainsaw and chisels.
  • The sculptures are made from the tree’s own wood, and they are all different sizes.
  • The tree carving was officially unveiled in December 2018.

Chainsaw sculptor Tommy Craggs recycles fallen trees or trees felled for tree management reasons. Some of his works can be purchased but others are permanent installations carved from stumps. Tommy’s work made the news in 2012 when members of the public reported that a “guerrilla sculptor” had carved three stumps in a forest in the UK. They were, in fact, commissioned sculptures created by Tommy Craggs.

I VISITED DOLLYMOUNT BEACH ON TUESDAY

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AT THE HEIGHT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IT WAS CLOSE TO DESERTED

As already mentioned I had a bad day today and most of my photographs were unusable as stabilisation was set to off [how this happened is a mystery]

Dollymount Beach is a great place to visit for people of all ages. It’s a popular spot for families, couples, and groups of friends. Whether you’re looking to swim, walk, bike, bird watch, kitesurf, windsurf, or just relax, Dollymount Beach has something for everyone.

Here are some additional tips for visiting Dollymount Beach:

The beach is busiest during the summer months, so if you’re looking for a quieter experience, try visiting in the spring or fall.
There is a car park at the entrance to the beach, but it can get crowded, so it’s best to arrive early or take public transport.
There are a few cafes and restaurants near the beach, but it’s a good idea to bring your own food and drinks if you’re planning on spending a long day there.
Be aware of the tides. The beach can be very exposed to the elements, so it’s important to check the tides before you go.

THE SHELTERS TWO OF WHICH WERE DESIGNED BY HERBERT SIMMS IN 1934

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ON THE BULL WALL

I visited the Bull Wall with the intention of photographing the large Star Of The Sea Statue but the images were corrupted so I will need to return at a later date. While I was there I photographed the well known shelters.

The Bull Wall is a long, narrow spit of land that separates Dublin Bay from the River Liffey. It is located in Clontarf, County Dublin, Ireland. The Bull Wall is a popular spot for swimming, and there are two main bathing shelters located on the wall.

The bathing shelters were designed by Herbert Simms in 1934. They are simple, elegant structures made of concrete. The shelters are painted a pale golden yellow, which contrasts with the blue of the sea. The shelters provide a place for swimmers to change and to get out of the water. They also offer some protection from the wind and the sun.

The swimming shelters are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are free to use. The water quality at the Bull Wall is generally good, but it is always best to check the website of Dublin City Council before swimming.

WHEN THERE IS A HEATWAVE EVERYWHERE ELSE

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IT RAINS IN DUBLIN AND THE REST OF IRELAND

I had a bad today. I had planned to travel to Drogheda but because of heavy rain at about noon I decided to scrap that plan and have lunch at Eatokyo on Capel Street which I photographed as I walked along it.

I waited for the rain to stop and got a bus to St Anne’s Park but ended up in Raheny which is not far from St Anne’s park. However, after a discussion with two very nice ladies I decided to explore Dollymount instead but that did not go well as most of my photographs were blurred. It took me hours to discover that stabilisation had been switched off.

I also discovered that my Zeiss Batis created a purple smudging on a number of images when used with the Sony FX30. I noticed this before but thought that it was a one-off [however it also was on a rainy day].

What really surprised me was that for much of my walk along Dollymount beach there was not a person to be seen [actually I did see two people and three dogs].

There is no heatwave in Ireland at the moment because of the following reasons:

The current weather pattern is dominated by a low-pressure system to the north of Ireland, which is bringing in cooler air from the Atlantic.
The marine heatwave that was affecting Ireland in June has subsided, and sea surface temperatures are now returning to normal.
The average temperature for July in Ireland is around 15°C, so even if there was no marine heatwave, it is unlikely that we would see a heatwave in July.
However, Met Éireann has forecast that there is a likelihood of above average temperatures for Ireland over the summer season, so it is possible that we could see a heatwave later in the summer.

Here are some additional details about the factors that are preventing a heatwave from developing in Ireland at the moment:

The low-pressure system to the north of Ireland is bringing in cooler air from the Atlantic. This air is less dense than the hot air that would be associated with a heatwave, so it is less likely to rise and form thunderstorms.
The marine heatwave that was affecting Ireland in June has subsided. This heatwave was caused by a combination of high pressure and calm seas, which allowed the water to heat up. However, the seas have now become more disturbed, which is mixing in cooler water from below and causing the temperatures to drop.
The average temperature for July in Ireland is around 15°C. This is not hot enough to qualify as a heatwave, which is generally defined as a period of at least three days with temperatures above 25°C.

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