infomatique's blog ^pro

Stand back for an explosion of entertainment and a chemical reaction of fun at St. Patrick’s Festival 2009. The six-day Festival of performance, spectacle and participation is set to bring a formula for some much needed music and mirth to the streets and the country as we celebrate our national holiday. Although times and purse strings are getting tighter no one knows better than the Irish how to have a great time for free and this year’s Festival programme promises to make FREE FUN the order of the day for the six-day Festival.

If everything goes to plan I will upload plenty of photographs.

It is claimed that St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland. While this may be little more than a myth there is no doubting that the saint in question is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to common pagan practices. In case you are wondering there are no snakes in Ireland

While not the first to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara persuading them to abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the countless "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

It is believed that Saint Patrick was born in the late fourth century, and he is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop in Ireland.

When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and no real link can be made between Patrick and any known church.

Saint Patrick on his journey through Ireland is said to have passed through Dublin. In a well close to where the St. Patrick's cathedral now stands, he is reputed to have baptised converts from paganism to Christianity. To commemorate his visit, a small wooden church was built on the site.

By the eighth century he had become the patron saint of Ireland.

The available body of evidence does not allow the dates of Patrick's life to be fixed with certainty, but it appears that he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century. Two letters from him survive, along with later documents from the seventh century onwards. Many of these works cannot be taken as authentic. According to the Annals of Ulster he lived from 340 to 460, and ministered in the north of the island from 428 onwards.

The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint's feast day also thought to be the date of the saint's death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages wearing green, drinking green beer, wearing silly hats and attending parades. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland where with the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses closed on March 17th. All traditions eventually change and these days many shops and shopping centres (malls) now open after the parade has finished.

Why March 17th?

One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. It became a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding in the early part of the 17th century, and is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The date of the feast is occasionally, yet controversially, moved by church authorities when March 17 falls during Holy Week; this happened in 1940 when Saint Patrick's Day was observed on April 3 in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and happened again in 2008, having been officially observed on 15 March. Here in Ireland we solved the problem by organising a multi-day festival. This problem will not arise again until 2160.

ST. PATRICK'S FESTIVAL 2008

HARCOURT STREET

I have always liked the window on this house on Harcourt Street so I was a bit disappointed to see that it had been removed. The top photograph is the "before" and the bottom photograph is the "after"

Harcourt Street (Bay Window Is…

This weekend Dublin was full of visitors, who came for the rugby match. For a change, Ireland actually won ... what a surprise!

I have uploaded about 250 photographs within the last few hours.

Unfortunately there are going to be many photo-opportunities during 2009 here in Ireland because many businesses are likely to cease trading.

One thing that I have noticed over the years is that when there is a downturn in the Irish economy British companies are the first to leave Ireland. There are of course exceptions, M&S being a prime example.

I suppose that this should not come as a surprise, when they first open in Ireland they come on a mission to convert the Irish people and show them how things are really done. within months or weeks we discover that they are really offering second rate goods/service at inflated prices (exactly what we already get from Irish businesses) and we are supposed to be thankful. In the case of electrical goods they devote all their effort to selling extended guarantees.

In general they do not adjust to suit Irish conditions, some were unable to accept cheques from customers who could not supply an address which contained a postal code (everyone outside Dublin)

JESSOPS

Jessops are a good example of the issue in question. For years many people in Ireland imported from Jessops in the UK. In fact, Jessops had so many customers in Ireland they decided to open a store on Grafton Street ( a very high rent area)to service their loyal Irish customers. I went to the opening and was horrified by the prices, they were very high. Initially the staff were competent but over a period of time they became less and less competent. I also visited the shop on their last day of business as I was interested in getting a Sigma SD14 at the right price. The notices on the door claimed that there was at least 50% off all remaining stock. There was an SD14 on display at Eur 1300 so I had hoped that it would be available at Eur 1000 or less (at the time I could import it from Computeruniverse in Germany for about the same price including delivery). The sales assistant told me that Eur 1300 was the sale price and that they could not offer an further discount. In case you are interested the kit version of the SD14 in now available in Germany at Euro 570

According to a notice in the window the nearest branch is in Belfast.

