After we’d visited the Rock of Cashel we headed towards Cahir. The Swiss Cottage, “cottage orné” built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler (1st Earl of Glengall) to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash, is one of my favourite buildings in Ireland so I thought I had to show it to my friend.
The Swiss Cottage, Cahir – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Swiss Cottage, Cahir – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Swiss Cottage, Cahir – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Swiss Cottage, Cahir – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Swiss Cottage, Cahir – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Cahir Castle – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Cahir Castle – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Brownshill Dolmen, Carlow – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Sculpture in Context 2017 exhibition is taking place in National Botanic Garden in Dublin until 20th October 2017. It is one of my favourite events in Dublin and here is the sample what can be seen this year.
“Shrubmarine” by Claire Halpin and Madeleine Hellier – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Sanctuary” by Jackie Ball – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Remains of the Day” by Maree Hensey – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Legs and Co” by Geraldine Murphy – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Moving Through” by Niamh Synnott – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Shadowcast 1” by Paul Flynn and Conleth Gent – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Tin Man” by Rob Crane – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Thesis Spider” by Wendy Doyle – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Captive II” by Ana Duncan – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Teifeach” by Cliodna Cussen – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Waterfall” by Paola Catizone – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“The Space in Between” by by Michelle Maher – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Recovery” by Penelope Lacey – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Le Poete” by Mick Davis– Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“New Candidates” by Patrick Dillon – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“A Big Apple” by Gunvor Anhoj – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“The Magic Door” by Steve Doody – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
“Shoreline” by Sara Roberts – Photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama is a 15 m × 114 m cycloramic painting commemorating the 100th anniversary of the victorious Battle of Racławice – a famous episode of the Kościuszko Insurrection. The battle was a heroic but ultimately failed attempt to defend Polish independence. It was fought on 4 April 1794 between the insurrectionist force of regulars and peasant volunteers (armed with scythes) under Kościuszko (1746–1817) himself and the Russian army commanded by General Alexander Tormasov.
The Panorama was painted between 1893 and 1894 by Jan Syka and Wojciech Kossak assisted by Ludwik Boller, Tadeusz Popiel, Zygmunt Rozwadowski, Teodor Axentowicz, Włodzimierz Tetmajer, Wincenty Wodzinowski and Michał Sozański.
The painting was originally exhibited in Lwów and brought to Wrocław along with a part of the collection of the Ossoliński Institution after World War II.
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
The Racławice Panorama photographed by Marta Stoklosa
Near the monastery of Clonmacnoise are the ruins of the “Nuns’ Church” completed by Dervorgilla in 1167. Dervorgilla was the daughter of Murchad Maelseaclainn (Ua Máelsechnaill), king of Meath (Mide), which was the fifth and richest province of Ireland, stretching from the sea at Drogheda to the Shannon and including the modern counties of Meath and Westmeath together with parts of Kildare, Offaly and Laois. She was the wife of Tiernan O’Rourke (Ua Ruairc), prince of Breffni (Bréifne). One day in 1152 Tiernan O’Rourke returned from a pilgrimage to the holy island of St Patrick on Lough Derg and realised that Dervorgilla was gone. He learned from the servants that a small group of horsemen had taken Dervorgilla, her cattle and her furniture. From their description, he realised that the leader of the group was his enemy, the King of Leinster Diarmait McMurrough. Tiernan O’Rourke sought the help of the High King, Turlough O’Connor (Ua Conchobhair). O’Rourke explained that McMurrough had abducted his wife and taken her to his stronghold at Ferns. Turlough O’Connor and Tiernan O’Rourke raised an army, invaded Leinster and recovered Dervorgilla. McMurrough was banished and fled to Bristol. He would later return with the Anglo Normans to recover his kingdom.
It has never been clear whether Dervorgilla was really abducted (it seems unlikely that a kidnapping would include her cattle and furniture) or whether she willingly ran away with a person who was believed to have been her lover for many years. What is certain is that the apparent abduction of Dervorgilla triggered a series of events that had a significant impact on Irish history. The most important of these was the Anglo Norman invasion of Ireland.
Dervorgilla died at Mellifont on 25 January 1193. She was 85 years old and had outlived all the participants in the events of 1152 by many years.
