I was there too
One of the few photography shops left in Cork City center, Denis MacSweeney’s shop in Merchant’s Quay is a simple photo development outfit. O’Leary’s Camera World and MacSweeney’s on Oliver Plunkett St. will sell you cameras and all sorts of other photography bits. Unfortunately both shops were out of 77mm filters the last few times I called in.
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/80s |
One of the more hair-brained ideas of Eamon O Cuiv, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was to proclaim that the official names of all towns in Gaeltacht areas would be the Irish names.
I’m all for efforts to make Irish more appealing and stronger but what was he smoking when he came up with this? All the road signs to towns and villages in Gaeltacht areas now only show the Irish names. Even Irish visitors who frequent the areas have trouble matching road signs to their maps. Who knew that Ballydavid was Baile na nGall for instance?
The good people of Dingle took matters into their own hands by stencilling the English name of their town under "An Daingean" on most road signs, restoring them to their original state. I only saw a couple of signs that hadn’t been modified and those were well out of reach.
I wonder will Minister O Cuiv change his name to O Caoimh as a show of solidarity with the people of Kerry?
(No, he’s not a relation, despite the fact that our surnames sound the same!)
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 200mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
Looking out to sea from the steep walkway down to Couminole Strand on Slea Head, the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry.
The film Ryan’s Daughter was filmed in this area and the beach behind me was featured in the gun running scene! Check it out on Youtube. About 2 minutes into the second clip you can see some of the rocks pictured above. The scenes where the IRA and locals run across rocks with waves crashing on rocks in the background was definitely not filmed on the same beach however. Even at low tide the beach can be crossed in about 4 steps.
| Aperture | ƒ/10 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 18mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
The sun is hidden by a tall building in San Francisco while mother and daughter wait for the lights to change.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/125s |
A Ramones fan walks down Patrick’s Street. I love the eyes of the poster looking out ..
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/800s |
An ESB van passes a pole with a Rossport Shell-to-sea campaign flyer on it.
Shell want to bring oil to land at Rossport in Co. Mayo, and the ESB are massive consumers of oil, gas and coal in their electricity generation business.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/1000s |
A couple walking along Winthrop Street in Cork have very expressive faces.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
A fire hydrant in San Francisco. Given the history of the city, there are hydrants everywhere ..
| Aperture | ƒ/5.6 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/80s |
In front of Tesco on Paul Street, Cork by night. This is a long exposure show I made by putting my camera on the ground and leaning the lens on my wallet.
Judging by the lighting it was probably a small aperture too. Love that effect!
| Aperture | ƒ/16 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 4s |
The Berwick Fountain was originally built in 1860 but was taken down and removed while construction went on in the Grand Parade, Cork. Here it is almost ready, although I’d swear they moved it a few feet ..
Cross over the Grand Parade for the last time passing the Berwick Fountain (1860), which marked the centre point of a bridge crossing what was then a city canal, now arched over and filled in to form the Grand Parade. The fountain is named after Walter Berwick, one time Chairman of the Quarter Sessions and was designed by Sir John Benson.
| Aperture | ƒ/7.1 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/100s |
Believe it or not this may have been a mooring post for boats in the 1700s. At the time the River Lee ran through the Grand Parade and boats were tied to this on the quayside. Now it’s a busy street.
It is reputed that this post was a cannon used in the Siege of Cork in 1690. Up until last year it sat on the corner of the pavement but as you can see here the new surface flattened everything out.
It’s been sitting there for as long as I remember, does anyone know anything more about it?
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/125s |
A baseball cap on the sidewalk in San Francisco attracted my attention while out walking. I wonder who lost it?
| Aperture | ƒ/10 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 20D |
| Focal length | 10mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/160s |
