Liam Foley RIP

I have a story to tell. A story I’ve been meaning to tell for more than a year now. Many moons ago I posted the picture above. It was taken on August 28th, 2006 and posted shortly afterwards. Just over a year later Sinead Foley, niece of the man pictured above contacted me. His name was Liam Foley, and unfortunately he passed away 2 months after this photo was taken.

I was shocked at the news, but also so glad that I had this photo of her uncle; he’s relaxed, himself, enjoying a cigarette. I emailed Sinead, giving her the image to print and asked her to tell me about her uncle:

Donncha,
Many thanks for sending that on, it’ll be lovely to give the family.
His name was Liam Foley and he drank there and the Capwell S&S Pub in
Douglas Street. He passed away on November 1st 2006 (just 2 months
after the picture was taken) and he wasn’t sick at the time the photo
was taken. He fell ill just 5 days before he died. It was a friend of
the families that noticed this picture while surfing the Net. No he
didn’t know his photo was on the Net, something tells me he probably
didn’t know what the internet was.

Uncle Liam was 69 years of age.
Thanks,
Sinead.

May he rest in peace.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/200s

The Chicago Theatre

The Chicago Theatre on State Street in the city of the same name. The sign in front is hard to miss but I’ve never been in there. Maybe next time I visit Chicago. More info on the theatre’s history page. Love that Netscape favicon!

This was shot in 2005 but I know I have shot the same scene a number of times.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s

Shih tzu’s Eyes

Our shih tzu Oscar looks up at me as I photograph him on Christmas Day 2007. He must have wondered when he was getting his Christmas dinner! (Later, when baby was gone to bed!)

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 21mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Moving from Chicago to Washington

Barack Obama’s family probably had some help from America’s Secret Service when they moved from Chicago to Washington but for the rest of us, that journey would be a lot more mundane and would involve the services of a company like Hollander.

Photographed somewhere in Chicago in May 2005.

PS. Thank you if you nominated this blog for the Irish Blog Awards!

Aperture ƒ/5
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/60s

Bantry Garda Station

The Garda Station in Bantry Co Cork is quite a distinctive building, especially alongside the more traditional shops and houses of the town.

Aperture ƒ/7.1
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 12mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s

Flower Burst

Some times you just have to post a cliche like a pretty flower, especially in the dead of winter.

I’m giving away a free print to two visitors to my blog. Leave a comment on my Carol Singers post to be in with a chance to win!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 88mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/80s

Construction in Chicago

Construction work on the Trump Tower in 2005.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/200s

Lisbon Treaty Referendum 2

So, it’s confirmed. The Irish didn’t vote the way the Government or the EU wanted and we have to vote again. I wonder if there will be a third referendum if we dare to vote No again?

Aperture ƒ/9
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 72mm
ISO 100
Shutter speed 1/160s