Monday, September 28, 2009
kaleidopaisley...
dublins streetscape came to life on friday night for culture night...
this projection on buildings in templebar was unique and different...caught my attention for a while anyhow...like a kaleidoscope spewing paisley pattern machine of sorts...
uniquely rich...
wow...i was amazed that i had never been to the chester beatty library in all of my 4 years in dublin...
described by the lonely planet as not just the best museum in ireland, but one of the best in europe, the chester beatty library in an art museum and library which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by sir alfred chester beatty (1875-1968)...
i had no idea as to what this museum housed, and i was intrigued to listen to someone who we met on friday explain the history behind the collections with such enthusiasm and energy...
a diverse collection of manuscripts and artefacts dating from 2700bc to the present day, i was amazed at the artistry and rareity of the books and decoratives arts assembled there...a visual feast of egyptian papyrus texts, illuminated copies of the qur'an, the bible, european, medieval and renaissance manuscripts...
the museum is situated in the grounds of dublin castle...
described by the lonely planet as not just the best museum in ireland, but one of the best in europe, the chester beatty library in an art museum and library which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by sir alfred chester beatty (1875-1968)...
i had no idea as to what this museum housed, and i was intrigued to listen to someone who we met on friday explain the history behind the collections with such enthusiasm and energy...
a diverse collection of manuscripts and artefacts dating from 2700bc to the present day, i was amazed at the artistry and rareity of the books and decoratives arts assembled there...a visual feast of egyptian papyrus texts, illuminated copies of the qur'an, the bible, european, medieval and renaissance manuscripts...
the museum is situated in the grounds of dublin castle...
dublin castle state apartments...
the state apartments at dublin castle dominate the south range of the great courtyard...
built as the residential and public quarters of the viceregal court, they were the seat of the executive and focus of fashionable and extravagabt social life...
today the apartments are the venue for ireland's presidencies of the european union, presidential inaugurations and prestigious functions...
the state dining room, also known as the picture gallery or supper room is the oldest room in dublin castle and is reputed to largely retain its original decoration having escaped major modification and fire over the years...it dates from the 1740's
the throne room also dates form the 1740's and contains a throne built for the visit of king george IV to ireland in 1821...
i loved the massive floor lamps on the grand staircase...i'm not sure which was bigger...the lamps or me...
built as the residential and public quarters of the viceregal court, they were the seat of the executive and focus of fashionable and extravagabt social life...
today the apartments are the venue for ireland's presidencies of the european union, presidential inaugurations and prestigious functions...
the state dining room, also known as the picture gallery or supper room is the oldest room in dublin castle and is reputed to largely retain its original decoration having escaped major modification and fire over the years...it dates from the 1740's
the throne room also dates form the 1740's and contains a throne built for the visit of king george IV to ireland in 1821...
i loved the massive floor lamps on the grand staircase...i'm not sure which was bigger...the lamps or me...
christ church...
christ church cathedral holds a very rich history...
what i will tell you here is that the earliest manuscripts date the cathedral to its present location at around 1030...it played a central part in dublins history involving invasions from the normans and the saxons...and its crypts were once used as a market, meeting place for business and at one point even as a pub...
well worth a visit when in dublin...and in particular, the crypts now house an exhibition but for me - to be able to see and walk through the foundation and structure for the entire cathedral was a brilliant experience...
what i will tell you here is that the earliest manuscripts date the cathedral to its present location at around 1030...it played a central part in dublins history involving invasions from the normans and the saxons...and its crypts were once used as a market, meeting place for business and at one point even as a pub...
well worth a visit when in dublin...and in particular, the crypts now house an exhibition but for me - to be able to see and walk through the foundation and structure for the entire cathedral was a brilliant experience...
some of the little quirks in christ church thats worth a mention is the mummifieed cat and rat that was found when an organ pipe was cleaned, the heart of st laurence of toole is housed here in a heart shaped box, and the tomb of strongbow is thought to lie here...
st audoens...
st audoens church is situated a stones throw from christchurch cathedral and well worth a visit...
sited in what was originally the heart of the walled medieval city of dublin, so audoen's church is actually the only remaining medievel parish church in dublin...
part of the church features an exhibition on the importance of the church in the life of the medievel city, while another part of the church is still in use by the church of ireland as a parish church...
i was very much taken by the interaction between old and new structures in this building, particularly how the modern insertion of an exhibition centre work as an integral thoroughfare for visitors through the building and framing views towards the 15th centure ruins...
sited in what was originally the heart of the walled medieval city of dublin, so audoen's church is actually the only remaining medievel parish church in dublin...
part of the church features an exhibition on the importance of the church in the life of the medievel city, while another part of the church is still in use by the church of ireland as a parish church...
i was very much taken by the interaction between old and new structures in this building, particularly how the modern insertion of an exhibition centre work as an integral thoroughfare for visitors through the building and framing views towards the 15th centure ruins...
the dead...
james joyce 'house of the dead' is one of dublins most important literary and historic buildings...
located in the city centre, it is where joyce set his most famous story, 'the dead'...
our visit here on friday last was indeed something spectacular...the restoration of 15 ushers island took 4 years as the owners returned the house to its original glory of 1904...walls were rebuilt, new foundations laid, the missing upper floors and roof erected and extensive work carried out tot he houses interiors...
all of which is documented in photograph and can be seen as you move through the interior...
moving through the house by candle-light, we moved up the stairs into what must be considered the most important dining room in world literature...and there before us, the table was set in all its splendour and victorian glory...
