Tag Archives: 2005

Cork Before The Elysian

2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (1/3)
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (2/3)
2005 photograph of Cork City Hall with its distinctive green dome reflected in the River Lee, showing construction cranes and the area before The Elysian development and modernisation, with swans visible on the calm water (3/3)

Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.

Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.


Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO200
Shutter speed1/320s

Eircom Phone Booths in Cork

A pair of Eircom phone booths on St. Patrick Street, Cork, pictured in 2005.

The phones were there until at least 2022, but Eir announced a few years ago that they’d be removing their public phone booths, so away they go.


Apertureƒ/13
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length55mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/320s

Trump Tower Construction by the River

Chicago in 2005 was a city in flux, and nowhere was that more obvious than at the Trump Tower construction site, right on the banks of the Chicago River. I was walking at the edge of the site and took a bunch of photos, some of which I’ve posted over the years.

What you see in front of you appears to be the open area next to the “new” tower. Over to the left is the Wrigley Building and looking at Google Street View gives a good view of what it looks like now, from across the river.

I haven’t been back to Chicago in twenty years. I’d love to see it again.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Greeting Visitors in the Shadow of the Wrigley Building

I last visited Chicago in 2005, when I took this photo of the Wrigley Building, and this “We’re glad you’re here!” banner.

Did you know the clock faces of the Wrigley Building are each almost 6m in diameter? The two towers of the building were completed just over 100 years ago!


Apertureƒ/9
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length53mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

The Duck Who Loved Cash

Twenty years ago today, I was walking up State Street in Chicago when I spotted a duck robbing an unsuspecting woman on the street. I was horrified and, of course, immediately took a photo of such a strange incident.

Turns out, it was some sort of advertising photoshoot for Western Union, but the original photo went viral, even appearing in newspapers.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length55mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Red Cans and Boat Plans

Twenty years ago, I visited Baltimore in Co Cork and photographed these people coming from a boat in the harbour. They were in great form, with smiles all around. 🙂


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length39mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/250s

The water under our feet

In this image, there are several construction vehicles, including an excavator, working on the site. The area is fenced off, and there are various pipes and construction materials scattered around. Traffic is visible in the background, with cars lined up along the street.

Some people were surprised to find there was a large covered over tunnel below Grand Parade when the Cork Main Drainage Scheme dug up the road near Daunt Square in 2005. The street used to be part of the river, so I guess the water had to go somewhere, but it also highlights just how vulnerable the city is to high tides and climate change.


Apertureƒ/2.5
CameraCYBERSHOT
Focal length9.7mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

RIP Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley waiting to sign books at Borders in Chicago, surrounded by staff and security

I saw this morning that Kirstie Alley passed away last night at the age of 71. She was great in Cheers, but I barely remember Veronica’s Closet and I’m not familiar with her roles in other shows.

In 2005, my wife and I were in Chicago, and we happened to go into a Borders bookshop there. Kirstie Alley was signing copies of her book upstairs, and a pretty good crowd had gathered. I declined to buy the book but got a few photos of what happened, even though I think staff were unsure of why I was there.

This was 2005, 2 years before the iPhone, and the only other person recording the event was somebody with a big camcorder. No selfies with the celebrity, either!


Apertureƒ/5.6
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length300mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/100s

Across the Chetwynd Railway Viaduct

Most Cork people are familiar with the Chetwynd Railway Viaduct built over the Bandon Road near Bishopstown. Here it is from the top, in 2005.

An important and substantial landmark designed by Charles Nixon, Engineer, which makes a dramatic contribution to the surrounding area. It carried trains on its single line from Cork to West Cork until 1961. It stands 90ft above the road and has a 21ft span. The viaduct displays fine craftsmanship in the stone work seen in the piers and excellent design in the elegant steel arches.

buildingsofireland.ie

Apertureƒ/3.5
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length18mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/200s