The Dawning of the Day

A study of a misty early morning. The wide expanse of the Liffey flowing under the Talbot Memorial Bridge with plumes of smoke from a Guinness ship and the Poolbeg chimleys, drifting up to a dawn sky, slowly changeing to sunrise. April 1985 Sir John Rogerson's Quay Custom House Quay Dublin Ireland

O' Connell Bridge

March 1987 Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady Image 1

No 39 Lucky Coady gained a reputation as the place to go if you wanted to hit the jackpot in the Irish Sweepstakes, this little shop standing on Dame Street sold many winning tickets from the 1930s to the mid 80s. The Victorian building is still in use as a restaurant. March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady - 2

March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady - 3

March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady - 4

March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady - 5

March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Lucky Coady - 6

From Central Plaza. March 1987 Lucky Coady Dame Street Dublin Ireland

Neal's Musick Hall Image 1

Behind the arched door frame of Kennan and Sons lies the site of Neal's Musick Hall the location in 1742 for the first performance of Handel's Messiah. July 1986 Fishamble Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Neal's Musick Hall - 2

Adjacent to the site of the Musick Hall is No 19 a Georgian House occupied by Mr Kennan from 1934. The original steel works were established in the 1790 s. July 1986 Fishamble Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Neal's Musick Hall - 3

A wider perspective of the area. Kennan and Sons ceased trading in the 1980 s. The Georgian House a listed building was extensively refurbished in the 1990 s to become the new home of The Contemporary Music Centre. July 1986 Fishamble Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Neal's Musick Hall - 4

The hill on Fishamble Street and derelict buildings. John Neal's Musick Hall was lost through the ravages of time and circumstance the foundations are now a courtyard. July 1986 Fishamble Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Neal's Musick Hall - 5

Sculptor Michael Biggs commemorative bronze plaque taken through the railings of No 19 Fishamble Street. The plaque was unveiled on the 5th October 1959 to mark the 200th annivarsary of George Frideric Handel's death . The inscription reads THIS BRONZE COMMEMORATES THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL'S ORATORIO MESSIAH , GIVEN IN THE OLD MUSICK HALL IN FISHAMBLE STREET AT NOON ON TUESDAY APRIL 13th 1742 July 1986 Fishamble Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

A Grand Day Out

On Custom House Quay a grandfather gently holds the hand of his granddaughter while both watch the activity on the River Liffey. Opposite the Gasometer which was a feature on the Dublin skyline from 1934 until its demolition in 1993. June 1988 Custom House Quay Sir John Rogersons Quay Dublin Ireland

Slow Day

What a difference a day makes. If this had been on a Saturday the market street would be crammed with people bargaining and bantering with the fruit, veg and flower sellers or popping into the shops along the way, but this is an early Sunday morning scene, the pallets are stacked up and the shutters are down with not a pram in sight. Apollo Discount Superstore, Dolphin Discs, Upper Cuts and the rest, right down to the Moore Street entrance of the Ilac Shopping Centre and beyond all Closed for one day, until it all begins again. April 1985 Moore Street Dublin Ireland

Baggot Street Bridge

From Lower Baggot Street. April 1987 Baggot Street Bridge Dublin Ireland

Dublin Cottage

Yogi a border collie looks over the garden wall of his owners cottage in Beatty's Avenue Ballsbridge. The suburb of Ballsbridge is situated in the Pembroke Estate of Dublin. A three arched bridge built in 1791 was named after the merchant family Ball, who lived in the area. November 2004 Beatty's Avenue Ballsbridge Dublin Ireland

Shadows and Light Image 1

Shadows and light in Merchant's Arch as an elderly man strolls towards the sunshine on Crown Alley . Sam Stephenson's Central Bank building looms brooding in the distance. Merchant's Arch named after the Merchant Arch Guild Hall for tailors 1821. Frederick Darley architect. June 1986 Merchant's Arch Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Shadows and Light - 2

February 1985 Merchants Arch Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Framed in Black