They claimed to have a closing down sale so I tried to purchase a Sigma SD14 DSLR at the right price. It has been available for a few months in this outlet at more than Euro 1300 so I was hoping that I might be able to get it for Euro 1000. I asked what was the best that they could do and the response was Euro 1300 explaining that it was on sale elswhere in Dublin at Euro 1800, I was astounded as it was available from Computeruniverse in Germany for less than Euro 1000 including delivery by TNT. I checked the Camera Exchange and they quoted Euro 1200 for the complete kit and later Computeruniverse confirmed that their price for the body was less than Euro 900. Why would anyone pay Euro 1300 for and SD14 to a company that was going out of business in the Republic Of Ireland?

RHODES

The photograph above was taken in 2006 shortly after it had opened.

Maybe in is not fair to include Rhodes D7.

The food is (was) good as was the service. I say "was" as this restaurant is now closed until mid-March.

I had lunch here on the Sunday before Christmas and as they have never opened for lunch on Sundays or Bank Holidays I was a bit surprised. I asked the waitress if they were planning to open for lunch on saturdays and sundays going forward, she worded her reply in such a way that I got the impression that she had some concern about her future.

Today I passed the restaurant and it looked abandoned and according the the notice in the window it is closed until March 17 for "remodeling". Based on past experience I would be very surprised if it does reopen.

On a Wednesday in 2006 I brought my mother here for lunch but according the the hostess there were no tables available and she indicated that one needed to book six weeks in advance. If a restaurant has such a waiting list it is hard to believe that they would close for almost three months.

HABITAT

I know people who were addicted to shopping at Habitat and I could never understand why. They successfully traded on Stephens Green for many years and then they moved to an amazing building on Dame Street (originally a very large bank).

Here are some quotes from various sources:

"FURNITURE RETAILER Habitat has closed its shops in Dublin and Galway due to a "severe" deterioration in sales. The company, which has a big exposure to the decline of the new homes market, is the first major retail casualty of the economic downturn."

"More than 60 full-time and part-time staff lost their jobs last night when the company that runs the business, Conai Designs (Ireland), applied for a voluntary liquidation. Well-known for minimalist and colourful designs, the chain occupied a prominent store in Dublin linking Dame Street and Suffolk Street, and had an outlet in central Galway."

"Staff were called to a meeting last evening, at which they were told the stores will not re-open today."

BRASIL RESTAURANT

They had a notice in the window "Closed For Renovation" ... which is usually a code for "Ceased Trading". I returned a few days ago to check and this restaurant is gone.

GREENS BOOKSHOP

This was a famous book shop. They now appear to be operating as a web based retailer but I suspect that it is under different ownership.

KELLY AND PING

I actually liked this restaurant which is more than I can say for the new restaurant at the same location.

Quinlan’s pub in Terenure, Dublin,

Developer and solicitor Noel Smyth has sought planning permission to demolish Quinlan’s pub in Terenure, Dublin, and to replace it with a mixed use development. The developer’s company, Alburn, wants to build two four-storey blocks with a 300 square metre shop and 37 apartments. Basement car parking for 49 cars would also be provided. Smyth bought the pub in an off-market deal for around €8.5 million. The planned redevelopment is the latest example of a trend that has seen numerous Dublin pubs bought and demolished for apartments and shops.

Updated July 2007:

"Council rejects apartment plan or landmark pub in TerenureThe owners of Quinlan's pub in Terenure, Dublin 6W, have been refused permission to demolish the premises to make way for an apartment development.The pub's owners were seeking permission to pull down the two-storey premises and replace it with two four-storey apartment buildings comprising 37 apartments. The developer, Dodsbridge of 3 Arkle Road, Sandyford, also planned to build a shop at ground floor level."

THE APPLE CENTRE

This shop (close to Stephens Green) has been unoccupied for a long time

I am not surprised that they went out of business. A few years ago I decided to switch to Apple Mac and with £4000 to spend I visited this shop and could not get anyone to assist me. The one and only salesman looked up from reading his newspaper and told me that he knew nothing about Apple machines and that all the necessary information was available online.

I have just noticed that there are a number of duplicate photographs, this happened because of problems that I had with Lightroom.

Over the next few days I will try my best to remove the duplicates.

Dublin Street Art

I came across some unusual examples today

Summer 2008 was really wet here in Dublin and it rained so much that it made it difficult for me to get any good photographs ... there were very few blue skies to be seen.

Over the Christmas/New-year period the days have been beautiful and sunny and I have taken full advantage of the the very attractive sunlight by visiting the coastal towns and villages such as Dalkey and Howth. Later in the week I will begin uploading some of the resulting photographs.

