The Shakey Bridge is Gone!

In 2019, Cork’s riverside scene took on a rare and almost surreal quality as the beloved Shakey Bridge, or Daly’s Bridge, vanished for the first time since 1927. Locals strolling along the Lee were greeted not by the familiar wobbly walkway, but by its ornate white tower standing alone, flanked by colourful houses and lush gardens. The river, ever calm, mirrored the absence and the anticipation, while the city buzzed with stories of the bridge’s famous shake and the engineers’ promise to bring it back just as lively as ever.

The bridge is back now, and we visited recently. It still has its famous shake!

It’s the only suspension bridge in Cork City and the only surviving pedestrian suspension bridge of its kind and age in Ireland.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length57mm
ISO125
Shutter speed1/125s

Madness in Cork

We went to see Madness play in Virgin Media Park last night. They were supported by Cork band, The Frank and Walters, and Ocean Colour Scene.

We arrived early because we wanted to see The Frank and Walters, and it was great to get in before the place filled up. The support bands were great and we really enjoyed their music.

Madness? Maybe I was expecting too much, or built it up in my head because they have some cracking tunes? I thought they could have been better. We danced to their hits, but they had a lot of deep cuts that had the crowd wondering what was going on. There was a lot of banter which didn’t always hit home with the crowd.

I did appreciate them mentioning Queen. I thought we’d get a short cover of one of their songs, but it wasn’t to be!

I paid for my ticket. Apparently, they had to give away a good bunch of them. 🙁

A live concert scene at night featuring the band Madness performing on stage in Cork. The stage is dominated by a massive, illuminated disco ball backdrop, casting a golden glow over the musicians and instruments, with a lively crowd visible in the foreground.

Apertureƒ/4.9
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length27.2mm
ISO64
Shutter speed1/50s

The Family Shenanigans in Cork, part 4

The girls of the Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance on the Grand Parade, Cork at the end of the Family Shenanigans parade last Sunday. What fabulous performers they all are!


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CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
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Shutter speed1/1000s

The Family Shenanigans in Cork, part 1

The Family Shenanigans parade organised by Cork Community Art Link took place today in Cork and what a blast it was! There was so much energy, happiness and laughter!

This is only a small selection of the photos from today. More to come tomorrow.


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CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO4000
Shutter speed1/1000s

Cork Rocks for Rory!

A lively outdoor music performance at Gallagher Fest 2025 in Fitzgerald Park, Cork, featuring a harmonica player in striped trousers, a drummer in a denim shirt, and a guitarist with a colourful strap, all energetically engaged on stage with musical instruments and microphones visible, set against a backdrop of greenery and a white canopy.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Rory Gallagher, a legend in rock and roll, at a relatively young age.

Today in Fitzgerald Park we were treated to a great music session on a beautiful, sunny day as the city celebrates Rory’s music and life. Here are a few photos from the gig. You can watch the entire thing on YouTube below. Watch carefully. You’ll spot me there a few times!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length146mm
ISO1000
Shutter speed1/320s

The Sun Inside Cork’s Historic Cathedral

Step inside St Fin Barre’s Cathedral this week, and you’ll be greeted not just by the soaring Gothic arches and intricate stained-glass, but by a blazing sun right in the heart of Cork. The Helios exhibition, a six-metre-wide glowing sculpture by UK artist Luke Jerram, has transformed the cathedral’s nave into a cosmic spectacle for the Cork Midsummer Festival. The installation is more than just a visual treat. It’s a full sensory experience, with detailed solar imagery and a soundtrack of real NASA recordings of the sun. It’s a surreal and awe-inspiring blend of old and new: the ancient spirit of the cathedral meets the cutting edge of contemporary art, inviting visitors to reflect on the power and presence of the sun in a truly unique setting.

The Helios sculpture is built to scale, with each centimetre representing 2,300 km of the real sun’s surface, and features detailed representations of sunspots and solar flares, all accompanied by a soundtrack of live NASA recordings of the sun.


Apertureƒ/2.2
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length2.2mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/25s

Lifebuoy on Duty

It’s reassuring to see lifebuoys at the beach, especially when the sea is rough. Unfortunately, not every person in distress in the water can be saved, as has happened at this beach in Youghal in the past.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length106mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/500s

Eggs for Sale

A visit to the market in Skibbereen in 2019 was productive. I’ve posted a number of photos from that hour or so on here over the years, and there are still a few more to go.

August 2019 feels like a lifetime ago.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length16mm
ISO320
Shutter speed1/500s

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