The Erinville Maternity Hospital, Cork

The Erinville Hospital in Cork is one of the old maternity hospitals that were shutdown earlier this year and facilities moved to the Cork University Maternity Hospital.

My wife Jacinta and I made the short journey here from Blarney many times during her pregnancy, sometimes at ungodly hours in the morning but staff were always helpful, kind and sympathetic.

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Gateway to old homes

If you walk along the Mardyke in Cork you’re sure to have spotted this green area nestled in off the main road. Does anyone know anything about it?

PS. Here is where this is. Google Maps don’t have it on their map, but you can make out the green area in the center of the map above. The Flickr/Yahoo map does better, naming this green area Alverna. Cool

Aperture ƒ/10
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Inside the Cork University Maternity Hospital

The (still) new Cork University Maternity Hospital or CUMH is shaped like a triangle with a central area that will eventually be planted with grass, flowers and vegetation. For now it’s boring bland grey.

To the right and left you can see balconies. The one of the right adjoins the hospital cafe. Unfortunately it’s so expensive it’s better to make the journey across to Wilton Shopping Center or to one of the many restaurants in the area. The other balcony is unused but I’m sure the hospital bosses will figure out some way of using it. The tower in the center is the stairwell and elevator shafts for the building and they lead onto the main concourse and entrance.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 5s

Kissing on the street

A young couple hug and kiss in front of the Crawford College of Art in Cork. This was shot on St. Patrick’s Day, and the crowd behind are waiting for a face painter!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Party in the park

The Capoeira Club on Douglas Street held a day out for the kids just over a week ago in Fitzgerald’s Park in Cork. Unfortunately we arrived just as everything was wrapping up but I got a couple of shots off.

There was a great party atmosphere. Parents were there with kids, people sitting around, chatting, singing and dancing, and even a couple of dogs including Oscar! Next time we’ll try to make it earlier. Thanks Sharon for telling me it was on! See Mel in the background?

Unfortunately the light wasn’t the best and with fast moving legs, arms and bodies I was never going to fully freeze the action. More to come over the next few days.

Aperture ƒ/5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/500s

Patrick’s Day on dad’s shoulders

A young spectator gets a bird’s eye view of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cork.

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/200s

The musical triplet

As well as an outdoor market, the good people of Cork were entertained by musicians in Emmett Place on Patrick’s Day.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Girl with the leprechauns in her hair

On Patrick’s Day all sorts of head gear and clothes are worn by people all over the world. This girl had a hair band with 2 leprechauns on springy stalks! See the shamrock on her cheek?

Shot on St. Patrick’s Street, Cork last March.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 144mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/100s

Make bubbles for the kids

Blowing bubbles on the street is a great way to keep children occupied! On St. Patrick’s Day this year a fairy lady blew bubbles for these kids who were having a ball catching them!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 21mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/125s

The Bike at the Library

Cork City Library on the Grand Parade used to have railings in front for locking up your bike. Those railings disappeared a few months ago but people still leave their bikes there.

The library itself will soon be the subject of a major facelift as a developer expands it into a new block of retail units and apartments as well as library.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/80s

Eye of the Shih Tzu

This is Oscar, our Shih Tzu. He has been a part of our family for just over a year now and he’s very devoted to my wife Jacinta. He loves playing with me too, but I know who he’d save from a sinking ship!

We were worried what would happen when the baby came along, but Oscar has been great. For the most part he has ignored Adam, but if a stranger should lean over Adam and his mom then Oscar will be out to growl and sometimes bark! That would be great if there was any danger but it’s almost always a friend or family so it’s become an annoyance we need to look out for.
Poor Oscar doesn’t get the same amount of attention as he did before baby but in general he behaves better, so that’s a good thing! I think he got a little cocky and just a little too confident of his place in the family hierarchy.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s