The Nuns’ Church in Clonmacnoise – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Nuns’ Church in Clonmacnoise – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Nuns’ Church in Clonmacnoise – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Nuns’ Church in Clonmacnoise – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The Nuns’ Church in Clonmacnoise – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Last week I had the opportunity of taking pictures at the opening of the Art Connected exhibition at the Polska Eire Festival 2017. The festival has taken place in Ireland since 2015. This year for the first time, I believe, a couple of events have taken place in Poland as well.
The Art Connected exhibition is currently taking place at the Art Cafe in Dublin. The event is a joint exhibition of paintings by Irish artist Julie Potter and Polish artist Pawel Jasinski who is based in Dublin. The paintings on display show a wide range of subjects including Julie’s portraits of Irish personalities such as Phil Lynott, Sinead O’Connor and Maureen O’Hara and Pawel’s paintings showing Cracow’s iconic buildings, such as Wawel Castle, the Market Square and the Cloth House. The best of contemporary Irish and Polish art in a single venue.
The exhibition was opened by the Polish ambassador to Ireland Mr Ryszard Sarkowicz.
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
Art Connected – Polska Éire 2017 – (C) Marta Stoklosa
The medieval monastery of Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis in Irish, meaning “Meadow of the Sons of Nós”) was founded by St Ciaran between 545 and 548 by the river Shannon and at the crossroads of several medieval routes linking all parts of Ireland. The monastery thrived between the 7th and the 12th centuries. However, it was plundered by the Vikings, the native Irish and Anglo-Normans over the centuries. It finally fell to English in 1552. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, two round towers, three high crosses and what is believed to be the largest collection of Early Christian grave-slabs in Western Europe. The monastery is the burial place of many kings of Tara and Connacht.
There are also the ruins of a Norman castle beside the monastery, however, these are not open to the public. Nevertheless, you can have a good look at them from the jetty on the river Shannon.
The abandoned medieval town of Rindoon is located on the peninsula of St. John’s Point on the western shore of Lough Ree in Co. Roscommon. The remains of the town, including a castle, church, hospital, town walls and mill, are unique in Ireland. The town was built in the first half of the 13th century by Anglo-Normans. However, the name of the place Rindoon (Rinn Dúin), “the fort of the promontory” would indicate a pre-Norman occupation.
Rindoon was first occupied by the Anglo-Normans around 1227 when Toirdelbach
Ó Conchobhair and Geoffrey Marisco erected a castle on the peninsula. Its convenient location on the river Shannon provided Rindoon with opportunity of being a trading centre between the Norman controlled towns and the native Irish. It is believed that hides and dairy products were exported from Rindoon, whereas cloth, corn and wine were imported through the town.
In the late 13th and early 14th centuries the town was often attacked by the native Irish. In 1343 the town finally fell.
Contrary to similar Anglo-Norman settlements Rindoon has remained abandoned and largely untouched since the 14th century (except for a period of a few years during the Elizabethan period when the castle was garrisoned) and that makes the place especially interesting and special.
During my recent one day tour around Co Westmeath I managed to visit Kilbeggan Distillery. I’d previously visited the Jameson Distillery in Dublin and found it nice but not too exciting. I didn’t know what to expect this time but the weather wasn’t great and it was a bonus to do something inside. Also, Kilbeggan is the only whiskey that I like (or to be precise the only whiskey I can drink without having my mouth twisted out), so I thought I should go there.
The tour turned out to be much better than the one at the Jameson Distillery for two reasons. First, Kilbeggan is still a working distillery (although it distils whiskey for only a few months in every year), whereas the Jameson Distillery in Dublin ceased production many years ago and it’s purely a museum now. Secondly, Kilbeggan distillery is much smaller and therefore the tour was a much more interesting experience.
Interesting facts about Irish whiskey:
– Irish whiskey has to mature in wooden barrels that have been used before, they cannot be brand new barrels – this is done to give whiskey a proper flavour;
– it has to mature for at least 3 years and 1 day – yes, 1 day can be very important;
– it can be maximum 94.8% alcohol by volume – otherwise, it’s a spirit.
Sea Turnstone 