Tag: Cork City

Shandon

Post author By barry
Post date February 8, 2020
No Comments on Shandon

Across the river, and a bit to the east of our apartment, is the Shandon district. It’s old Cork, home to St. Anne’s Church and the Cathedral of Sts. Mary and Anne, as well as the old Butter Exchange and Museum.

We left the apartment early, discovered the local farmers market on our side of the river, and spent a few hours exploring Shandon and its surroundings.

This one will definitely also make an appearance in the next street art post.

One thing i’ve noticed about Cork is that there’s not really much in the way of dedicated green space. You just have to find nature where you can.

Learned that Mother Jones was born here 183 years ago. We could use her now, no?

Today’s Election Day in Ireland. I wonder if Senator Googly Eyes will retain his seat?

And just a few more pics of our little walkabout.

Left, gravestone at St. Anne’s; Right, the 4 clocks on the tower at St. Anne’s are known locally (and, i would guess, affectionately) as the Four Liars, as they are never in agreement as to the time.

I found my peeps, though.

Heineken has a brewery on the edge of the district. Don’t know if they give tours, but it explains why the brand is so prevalent in this city.

They’re everywhere these days, aren’t they?

Tags Butter Exchange, Cork City, Heineken, Mother Jones, Rainbows, Shandon Bells, Street Art

Cork City Ireland

Nano Nagle

Before we arrived in Ireland last week, we had done a little advance scouting on things we might like to do. One of them was the Chinese New Year celebration at Nano Nagle Place, about a mile from our apartment. Neither of us knew anything about the site, its history, or why they’d be celebrating the lunar new year.

You can find a bit of Nano Nagle’s backstory here – http://nanonagle.org/

The actual celebration was, umm, earnest, if a little underdone. A team of 5 dragon dancers ran around the gardens a couple of times, while a couple drummers beat an interesting Sino-Celtic rhythm.

A number of young persons dance troupes also performed at a separate, indoor event. Seating for that was limited, so we skipped it and just wandered around the grounds a bit before heading home.

*Nano Nagle crypt with St. Brigid’s cross*

The site served as a learning center for Catholic children in the 18th century, at a time when the English Penal Laws forbade educating Catholics, as well as a convent for the Ursuline Sisters.

Tags Chinese New Year, Cork City, Nano Nagle

Cork City Ireland

Cork City, West End

Being from the US, the cities that Cork most reminds me of geographically are New York and Pittsburgh. All have rivers running through their hearts, which bracket or surround a densely built island or peninsula. Pittsburgh and Cork’s rivers are eminently walkable, with footbridges that are at most a few hundred yards apart. Manhattan’s East River can be crossed on foot, but the bridges are higher, farther apart, and traverse a greater span.

Today, we walked over to Cork’s west end, where the River Lee splits into its north and south branches on its way around the island that is the city center.

We passed through University College of Cork, and i am surely not the first person to ask which is it, then, a university or a college?

*Memorial to volunteers who were executed at the site of the university by the British during the war for independence in 1921.*

The walking trail continues past the university to the branching of the river.

The Atkins Hall Apartments, formerly an insane asylum, now luxury apartments. Rumor has it that some of the apartments are haunted. We considered staying there, but decided it was too far (about 40 minutes) to be walking into town each day.

*In the foreground, the Old Cork Waterworks. Background, St. Kevin’s Asylum, also converted to apartments but, if my eyes don’t deceive me, no longer in use as the result of a fire.*

These buildings made me chuckle.

Tags Cork City, River Lee, UCC, Urban Hiking

Cork City Ireland

Street art in Cork City

First in a series.

On our first visit here, I was impressed by the extent of street art around town. We’ve only been here five days, so I haven’t yet had the chance to learn any of the history of the People’s Republic of Cork, but my guess is that it’s probably 2 or 3 core members, with a surrounding, ever-changing cast of supporters. That is, assuming they’re still active. Some of their artwork does seem relatively recent.

Not everything I’ve been able to photograph is theirs, but they are rather ubiquitous.

And they clearly have access to some large printing equipment.

My general impression is that the politics are more implied than baldly stated, but that’s not always the case.

Then, of course, there’s always Phil Lynott. His image was everywhere last time we were in Ireland. I imagine before we leave, i’ll have a whole gallery of Lynott mural photos.