Displaying items by tag: Dublin Dockers Photographic Exhibition

6th July 2012

Photographic Exhibition: Ships and Workers in Dublin Docks

#DUBLIN PORT PHOTOS - Starting today and tomorrow (Sat 6th July) is a photographic exhibition of 'Dublin Docks' which captures the daily lives of those working in the port spanning five decades (1940-1990).

The exhibition is organised by the Dublin Dockworkers Preservation Society and will be shown at the Sean O'Casey Community Centre on St Mary's Road, East Wall, in the heartland of the north inner city close to the older 'Docklands' now dominated by the financial sector.

The exhibition opens officially this evening at 7pm and besides the 40 images selected for display, visitors will be able to view a slide show that shows over 1,000 other photographs donated by dockers and their families. The images will remain on display on the Saturday too from 10am to 4pm.

Also tomorrow at 2pm in the same venue, Labour historian Francis Devine will give an illustrated talk on Dublin Dockworkers and their Trade Unions. Later in the evening at 9.30pm, musician Paul O'Brien ("Songs from the North Lotts" and "Port to Port") will perform at the Green Room Bar on Lower Sheriff Street.

There will be a further opportunity to see the exhibition during the Dublin Talls Ships Race Festival (23-26 August) as previously reported. The large collection of beautiful black and white photographs depicting the maritime history of the port through the ages will be shown in the CHQ Building at George's Dock.

Published in Dublin Port

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.