Merchant's Arch in Silhouette on Wellington Quay, framing the view from the south side of the Liffey to Bachelors Walk on the north, with the Penny Ha' Penny Bridge partly visible on the left. The black borders of the arch make a stark contrast to the turquoise blue summer sky. June 1986 Merchants Arch Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Window Shopping

On Patrick Street in the Liberties a prospective customer glances into No 24 wardrobe dealers shop window. The bricked up door and corrugated shuttered windows above are an indication of what was to come to this historic and unique part of Dublin, as major redevelopment changed these streets forever. April 1985 Patrick Street Dublin Ireland

Painted from Memory

On Cecilia Street the remains of a demolished house are dwarfed by the Central Bank. Someone has painted a mural on what is left depicting the interior. Painted from memory perhaps. June 1985 Cecilia Street Temple Bar Dublin Ireland

Dancing in the Street

On a Sunday morning three girls pass No 65 Denis Darcy's tailor shop, The older girl in the middle happily performing an Irish step dance while making her way down Capel Street. Denis Darcy learned his trade at The School of Tailoring and Textiles, Parnell Square and apprenticed with Lois Copeland snr. Establishing his own business in 1967. The bespoke tailor also branched out into costume design for theatre, film, and t v dramas, retiring after 67 years in 2012 February 1985 Capel Street Dublin Ireland

Strolling

On a sunny day in May visitors to the Spring Show in the RDS stroll around the grounds all lost in their own world, from the young showjumper carefully holding an ice pop and striding to the left, to the more leisurely elderly man with hands clasped behind his back in contemplation, a young couple in deep conversation, and two girls listening to the third in white. The only static figures are to the far right the pair facing the showjumping arena are equally engaged, but a source of distraction is with the seated couple the woman in red gives a backward glance and a curious expression. An action packed study of normality. The RDS Spring Show was a major agricultural exhibition which ran from 1831 - 1992 May 1984 RDS Ballsbridge Dublin Ireland

Liffey Boat Race

On a winter's day two rowing boats are evenly matched as they race on the Liffey, The oars impact on water creating ripples and jagged lines. The Ormond Hotel in the background was the setting for Sirens, one of the most musical chapters in James Joyce's literary masterpiece Ulysses. Leopold Bloom follows Blazes Boylan into the Ormond Hotel with the knowledge that Boylan has a rendezvous at four o' clock with Molly Bloom at their home 7 Eccles Street. The Ormond Hotel was established in 1889, redeveloped in 1932, closed in 2005. But still standing not heeding the Sirens song. February 1985 Ormond Quay Dublin Ireland

The Last Picture Show

A billboard for a world premiere but this cinema was not the location the premises having closed a few months earlier, the exterior being used as a giant hoarding for the nearby Savoy cinema in O' Connell Street. The Ambassador cinema started life as part of the rotunda hospital in the mid 1700 s know as the rotundo or the round room, the building was used as assembly/function rooms, with the money raised going to support the hospital. By the late 1800 s the Rotunda hosted "moving picture show" nights, to great success. Transformed into a cinema at the beginning of the 20th century, the Rotunda cinema was soon christened the Roxy by film going audiences of the time. Taken over by a cinema chain in the 1940 s, the circular building received extensive work in the 1950 s and a name change to the Ambassador. By the early 1970 s the larger cinemas on nearby O' Connell Street adapted their Theatre's to duel or triple screens, over the passing decades with single screen cinemas falling slowly out of favour the Ambassador closed in 1988 only to reappear in the 1990 s for a few more years. Dublin's oldest cinema finally closed for good in 1999. the Ambassador is currently in use as a Theatre and Event Centre . November 1988 The Ambassador Cinema Parnell Square Dublin Ireland

Reflections

Crystal clear reflections of Grattan Bridge and the surrounding area on a hazy summer day. Grattan Bridge connects Capel Street to Parliament Street. Built formerly as Essex Bridge in 1676 named after Arthur Cappell the first Earl of Essex lord lieutenant of Ireland. Rebuilt in 1753, and again in 1852 with the new title of Grattan Bridge, after Henry Grattan the Irish politician and member of the Irish house of commons. Also known as Capel Street Bridge and Essex Bridge. Its distinctive ornate lamp standards are supported by mythological Hippocampus (Seahorses) July 1986 Grattan Bridge Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge Image 1

