Friday, August 31, 2012
Howth County Dublin (Ireland)
The weather was good this morning so I decided to get the DART to Howth. When I got there I discovered that while it was sunny it was fairly cold and rather windy.
Howth is located on the peninsula of Howth Head, which begins around 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east-north-east of Dublin, on the north side of Dublin Bay. The village itself is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Dublin city centre (the ninth of a series of eighteenth century milestones from the Dublin General Post Office (GPO) is in the village itself), and spans most of the northern part of Howth Head, which is connected to the rest of Dublin via a narrow strip of land (or tombolo) at Sutton Cross.
Howth is at the end of a regional road from Dublin and is one of the northern termini of the DART suburban rail system.
Howth Head is one of the dominant features of Dublin Bay, with a number of peaks, the highest of which is Black Linn. In one area, near Shielmartin, there is a small peat bog, the Bog of the Frogs. The wilder parts of Howth can be accessed by a network of paths (many are rights of way) and much of the centre and east is protected as part of a Special Area of Conservation of 2.3 square kilometres (570 acres).
The island of Ireland's Eye, part of the Special Area of Conservation, lies about a kilometre north of Howth harbour, with Lambay Island some 5 km further to the north. A Martello tower exists on each of these islands with another tower overlooking Howth harbour (opened as a visitor centre and Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio on June 8, 2001 [I am not sure if this is still operational].
The Ready Boat Pillar - Howth County Dublin (Ireland)
Sean O'Dwyer (b. December 4, 1964) is an Irish painter and sculptor.
Sean O'Dwyer was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary and educated in Dublin. He studied at the National College of Art and Design, graduating in 1989 with a Higher Diploma in Art & Design. In 1990, he co-founded Artsquad, a government-sponsored initiative that enables artists to create work on behalf of Dublin-based community groups and voluntary organisations.
O'Dwyer received his first public commission in 1995 from Fingal County Council. This led to the creation of The Ready Boat Pillar, a 4-metre tall granite sculpture located in the fishing village of Howth, Co. Dublin. The piece features 12 sculpted relief panels depicting scenes from Howth's history and it was unveiled by broadcaster, Gay Byrne, in September 1996.
The Ready Boat Pillar - Howth County Dublin (Ireland)
Sean O'Dwyer (b. December 4, 1964) is an Irish painter and sculptor.
Sean O'Dwyer was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary and educated in Dublin. He studied at the National College of Art and Design, graduating in 1989 with a Higher Diploma in Art & Design. In 1990, he co-founded Artsquad, a government-sponsored initiative that enables artists to create work on behalf of Dublin-based community groups and voluntary organisations.
O'Dwyer received his first public commission in 1995 from Fingal County Council. This led to the creation of The Ready Boat Pillar, a 4-metre tall granite sculpture located in the fishing village of Howth, Co. Dublin. The piece features 12 sculpted relief panels depicting scenes from Howth's history and it was unveiled by broadcaster, Gay Byrne, in September 1996.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
St. Mary's Collegiate Church & Graveyard In Howth (Ireland)
Every time I visit Howth I check out this old graveyard to see what changes if any have taken place. There are many identified burials (some very old and some very recent) but some are not identified or the grave markers have totally disintegrated or else do not identify the person.
When I first visited many years ago there was a simple wooden cross with a teddy bear attached to it but recently the stuffed bear was removed. [Note: see photograph above]
The "Stranger's Bank" was used for unidentified victims of disasters at sea. When the Howth tram line was built in the last years of the 19th century, an unknown worker died and was buried and his work colleagues set up two tram rails as a memorial.
The last time I visited access was limited because of damage due to flooding. In October 2011 here in Dublin we had the heaviest rainfall ever as one month’s rain fell in a day. It was so bad in Howth that the flow of water led the graveyard wall collapsing which left several coffins exposed and floating to the surface.
St. Mary's Collegiate Church & Graveyard In Howth (Ireland)
Every time I visit Howth I check out this old graveyard to see what changes if any have taken place. There are many identified burials (some very old and some very recent) but some are not identified or the grave markers have totally disintegrated or else do not identify the person.
When I first visited many years ago there was a simple wooden cross with a teddy bear attached to it but recently the stuffed bear was removed.
The "Stranger's Bank" was used for unidentified victims of disasters at sea. When the Howth tram line was built in the last years of the 19th century, an unknown worker died and was buried and his work colleagues set up two tram rails as a memorial.
The last time I visited access was limited because of damage due to flooding. In October 2011 here in Dublin we had the heaviest rainfall ever as one month’s rain fell in a day. It was so bad in Howth that the flow of water led the graveyard wall collapsing which left several coffins exposed and floating to the surface.
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.
There is a functioning shipyard, with electric power supply and fresh water at Howth harbour, for use to all types of vessels. Engine repairs can be undertaken locally. Electronic and radio repairs are carried out by agents for all gear. The Harbour offers a service to lift and transfer of vessels to the shipyard (Synchrolift capacity for 600 tonnes).
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.
There is a functioning shipyard, with electric power supply and fresh water at Howth harbour, for use to all types of vessels. Engine repairs can be undertaken locally. Electronic and radio repairs are carried out by agents for all gear. The Harbour offers a service to lift and transfer of vessels to the shipyard (Synchrolift capacity for 600 tonnes).
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.
There is a functioning shipyard, with electric power supply and fresh water at Howth harbour, for use to all types of vessels. Engine repairs can be undertaken locally. Electronic and radio repairs are carried out by agents for all gear. The Harbour offers a service to lift and transfer of vessels to the shipyard (Synchrolift capacity for 600 tonnes).
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance
Trawler Being Lifted From Howth Harbour And Then Transported To The Boat Yard For Maintenance, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.
There is a functioning shipyard, with electric power supply and fresh water at Howth harbour, for use to all types of vessels. Engine repairs can be undertaken locally. Electronic and radio repairs are carried out by agents for all gear. The Harbour offers a service to lift and transfer of vessels to the shipyard (Synchrolift capacity for 600 tonnes).