Infomatique

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE

December 11, 2022 by infomatique

DUBLIN CASTLE 11 DECEMBER 2022

I decided to visit Dublin Castle having forgotten that there was European-style traditional Christmas market which was booked out well in advance and when I arrived I was surprised by the queues.

Christmas at the Castle is a European-style traditional Christmas market with wooden chalet market stalls selling decorative crafts, inspiring gifts ideas and delicious food. It offers musical entertainment and the added bonus of access to the beautifully decorated State Apartments of Dublin Castle and the Neapolitan Crib in the Chapel Royal.

The event will run from 14:00 to 21:30 daily with a minimum of two and a maximum of three sessions per day. This will be a FREE, ticketed event. Cashless transactions are preferred on site.

Today I used a very old E-mount lens that came with Sony NEX-5 which I purchased in December 2010 and the results were more than a little disappointing. I could not correct for lens distortion and every image was under exposed.

Those who cannot attend Christmas at the Castle can still visit the Dubhlinn Gardens and the current exhibitions in the Coach House Gallery and the Chester Beatty. The Office of Public Works is also organising other Christmas events and markets across Dublin with a choir in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre each weekend, a festive market and a family Christmas cycle in Farmleigh and a festive market at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.

THE NEW CENTRAL PLAZA ON DAME STREET

December 10, 2022 by infomatique

FEATURING THE MONEY TREE

I am somewhat disappointed by the fact that the majority of Christmas Trees throughout the city are lacking lights.

The plaza features the [relocated] sculpture Crann an Oir (tree of gold) by Derry sculptor Éamonn O’Doherty, which became a symbol of the Central Bank, Irish Banking, and the Celtic Tiger boom and bust. The sculpture, also known as the “Golden Ball” but I thought that it was known as the “Money Tree”.

The Central Bank’s lobby contained Abstract Beaded Pattern, a large artwork by Patrick Scott. It was put into storage prior to the Bank’s move from the premises in 2017.

Central Plaza, also known as the Central Bank of Ireland Building for its former tenant, is an office building on Dame Street in Temple Bar, Dublin. It was the headquarters of the Central Bank of Ireland from 1979 to 2017.

It is Ireland’s only suspended structure building’, with its 8 floors hanging from central concrete cores. Each floor was built on the ground and then raised into place. It was controversial for being out of scale with its surroundings and for being constructed 30 feet (9.1 m) taller than approved.

As of 2022, the building was undergoing renovations including the addition of a rooftop venue and observation deck.