Ireland

RED AND FUZZY ROYAL PURPLE SMOKEBUSH

June 23, 2023 by infomatique

AN ATTRACTIVE PLANT – BOTANIC GARDENS

Is this Royal Purple Smokebush? a large, upright shrub becoming spreading with age. In spring, the foliage emerges a rich maroon-red, darkening to a velvety purple as the summer progresses. Insignificant flowers mature into dusty wine-red feathery plumes, earning it the name Smokebush.

LITTLE BOY TRYING TO RECOVER HIS BALL

June 21, 2023 by infomatique

BOTANIC GARDENS 21 JUNE 2023

I cannot find any information relating to this sculpture near the main entrance to the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. This sculpture is on permanent display and I have photographed it a number of times because I like it.

WOLFE TONE PARK FEATURING TRAM 305 WHICH IS NOW A POPULAR CAFE

May 6, 2023 by infomatique

FRIDAY 5 MAY 2023

Wolfe Tone Park reopened almost a year ago [16 May 2022] following major works by Dublin City Council. It is described as a “green space” but I advise you to visit and decide for yourself but there is no doubt that it is an improvement but I am waiting for the bronze cow to return. Note: It has become much greener since May 2022.

As already mentioned in previous posts the park was closed during the pandemic and the the Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services team took the opportunity to restore it to a green space.

The park is the site of a graveyard that was attached to St. Mary’s Church, and is named for Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763–1798), who was baptised in the church. The graveyard was deconsecrated in 1966 and laid out as a green park. From 1998 to 2001, Dublin City Council redeveloped the park as an “urban plaza”.

From the 1960s to the 1990s, the site operated as a “green space”, maintained by Dublin City Council. In 1998, the council held a competition to redesign the park, which was won by Peter Cody of Boyd Cody Architects. The updated layout, in the form of an “urban plaza”, was completed in 2001. After the square’s layout was changed, it was made available by Dublin City Council for events, including the Dublin Fringe Festival. Over the years I began to notice an increase in anti-social behaviour which lead to a campaign from local residents to restore “Wolfe Tone Park as a non-commercial green space. There was an ongoing debate for many years in the council as to the future use of the park. Ultimately the park was closed between 2020 and 2022, and Dublin City Council redeveloped and restored it to a green space.

The 1902 tram was originally built in Philadelphia but spent much its working life in Lisbon before being purchased by a museum in Wales. In 2008 the body of the tram was shipped to Ireland [a farm in Cavan]. Visit www.swissitalianpaddlesteamers.com/lcbtramsoc/no305-sold…. if you are interested in the history of this tram.

NO EVIDENCE OF THE RESIDENT TURTLES 28 APRIL 2023

April 30, 2023 by infomatique

THE DUCK POND AREA

The pond and nearby is the most popular area for children especially as there is the possibility of seeing at least one of the five turtles/terrapins who have decided that the pond is their “forever home”. I am not sure that the terrapins have survived as I have not seen any of them for more than a year, however, someone did contact a year ago to say that they was a new addition bring the total to six.

In March 2019 I contacted management and received the following response:

Hi William
Thank you for your concern regarding the turtles in the pond. They have been in the pond now for at least 4 years. They were abandoned there without our knowledge but they survive ok by themselves so seem to be quite happy there. They like to sun themselves at the edge of the pond when the weather is warm so they are more visible in summer.
Thanks again for bringing this to our attention.

Best regards
Visitor Centre
National Botanic Gardens

There is also a sculpture, designed by Charles Jencks, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA double helix in 1953. It is a gift to the nation from private donors. It demonstrates our growing knowledge of RNA. It is only recently that we have discovered that all life on earth, from microbes to plants and animals are all related to one another.

note: a young girl corrected me saying that the sculpture relates to RNA rather than DNA and I was not in a position to argue

WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

April 30, 2023 by infomatique

AT THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE 28 APRIL 2023

A national commemorative event has been held in Dublin by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to mark Workers’ Memorial Day, an international day of remembrance for those who have been killed or seriously injured in work-related incidents.

In Ireland, 481 people were killed in such incidents over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2021, and so far seven people have died in incidents at work this year.

Workers’ Memorial Day, also known as International Workers’ Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured, takes place annually around the world on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured, or made unwell by their work. In Canada, it is commemorated as the National Day of Mourning.

Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to highlight the preventable nature of most workplace incidents and ill health and to promote campaigns and union organisation in the fight for improvements in workplace safety. The slogan for the day is Remember the dead – Fight for the living.

Although April 28 is used as the focal point for remembrance and a day of international solidarity, campaigning and other related activities continue throughout the year right around the world.