I RETURN CORK UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AFTER A YEAR AND THIS TIME I USED SONY A7RM2 WITH 28-135mm LENS

Last year I spent three days in Cork and it rained most of the time and I had to abandon my plans to photograph the University campus because the rain got so heavy that I ended up photographing raindrops.

This year I decided to spend five days in the city assuming that that it was unlikely that it would rain for five days without stop. As you may have guessed, it did rain every day but as there were many extended dry spells the weather did not impact on my photography. I did, however, have have a problem with dust on my sensor. I discovered that there was a large object attached to the sensor and I was unable to remove it but it only obvious under certain conditions. Further investigation leads me to believe that the debris was there since my visit to Belfast.

 Previous years I walked from location I walked from location to location but this year I used the bus service which I found to be good. I got a lot advice from the bus drivers as to what I should photograph and how best to get to the locations in question.

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FRED ZEPPELINS [8 PARLIAMENT STREET CORK]

Fred Zeppelins is a well known Bar and Live Venue located in the centre of Cork City. There has been a pub at this site since 1825 and Fred Zeppelins was established in October 1997.

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IDAHO CAFE [CAROLINE STREET CORK]

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STRANGE CLOCK IN CORK - PRIME TIME CLOTHING LIMITED WASHINGTON STREET CORK

I do not know if someone made a mistake and installed [or reinstalled] the clock faces incorrectly. As the business is “Prime Time” Clothing Limited maybe the clock is some form of advertising. Any suggestions?

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KIELYS A MUCH LOVED FISH AND CHIP SHOP [ESTABLISHED IN 1940]

I am currently trying to publish photographs of places that are likely to change or disappear in the near future.

 This was a much loved chip shop in Cork City and it was operated by Matty Kiely. Sadly it closed in 2007.

 According to local media an Italian husband and wife duo Fabio and Fiorella Delicata have acquired the compact take-away on Maylor Street.

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BEFORE I DIE WALL - CORNER OF KYLE STREET AND NORTH STREET IN CORK

In 2014 a group of French girls (Marianne Laugraud, Barbara Lordan, Marie Chandemerle and Anaïs Lhoste) created the Before I Die wall in Cork. The wall is part of a global project started in 2011 by artist Candy Chang in her home town of New Orleans.

Visit http://beforeidie.cc/walls/neworleans-usa.html 

This was photographed 21 July 2015 but I only got around to processing it today 8th. September 2016.

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A MARIAN GROTTO IN CORK AT THE CORNER OF DUNBAR STREET AND MARGARET STREET IN CORK CITY

I do not remember photographing this Marian Grotto during my June 2015 visit to Cork, I don’t even remember being in the area.

 Unfortunately I do not have any information about the statue or the site other than it is located at the corner of Dunbar Street and Margaret Street. It is well maintained.

 Any information would be appreciated

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GABRIEL HOUSE B&B AS SEEN FROM KENT RAILWAY STATION IN CORK

Offering views of the Cork skyline, Gabriel House bed-and-breakfast is about 8 minutes walk from Kent train station and 9 minutes walk from Merchants Quay Shopping Centre.

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GABRIEL HOUSE FOR B&B - CORK CITY

There is no question about it, staying here for a few nights is a wonderful experience and it is impossible not to recommend Gabriel House. If you are booking make sure to include breakfast.

I stay here every time I visit cork and this time I booked four nights rather than my usual two nights and for the first time since 2008 rain was not a problem because if it did rain it did so during the night and did not impact on my photography.

The hotel is described as being on a hill and when they say a hill they are not joking. If you are not fit and fully mobile and you plan to walk around the city you may need to consider elsewhere but the prices are likely to be much higher. This year I found a very good solution in that there is an excellent and frequent bus service with stops beside the hotel. My advice is purchase a LEAP card and use the bus service.

If you need to get to the hotel from the railway station there is a short route described as follows: Come out of the train station onto the Lower Glanmire Road; cross the street and turn left. You will see a series of steps on your right hand side. climb these steps and continue straight ahead to Summerhill North. Turn right and you will see Gabriel House after 200m or so. In the past I have used these steps on a regular basis but this year I avoided the steps as there now appears to be a group of individuals engaged in heavy drinking towards the top of the steps from about 3pm onwards and it can be difficult to get by them especially if you are alone.

I am already planning my City Visits for 2017 and started booking hotels yesterday using booking.com and expedia.ie and already I got a big surprise when I tried to book. This year I paid Euro 59.40 per night in 2015 I paid 110 for two nights so I was expecting to pay about Euro 125 in July 2017. Using expedia.com the price was Euro 216 for two nights [free cancellation] this was much more than I was willing to pay so I decided to try booking.com and found a room at Euro 102 for two nights which was really good but there was a catch in that the terms and conditions had changed since I last booked. Now an up-front part-payment is required and it is no longer possible to cancel without having to pay 70% of the total.

The Euro 102 price is very good, as it includes an excellent breakfast, but I am not willing to book a year in advance, part pay up-front and then not have the option to cancel.

The Metropole Hotel is available at a much higher price [Euro 198] but they are offering free cancellation.

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EXPLORING KENNEDY QUAY - THE PORT OF CORK

During its 400 year history, Kennedy Quay and its associated docklands have been the seat of commerce and trade for the City of Cork however the area has been in decline for many years.

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