Showing posts with label Dun Laoighaire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dun Laoighaire. Show all posts

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Dun Laoghaire Pier Lighthouse. Caught My Eye no.36

Caught My Eye  is a series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. Please do enjoy a snapshot glimpse of the world through my creative eyes. 

Dun Laoghaire (Dun Laoire) is one of Dublin's ferry ports, a large, lively town and a favourite among city dwellers for a day out. It has two long piers where you can go for bracing walks with the reward of a whipped icecream cone at the end.  Just about anyone who grew up in Dublin in the last 50 years or so will nod and smile at the words 'Teddy's Ice cream.'  The humble little shop with a hatch window facing out onto the coast road is an indelible childhood memory.

Nowadays you can claim your ice cold prize at the end of the pier if you wish. Teddy's has an impermanent annex tucked behind the East Pier lighthouse. 

Dun Laoghaire Lighthouse, East Pier, own photo, Spring 2015
The lighthouse was built in 1847. Keepers and their families once lived in the dwellings at the base, though in 1955, the two families were removed and only the keepers lived and worked there in shifts. In the 70s the lighthouse became fully automated.


detail of surrounding wall, railings, steps

I last took this walk in the late Spring, accompanied by an Etsy friend, out for a crafty chat. We slurped our '99' cones, perched on a cold stone step facing the base of the lighthouse. The two hook-like structures on the opposite wall caught my eye. They call to mind snakes or birds, maybe even swans, spying on the people below and hoping for a crumb of wafer. 

They also remind me of long, sleek earring wires. In my mind's eye I added some dangly beading........if you ever take this walk and find such an addition, twasn't me...I was nowhere near the vicinity Officer....



Sunday, March 2, 2014

Victoria Fountain Dun Laoghaire, Caught My Eye #24

Caught My Eye  is a series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. I am artistic and therefore an observer but I am not a photographer by any description. So if you expect top quality photography I'm afraid you will be disappointed.  But please do enjoy a snap shot glimpse of the world through my creative eyes. 


Under the dome, Victoria Fountain, Dun Laoghaire. Own photo


Out getting some air in Dun Laoghaire on a rare dry day yesterday, I took this shot from under the dome of the Victoria Fountain. The fountain was erected close to the sea front in 1900 in honour of Queen Victoria's visit. It's had a chequered history and was badly vandalised in the early 80s but was since restored. Yesterday I noticed that the central fountain has been re-painted a fresh cream colour. Close to the dart Station, the main restaurant strip and the sea front, I've passed this small monument umpteen times on my trips to walk the pier but this was the first time it occurred to me to look up and photo the roof.

I couldn't resist playing around with the image afterwards. The results would make a beautiful pattern for a tile, printed fabric or glass work. The dazzling blue and sunshine yellow are very much on trend for 2014. Perhaps I can find inspiration here for a piece of high fashion jewellery...


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Caught My Eye 14. Dun Laoghaire


Caught My Eye  is series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. I am not a photographer, so please do not expect top quality photography :-). But please enjoy a glimpse of the world through my eyes.
 While out walking at Dun Laoghaire harbour in the Autumn last year, the rusty boat in the distance caught my attention. Here are a few more details that caught my eye that day:
More rusty metal
North pier,Dunlaoire, with the more popular, South pier in the background

the marina
All very scenic and nice, until I honed in this: