The Irony of Travel Dreams During Lockdown

Halfway through 2021 when lockdowns were still a recent memory, and a sign advertising the island of Gozo was probably not what most people were thinking of. I don’t think I’ve seen this advertising campaign since, either.


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The Grand Parade Preacher

This woman was screaming into a microphone on Grand Parade, Cork, for the last few years. This is a photo from 2022, but I remember seeing her in late 2024 too. I could never make out what she was saying as the sound was distorted so much by the volume on her speaker.

I hardly ever saw anyone talking to her. I wonder how effective this sort of preaching is?


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Classical Contemplation

Jaysus, I nearly dropped me phone when I spotted this scene in the Musée d’Orsay like. There’s your man on the left, pure glued to his iPhone, probably updating his Insta or whatever, and the other fella hanging on to some pamphlet or other. And there in the middle, this massive marble yoke, probably worth more than me gaff, just sitting there being completely ignored. Had to grab the shot with the camera – savage composition altogether. It’s gas when you think about it – here we are in one of the fanciest museums in Paris, and the only one paying attention to anything is yer man in the statue. Reminds me of walking down Patrick Street, with everyone’s heads buried in their phones while the city’s gorgeous architecture looms above them. Mad stuff altogether, boy.

(A bit over the top, but that’s how Perplexity thinks Cork people sound like. Accurate?)


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Urban Decay in Green and White

I spotted this scene while walking up the hill next to the harbour in the old town of Puerto del Carmen. The peeling paint of the window frame attracted my attention, but then the modern signs stood out in contrast to the white painted wall. Just one of those things I like about looking around.


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January 18th, 2025 Palestine Rally in Cork

There was a huge turnout for the pro-Palestine rally in Grand Parade yesterday afternoon. There’s huge support for Palestine in Ireland. Speakers welcomed the cease fire, but I don’t think anyone thinks it’ll hold.

Recently, I found photos of a similar rally through the streets of Cork in 2009. It’s the same issues. Nothing has changed, except to get worse, since then.


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Urban Life Below Los Gigantes

The setting sun cast a lovely colour on the cliffs of Los Gigantes in Tenerife while I was packing the car. We had just eaten in a nice restaurant and were going to drive down to the harbour on the other side of town when I saw the cliffs lit up this way.

Quick as anything, I got out my camera when I spotted the scene in front of me. There are so many layers here. The family crossing the road, car waiting, parked cars on distant hills, the apartment blocks, and the looming Los Gigantes behind them all.

We left shortly after, and while the sun had dipped closer to the horizon, there was still some light on the cliffs.


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JD Sports Coming Soon!

Shopfront with JD Sports "Coming Soon" signage and scaffolding outside the Savoy building, showing posters for Nike and North Face products with text "NEAREST STORE IS COOK STREET" in yellow and black.

It was October 2019 and JD Sports had yet to open their shop on Patrick’s Street in Cork. The back of the building, on Drawbridge Street, featured JD Sports hoarding, but now it’s derelict, with “TO LET” signs in the windows, and the SAVOY entrance is boarded up.

A sign of the times. The city can’t compete with online sales.


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