One of ten cast iron lamp standards adorning Grattan Bridge at their bases the ornate Seahorses stand guard on either side. October 2006 Grattan Bridge Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 2

The view of an illuminated city from Grattan Bridge. October 2006 Grattan Bridge Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 3

September 1983 Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 4

May 1984 Dublin ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 5

May 1984 Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 6

May 1984 Dublin Ireland

The Seahorses of Grattan Bridge - 7

Background Ormond Hotel February 1985 Dublin Ireland

A Work in Progress

A sketch artist works between the barrels and hoardings in Wood Quay. Across the River Liffey James Gandon's Four Courts. All under a blue sky filled with cumulus clouds. June 1985 Wood Quay Dublin Ireland

"Mrs. Mooney Intervened"

The end of terrace house No 4 Hardwicke Street the assumed location for The Boarding House the seventh short story in James Joyce's Dubliners. February 1985 Hardwicke Street Dublin Ireland

Cafolla's for a "One and One"

Basking in neon on Mespil Road, Cafolla's, once the best little chipper in town, a great place for a "one and one" (fried cod and a portion of chips) Giovanni and Annunzinta (Nancy) Cafolla started the business in the late 1930 s, and for many years the couple were given a helping hand by their daughters. The business was sold in 2006 continued as a fish and chip shop owned by another well known name Beshoff Bros, founded by the mighty Ivan Beshoff who as a sailor served on the Russian battleship Potemkin in 1905. Ivan lived to the grand age of 104, his exploits are proudly displayed on the walls of the shop. January 2006 Cafolla's Mespil Road Dublin Ireland

The Regent Barber Image 1

Established in 1953 and still run by the same family to this day, the Regent has seen its fair share of changes over the years. Over the decades they sustained their business by keeping pace with current trends and maintained the essence of an old barber shop. October 1984 Lower Fownes Street Dublin Ireland

The Regent Barber - 2

November 1986 Lower Fownes Street Dublin Ireland

The Long Haul

Peat briquettes stacked on plastic milk crates and assorted vegetables line the window of Kavanagh's newsagents, with fizzy drinks and Easter eggs behind the glass. While on the road horse drawn goods are also for sale , slowly moving through the streets of Dublin. March 1985 New Bride Street Dublin Ireland

Neon Smile

Now you see it, now you don't. Mr Why Go Bald has been charming Dubliner's since the early sixties, with his receding and reappearing hair and his sad and happy expressions. Advertising The Universal Hair and Scalp Clinic, South Great Georges Street. The dilapidated red yellow and turquoise neon sign was due to be dismantled in the 1990 s, when enlightened individuals The 20th Century Trust intervened contacted the original manufactures Taylor Signs and had Mr W.G.B. restored. Looking better than ever long may he continue to ask the same question Why Go Bald ... why indeed. October 2006 South Great George's Street Dublin Ireland

Bookends - Greene's Bookshop Image 1

Browsing through the wooden tables at Greene's bookshop in the final week of a Dublin institution. John Greene's lending library No 16 Clare Street was established in 1843, The Pembrey's acquired the business in 1912. The four storey grade 2 listed premises was built in the late 1700 s. May 2007 Greene's Bookshop Clare Street Dublin Ireland

Bookends - Greene's Bookshop - 2

A side view of the facade and the glass canopy which was added in 1917. The sub post office had been there since 1886. May 2007 Greene's Bookshop Clare Street Dublin Ireland

Bookends - Greene's Bookshop - 3

Composite image of John Greene's original shop front lettering. May 2007 Greene's Bookshop Clare Street Dublin Ireland

Bookends - Greene's Bookshop - 4

Up the winding stairs to the first floor where John Greene lay in repose in 1899. Down through the years many literary legends have visited this unique bookshop some of their portraits are above the counter. If only the old walls and creaking floorboards could speak...what stories they could tell. The business moved to Sandyford in 2007 selling online. May 2007 Greene's Bookshop Clare Street Dublin Ireland