we then sat in the drawing room and watched a snippet of director, john heuston's film 'the dead'...it was great to see so many bentwood chairs in their perfect condition...
located in the city centre, it is where joyce set his most famous story, 'the dead'...
our visit here on friday last was indeed something spectacular...the restoration of 15 ushers island took 4 years as the owners returned the house to its original glory of 1904...walls were rebuilt, new foundations laid, the missing upper floors and roof erected and extensive work carried out tot he houses interiors...
all of which is documented in photograph and can be seen as you move through the interior...
moving through the house by candle-light, we moved up the stairs into what must be considered the most important dining room in world literature...and there before us, the table was set in all its splendour and victorian glory...
we then sat in the drawing room and watched a snippet of director, john heuston's film 'the dead'...it was great to see so many bentwood chairs in their perfect condition...
Friday, September 25, 2009
culture night...
this is culture night here in dublin...
culture night is a night where over 120 organisations will open their doors to the public until late with an impressive programme of indoor and outdoor events taking place all over the city...
culture night gives people the chance to participate and experience live performances, workshops, tours, talks and a whole range of creative activities all for free...
i'm off with joanna and some friends for a wee bit of culture...
starting on the liffey we are going to start with a tour of james joyce's house of the dead - we're invited to experience the atmosphere and song of the most inmportant dining room in world literature...
from here we will then take a walk to christ church and take a tour of the cathedral and the crypt where we've learned there will be musical contributions from the cathedrals music department throughout the evening...
then after here time pending we hope to take in the bernard shaw house and the chester beatty library...i'll be back with the lowdown on some of my visits throughout the weekend...
http://www.culturenight.ie/
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
17:59...
is there anyone that doesn't know its arthurs day tomorrow...
i know where i will be at 17:59...in the odeon in dublin, waiting to see snow patrol, lisa hannigan and bellx 1 among others...
hope you all have a great day and enjoy a pint of the black stuff...
the quiet man...
my wife-to-be and i watched this movie last week...classic...if you havent seen it you must see it...!!!
anyway...i was walking by the oriel gallery this morning and i saw this and i just thought that i would share it with you all...
www.theoriel.com
anyway...i was walking by the oriel gallery this morning and i saw this and i just thought that i would share it with you all...
www.theoriel.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
honest to goodness...
i've just stumbled across a little cafe in dublin literally 15mins ago...
honest to goodness is a narrow, tall space...i guess what really caught my eye was the overscaled steel mobile made of orange plastic buckets and large wooden spoons hanging from it...
the colour scheme here too is fresh and witty...bands of colour in contrasting shades of tangerine, mocha, slate and glossy black...
i guess i should go back and check it out in more detail as i was literally just passing by...
honest to goodness is a narrow, tall space...i guess what really caught my eye was the overscaled steel mobile made of orange plastic buckets and large wooden spoons hanging from it...
the colour scheme here too is fresh and witty...bands of colour in contrasting shades of tangerine, mocha, slate and glossy black...
i guess i should go back and check it out in more detail as i was literally just passing by...
Monday, September 7, 2009
keep calm and carry on...
i had a great conversation with one of my friends over the weekend about etsy and he was so surprised that i wasnt a fan...well truth be told i've never really taken the time to check it out...
but i've spent quite a while today 'oohing' and 'aahing' at whats on offer...
i know this one has been doing the rounds as i've seen it on other blogs but now i'm just very happy to know where it came from...
available on esty by sfgirlbybay...
but i've spent quite a while today 'oohing' and 'aahing' at whats on offer...
i know this one has been doing the rounds as i've seen it on other blogs but now i'm just very happy to know where it came from...
available on esty by sfgirlbybay...
light at the end of the tunnel...
my career tunnel that is...i think i'm beginning to see something...
fvrve.JPG)
a new story...
what a fantastic way of re-using something old to make something new...
designer Isabel Quiroga createad this bookcase made of used tables...she used old pieces of furniture and created something new, original and unique...
the design is called 'storyteller' because the designer was fascinated by the history of the furnitures previous lives...
connected...
i have some new followers...i'm very excited about this because as i said, i've felt a bit 'disconnected' recently but i have managed to gain some new followings...
eloisa and ablelard offers her insights into the world of interiors and fashions... 
http://obsessilicious.blogspot.com/
thanks a million to all of you for following my blogg...
i've had a look at my new followers bloggs and i'm very impressed and inspired by their offerings...
eloisa and ablelard offers her insights into the world of interiors and fashions...
dumbwittellher presents a candid, witty and often nostalgic view on interiors and lifestyles...
http://dumbwittellher.blogspot.com/
trendwatch is a great blogspot for designers and likeminded people who want to keep up with the latest and greatest...
and obsessilicious pretty much gives it all away in the name...obsessive about pretty much everything this blogspot offers views and insights from the design world...
http://obsessilicious.blogspot.com/thanks a million to all of you for following my blogg...
disconnected...
hey blog readers...
so i've been feeling a bit disconnected of late from my blogg...namely a poor connection at home and removal of internet access at work was a big factor...however since may and now myself and Joanna have had quite a few visitors...
although we did snap up the opportunities to spend some time with our visitors outside of dublin...so i do have some wonderful blogg posts to come including dublin and malahide, galway on the west coast, cork and kilkenny in the south and the ring of kerry, limerick and co clare, armagh which is my hometown; and belfast and antrim coast in the north...
www.kennys.ie
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