Cork architecture – In Photos dot Org

The new Bishop Lucey Park

I’m not a big fan of brown, and there’s a lot of brown in the new Bishop Lucey Park. I do really like what they did with the old wall. That’s the slightly rough-looking grass bit in the second picture of my gallery. The old park had this cut off from the public behind railings, with stagnant water collecting at the bottom. Now, it’s an area where people can sit on steps and walk around.

I love that the old entrance is still there and that they removed the railing running around the outside.

It’s disappointing to see that gravel was used so much. I imagine it has something to do with maintenance, but it would have been nice to see more grass. However, as it is now, there’s huge scope for holding open-air events there that aren’t beholden to the weather and wet grass.

It will look nice in the warmer months when leaves return to the trees. It was a missed opportunity to use more colour. What would a dash of colour do to the mood of the park?

I don’t hate it.

Look for it on Facebook and you’ll find nothing but complaints unfortunately: Echo Live 1, Cork City Parks Sport and Recreation, Cork City Council, Echo Live 2.

Aperture	ƒ/9
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	3200
Shutter speed	1/125s

A Bridge to Wandesford Quay

Cork’s newest bridge is a new pedestrian or cycle bridge that spans the River Lee from Wandesford Quay to Lambley’s Lane. You’d be forgiven if you’re not familiar with either area, as they aren’t exactly the most trafficked areas in the city.

If you’re curious, Lambley’s Lane is off to the side of the old Beamish & Crawford brewery, and the bridge is worth a look at night. Henry shared a photo of the bridge a couple of days ago. Thank you, Henry, for pointing out where it was. I had no idea.

If you look carefully, you can see all the way down Tuckey Street to Oliver Plunkett Street. During the day, you might even see down to Parnell Place, maybe?

Here’s the latest news from Cork City Council about the bridge and the newly reopened Bishop Lucey Park. Photos of that to come…

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	4s

Celtic Tiger Cranes and the Elysian Rising

Cork City during the height of the Celtic Tiger era, captured in 2007 when Ireland’s construction boom was at its peak and the city skyline was dominated by cranes building new office blocks and apartments, including the Elysian Tower.

It would all come crashing down financially within a year. Some apartments in the Elysian were vacant for years.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	75mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/640s

Grand Parade Motorcycles

Do you remember when the Grand Parade had motorcycle parking down the middle of the street? That was twenty years ago! See there’s no mural on the wall behind?

This photo was taken on Christmas Eve 2005.

Aperture	ƒ/3.5
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	18mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/800s

TBL8 Brass Perform in Cork

TBL8 Brass Band playing in Cork earlier this evening. They were so good. Blasting out the hits!

TBL8 Brass band performing on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork during the Jazz Festival, with frontman on a megaphone in white clothing, surrounded by brass section and horn players in black, with red mobile phone shop and Christmas lights visible in the background at dusk.

Wide-angle low perspective shot of TBL8 Brass band performing on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival, showing the full brass section spread across the pedestrianised street with Georgian buildings, shop fronts, and Christmas lights in the background at dusk.

Two saxophone players from TBL8 Brass performing on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival with drummer and bassist visible in background, shoppers and spectators watching from the pedestrianised street at dusk with Christmas lights illuminating shop windows.

TBL8 Brass frontman energetically performing with megaphone on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival with a young girl in pink standing beside him, surrounded by large crowd of festival-goers and band members at dusk.

TBL8 Brass frontman performing passionately with megaphone on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival at dusk, with band members and large crowd of spectators visible behind him, including families and children, with illuminated shop windows in the background.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	250
Shutter speed	1/500s

When the Lee Became a Mirror

The Banks of the Lee were quite different by the Peace Park in 2004. Trees and shrubs obscured the river from the small park. It looks so different now.

Aperture	ƒ/4.5
Camera	CYBERSHOT
Focal length	11mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/500s

Window on the City

From the car park on North Main Street, Cork, you can Bruce College and St Mary’s Dominican Priory. I liked how the stark lifeless concrete frame of the multi-story car park contrasted with the variety of materials and colours in the world outside.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	201mm
ISO	1000
Shutter speed	1/1000s