Archiseek

Irish online architecture magazine - this is our tumblr channel, which may turn out to be a little more random in content than the main site and perhaps a bit more personal opinion.

Permalink If pushed on my own favourite era of architecture, I’d go for 40/50/60s modernism but with a huge amount of love for Victorian drama and materials. I appreciate Classicism but a lot of it can leave me rather cold - the slavish reproduction of antiquity. But I quite like this page from August 1873 in The Building News.
Permalink Love this postcard, if only because the colourist figured that Christ Church should look like it is red brick. Whether because they figured that as a recent building (reconstructed 1892) it should be red brick with stone trim, or somebody had mentioned “Dublin’s a red brick city”, we’ll never know. In red it resembles one of the larger churches in a suburb of London, Liverpool or Manchester.
Permalink The last “gathering” in 1953. An Tóstal meaning “The Pageant” was the name for a series of festivals held in Ireland in the 1950s. Inaugurated in 1953 as a celebration of Irish life, it continued on until 1958 when it died out in most centres except Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. The original purpose of the festival was a celebration of Irish culture, with an emphasis upon drawing tourists into the country during the Easter off-season. It was marked by a series of regional parades, arts and sporting events. In 1953, a set of commemorative stamps designed by Limerick artist Fergus O’Ryan, were issued by the Irish Post Office. This is a poster for the event,
Permalink ‘The Architect, Builder & Engineer’ (1912-1914), a very short-lived journal out of Vancouver. Cover of the first issue showing the Vancouver Hotel of 1916, which was replaced by a grander hotel in 1938 in the style of Canadian Pacific Railways - a hybrid Chateau-style. The hotel depicted was demolished in 1949.
Permalink Ireland’s historical emblems -I think I may have to blame Erin for the vast array of Irish dancing wigs on display this past weekend.
Permalink Card from photographer based in Fermoy, Co. Cork. I love how they reinforce the concept of art photographer by showing a young lady doing a portrait on her easel.
Permalink Love this recruiting poster for the British Army - a very dramatic depiction of its sinking off Old Kinsale Head.
Permalink Brochure cover of the Shamrock Car -  probably only 8 built in Castleblayney Co. Monaghan. Most survive in private collections. The car was quite large but chronically underpowered, had a fibreglass body with a demountable hardtop roof.
Permalink In 1895: “On Monday next, the M.G.W.R. open the railway extension to Achill and the event will mark a new era in the history of that out of the way island.There is little doubt that the value of all kinds of stock raised by the poor people will be considerably increased by being thus placed in touch with the outer world and the line will also be availed of by tourists in search of secluded and healthful resort in which to spend their summer holidays.It is hoped the M.G.W.R. will frequent Sunday excursions to the island” In 1925 a merger led to management by the Great Southern Railways, and the line closed in 1937.
Permalink Beautiful victorian flooring! Encaustic tile designs from Maw & Co c.1861
Permalink Designs for Majolica tiles from Maw & Co.
Permalink Certificate of membershp to the Operative Builders Society of London, c. 1861
Permalink This image, from a programme cover, shows the interior of the popular Dublin theater which opened at Crampton Court in 1879 - Dan Lowrey’s Star of Erin Music Hall. Reconstructed in 1897 as the Empire Theatre of Varieties, Lowrey’s music hall still stands as the present-day Olympia Theatre.
Permalink Postcard from Frongoch Concentration Camp, North Wales (South Camp 1). Used for the internment of 1,800 Irish prisoners after 1916 Rising. The camp was emptied in December 1916.
Permalink Attractive cover from guidebook to Bangor, Co. Down