Clontarf Bridge

Clontarf Bridge in Cork is a bridge across the River Lee, opened in 1912 and still very much in use. Originally built to link two railways it’s now used for road traffic! This Cokipedia page has lots more info on the bridge and this page mentions that the bridge, “could be lifted to allow the schooners and coasters access to the quay.”

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

Old Shed in Camden Fort

Camden Fort near Crosshaven in Co Cork was part of a photowalk last Sunday and we visited Spike Island on Saturday, it was great visiting such historical sites. We were so lucky with the weather as the rain stayed off and Camden Fort on Sunday was bathed in strong sunlight!

Both sites are still being developed. Camden Fort is manned by volunteers with a few people paid by FAS who helped clear 21 years of undergrowth and weeds. You should visit and talk to the volunteers as they’re so enthusiastic about the project and friendly you’ll spend quite a lot of time talking! Our trip to Spike Island was way too short and we all agreed that we didn’t have enough time to explore it fully.

More photos from the photowalk:

  1. Spike Island Photowalk
  2. Fort Camden Photowalk
  3. Home From Home
  4. Cobh, as seen from Spike Island

And I hope Denis posts some of his photos soon!

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/125s

The Truman House

The Truman Show was filmed in the town of Seaside in Florida way back in 1998. Feeling old now? This is the house where they filmed interior shots of Truman’s home. You’ll recognise scenes from the film if you visit the town, but trees and bushes are a bit more overgrown now.

Anyway, Automattic went to Seaside last September for our annual meetup. While the location is beautiful, the humidity and temperature even in September were unbearable for this Irishman. Some of my colleagues who are used to those conditions had no such problems but I was desperately glad to get into air conditioned buildings whenever I could! A few of us went for a photowalk late in the week. We set out at 7.30am before it got too warm and had a good time exploring the area. Yes, 7.30 in the morning!

Definitely worth a visit there, just go in the middle of winter when the temperatures are likely to be more manageable!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/80s

View on Camden Quay

Camden Quay in Cork City with the north side of the City behind it. St. Anne’s (or Shandon Bells) and the Catholic North Cathedral in the background.

Loved the light when I saw this scene. The setting sun cast shadows on the buildings and reflected off the church steeples.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 88mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/50s

Saint Finbarre’s Sunset

St Finbarre’s Cathedral silhouetted against the sunset in Cork yesterday. It was freezing cold but the skies were mostly clear and snow hasn’t fallen in the City or here in Blarney either yet.

The country is going through a recession but you wouldn’t know it. After driving around Parnell Place twice I parked in Merchant’s Quay but had to park on the roof because the place was full. Many of the shops were very busy, and the streets were crowded with shoppers.

So cold though.

PS. the version of gthumb in Ubuntu 10.10 sucks. Missing now is the “Duplicate” menu item, and I can’t drag photos from one folder to another. Grrr. It is faster however.

Aperture ƒ/9
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 200mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/400s

Abandoned Interior

The interior of a cottage at the picturesque Brandon Creek on Slea Head, County Kerry.

Outside there’s a planning permission notice, dated August 2008 and written in Irish. I presume the owner is no longer in a hurry to develop his property. All he wanted to do was replace the roof and add an extension.

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/30s

69 Patrick Street

Waterstones on Saint Patrick Street in Cork. Also Game, Euro City and a derelict store once rented by one of the national banks here in Ireland.

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 400
Shutter speed 1/160s

Engine No. 36

Engine No. 36 on display in Ken Station in Cork. Here’s what the Wikipedia page on the train station has to say about it:

An old locomotive is on permanent display in the concourse at Kent Station since 1950. “Engine No. 36” dates from 1847 and is displayed in the booking hall. Originally built by Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy of Liverpool at a cost of £1,955, the engine was obtained by the Great Southern and Western Railway to run services from Dublin to Cork. The engine remained in service until 1874.
She was displayed at the Cork exhibition in 1902, the Railway Centenary Exhibition in 1925 and the bi-centenary of the Royal Dublin Society at Ballsbridge in 1930. She was moved to a new position and restored by Iarnród Éireann in 2007.

I could have sworn that train was on display before 2007, maybe that page is referring to the new interior of the station?

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/1.3s

Strength in Numbers

One of the supports on the Shaky Bridge outside Fitzgerald Park in Cork.

Aperture ƒ/1.8
Camera Canon EOS 40D
Focal length 50mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/4000s