A number of incorrectly titled photographs have been uploaded by myself today. They are entitled a "Gay Parade" instead of "Dublin Docklands". I am in the process of correcting this error.

Some of the photographs did relate a Gay Rights Parade:

This year's Dublin LGBTQ Pride Parade marked the 25th Anniversary of the very first Dublin Pride Parade and took place earlier today (Saturday, the 21st June) marking a climax to the host of events held during this year's Festival. People gathered and assembled from 1pm at the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square.

I photographed the parade as they passed along Dame street.

I must admit that I did not know about the parade. I was having lunch in Tante Zoes off Dame Street and when I heard a lot of noise outside I asked the manager what was going on and when she told me about the parade I slipped out for a few minutes to take a few photographs.

The latest set of photographs, currently uploading, documents the Dunlaoghaire Festival Of World Cultures which took place towards the end of the summer season.

The Festival of World Cultures is an annual international arts and culture festival celebrating the diversity of artistic traditions from all over the world.

The dynamic programme focuses on the representation of indigenous and traditional to innovative and developing artistic practice from around the world. The programme features concerts and club nights, theatre and dance performances, fairs and markets, exhibitions, talks, workshops and master classes.

With over 70% of the programme free to the public and through an extensive marketing campaign that focuses on developing new community audiences, the Festival undertakes to provide accessible performances and activities for all ages.

The Festival focuses on innovative and developing artistic practice. The Festival brings performances and activities directly to many who would normally be unable to encounter international arts practices and opens up new and alternative experiences to many who would not normally seek them.

Responding to the changing demographic of Ireland , the Festival aims to enhance artistic expression and integration for Ireland 's newer communities by providing a platform for intercultural creative exchange.

The Festival challenges preconceptions, expanding the arts experience of both national and non-Irish-national audiences, broadening perceptions of international artistic culture.

I already mentioned that I am having dust problems with my Canon DSLR. Well, the good news is that the local Canon dealer agreed to clean the sensor free of charge.

I then tested the camera by getting the LUAS to Milltown and then on to Dundrum Town Centre where I had lunch. The resulting photographs have been uploaded and should be available to view.

Milltown:

Milltown, Dublin 6, Ireland, is a suburb on the southside of Dublin. The townland got its name in the 18th or 19th century, when it was the site of a working mill on the River Dodder. The remnants of this mill can still be seen. It is also marked by a spectacular 19th century railway bridge across the river, which was part of the 'Harcourt Street Line' which ran from Harcourt street to Bray. The bridge was recently re-opened for the Luas light rail system which runs from St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford. This bridge, and sometimes the area immediately surrounding it became known informally as the 'Nine Arches'. Milltown railway station opened on 1 May 1860 and finally closed on 1 January 1959.

Asgard II sank in the Bay of B…

I had forgotten that I had photographed this ship a few months before it sank.

Asgard II was the Irish national sail training vessel, and the replacement for the previous Asgard. A brigantine, she was designed specifically for service as a sail training vessel by Jack Tyrrell, and built in Arklow, County Wicklow. She was commissioned on 7 March 1981. Owned by the Irish state, and managed by Coiste an Asgard (a founding member of Sail Training International), the vessel had a traditional figurehead in the form of a carving of Granuaile. Asgard II sank in the Bay of Biscay on 11 September 2008, 20 nautical miles (37 km) southwest of Belle-Île-en-Mer. The 5 crew and 20 trainees had earlier abandoned the vessel after she started taking on water. Asgard II was heading from Falmouth to La Rochelle for some routine maintenance. Before Christmas 2008 a plan to raise the ship will be put to the Irish cabinet, with the costs being paid for by the boats insurer's of 3.8 million euros, with the ship perhaps being raised in spring 2009 given favourable conditions. The ship is believed to be in a relatively good condition on the sea bed with one of hull planks damaged, it is unclear whether this was caused by impact with the sea bed or caused the sinking itself possibly from a collision with an semi submerged container.

As there are many Africans living and working in Dublin city centre there are many colourful events for me to photograph. During 2008 I photographed "Africa Day" in Dublin Castle as well as the "New Yam Festival" in Smithfield.

I have completed the upload of a collection of photographs relating to the 2008 New Yam festival.

The New Yam festival of the Igbo is an annual festival by the Igbo people of West Africa in honor of a good Yam harvest. The festival is practiced in West Africa, in other countries in Africa and beyond.