CONTENTS
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ATTRIBUTION UNCERTAINRecently, a query about the attribution of a particular sculpture in Drogheda prompted a deeper investigation. My initial understanding, based on information…
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BIRDY BY ROWAN GILLESPIE'Birdy' is often described as a timid figure, poised precariously, much like a fledgling on the verge of its inaugural flight. This evokes a sense of nervous… BOTANIC GARDENS DUBLINThe National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, represent a true horticultural jewel and a significant scientific institution. Established in 1795 by the… BRENDAN BEHAN'S GRAVEBrendan Behan, the celebrated Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright, is interred in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. His grave is marked by a…
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CACTUS PROVISOIRE BY ALEXANDER…Unlike the "red metal yokes" commonly associate with Irish towns and villages, "Cactus Provisoire" possesses a unique significance. It was specifically selected… CANAL BOATS AT PORTOBELLOIn the Portobello Area of Dublin I noticed at least two canal boats or barges that appear to be permanently moored. CELTIC CROSSES DOMINATE THE…Glasnevin Cemetery is renowned for its striking number of large Celtic Crosses, which powerfully embody a fusion of historical, cultural, and economic factors.… CHAC MOOLEnrique Carbajal González, known by his pseudonym Sebastián, is a Mexican sculptor celebrated for his monumental public works in steel or concrete. His "Chac… CHILDREN OF LIRThe sculpture by Oisín Kelly depicts the four children of Lir – Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn – in their transformed state as swans, rising from the water.…
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DORSET STREET FIRE STATIONImportantly, the historic Dorset Street Fire Station building has not only survived but has been beautifully restored and is in very good condition. It is being… DUN LAOGHAIREToday I visited Dun Laoghaire and when I arrived the weather way beautiful but within about two hours it began to rain while the rest of Europe was suffering…
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EIRE BY JEROME O'CONNORThe initial concept for the 'Éire' sculpture arose from a deeply rooted historical context. It was originally intended as part of a "Kerry poets memorial" in…
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MERRION SQUAREPositioned in the northwest corner of Merrion Square, directly opposite his childhood home at No. 1, the Oscar Wilde Memorial is a unique and The A7RV is quite… MOTHERSHIP BY RACHEL JOYNTBeyond its artistic merit, Mothership carries significant symbolism. The sea urchin itself serves as a powerful statement about clear seawater, directly…
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OSCAR ON THE ROCKPositioned in the northwest corner of Merrion Square, directly opposite his childhood home at No. 1, the Oscar Wilde Memorial is a unique and popular Dublin…
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PARLIAMENT SQUARE TRINITYThe Campanile at Trinity College Dublin is an iconic and much-loved landmark, standing proudly in the centre of the Parliament Square. Completed in 1853, it was…
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QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL FOUNTAINThe Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain in Dún Laoghaire holds a complex and often contentious place in the town's history. It was erected in 1900 to commemorate…
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RESCUED FROM BURNING BUILDINGOn a seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning, the bustling rhythm of Dublin's north inner city was shattered by the outbreak of a ferocious fire on Granby Row.… ROGER CASEMENT STATUEBorn in Sandycove, County Dublin, in 1864, just a stone's throw from the sculpture's current location, Casement's early life gave little indication of the…
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SCULPTURE BY HENRY MOOREHenry Moore's bronze sculpture, "Reclining Connected Form," created in 1969, holds a prominent position in Library Square, behind the historic Campanile at… SPHERE WITHIN SPHEREThe "Sphere Within Sphere" (Sfera con Sfera) sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro is far more than just an aesthetic addition to the Trinity College Dublin campus;… SPHERE WITHIN SPHERE 2023The "Sphere Within Sphere" (Sfera con Sfera) sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro is far more than just an aesthetic addition to the Trinity College Dublin campus;… SYMBOLS ON SUSSEX STREETThe distinctive symbolic artwork seen on several walls is the work of Signs of Power, the professional name for the Dublin-based artist Vanessa Power. She was…
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THE BEST NIGHT EVERThe sculptor behind "The Best Night Ever" is Bob Quinn, born in 1948. Bob enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the Irish advertising industry, working as… THE VICTIM BY ANDREW O'CONNORLocated within Dublin's historic Merrion Square Public Park stands "The Victims," a powerful sculpture by American-Irish artist Andrew O'Connor. This… TRIBUTE HEAD SCULPTUREThe "Tribute Head" in Merrion Square remains a powerful and enduring work of art. It is a testament to Dame Elisabeth Frink's profound humanism, a symbol of… TRIBUTE TO DERMOT MORGANThe 'Joker's Chair' was installed in Merrion Square in 2002, four years after Morgan's sudden passing in 1998. It was unveiled by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. TWO SUNDIALSThe National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin, feature two distinct and intriguing sundials
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URBAN EXPRESSION AND DEPRESSIONPhotographs taken on Sussex Street in Dún Laoghaire on 3rd July 2025 capture a scene of stark contradiction. One wall of the Boylan Youth Centre bursts with a…
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VICTORIAN ERA GLASSHOUSESThe Glasshouses at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin are a magnificent collection of Victorian-era structures, celebrated for their architectural beauty and the…
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WAS THE SENIOR COLLEGE IN DUN…The building shown in the photographs served for many years as the Senior College Dún Laoghaire (SCD). Established in 1982 under the statutory authority of the… WATERFRONT IN POOR CONDITIONMy collection of photographs highlights the "poor conditions" of the sea interface at Newtownsmith Sandycove, necessitating a detailed examination of its…