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Displaying items by tag: Dublin dockers

#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
# FASHION –In addition to this evening's fashion show in aid of the development fund for the Maritime Institute of Ireland's maritime museum in Dun Laoghaire, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, a maritime morning of free lectures will be presented in Dublin City Library on Saturday, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The Old Dublin Society, in partnership with Dublin City Library and Archive, will present the lectures in the Conference Room of the Dublin City Library and Archive located on 138 – 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. The times of the three lecture topics are listed below:

10 a.m. 'Dublin Port – Past and Present'– Niall Dardis

11 a.m. 'The Blood Red Badge: Dublin Dockers, Seamen and their Unionisation' – Francis Devine

12 Noon 'Liffey Ships' – Pat Sweeney

All are welcome to attend the lecture morning, noting the nearest DART station to the venue is at Pearse Street. For further information about other events, activities and developments of the M.I.I. visit www.mariner.ie

Published in Boating Fixtures

A photographic display of 'Dublin Port and the East Wall' will be held in the Dublin Port Company Centre, Alexandra Road, on Saturday 15th October. 

The archives from the ports extensive collection depict how life was for generations who worked in the docklands over the years and the close historical links of the community.

The display forms part of the 'East Wall for All' History Week which runs until 24th October. The programme for events are listed below.

"East Wall - a journey through time" Sean O'Casey Community Centre, Friday 14th October

Dublin Port - a shared history", Port Centre, Alex Rd - Saturday 15th October

Collen - "Two centuries of building", Three Gateway, East Wall Rd. - Wednesday 19th October

"The Shadow of O'Casey", Sean O'Casey Community Centre - Saturday 22nd October

"Shadow of a Gunman" - 18th - 22nd October, Sean O'Casey Community Centre

Published in Dublin Port

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.

The Forty-foot Christmas Day swim

A Dublin institution that brings people from across Dublin and beyond for a dip in the chilly winter sea. Bathers arrive in the dark from 6 am and by noon the entire forty foot is a sea of red Santa hats!