Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged abstract, beauty, blue, colors, Galway, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, reflections, travel, urban landscape, water on February 11, 2015| 2 Comments »
Trees reflected in the waters during that recent trip to Ireland. That’s one good thing about being a bit snowbound. Gives you lots of time to sit and sort through photos.
Of course that could be me trying to find the bright side as we brace for the next set of winter storms.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, artwork, beauty, cathedrals, churches, colors, faith, Galway, Galway Cathedral, ireland, Patrick Pollen, religion, stained glass, travel on November 14, 2014| 1 Comment »
Of all the buildings that I was able to step into in Galway, I was able to spend the most time at the Galway Cathedral. Dedicated on August 15, 1965 by Cardinal Cushing of Boston, it is noted as the youngest of Europe’s stone cathedrals. Its art and architecture reflect many different styles and periods from Byzantine to Gothic to Romanesque.
Detail from St. Michael, by Patrick Pollen of Dublin
Online, there are many images of the exterior. My camera tended to focus on the variety of stained glass windows, mosaics and carvings on the interior walls. In addition to learning the larger story of the building’s creation, it has been a pleasure to research and learn about the individual artists, like Patrick Pollen, who dedicated so many years of their lives to producing artwork for this cathedral.
Detail from St. Gabriel, by Patrick Pollen of Dublin
It will take me a while to sort through the images and continue my research. There are always stories to discover! Until I pull together my words and images about this beautiful structure, here are few images to peruse.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, beauty, churches, colors, faith, Galway, George William Walsh, Gothic church, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, religion, St. Augustine, stained glass windows, storytelling, travel on November 12, 2014| 3 Comments »
As I’ve written about before, one of the great pleasures for me of stepping into a church is to see the wide variety of artistic expression through stained glass. Such is certainly the case with a quick visit to St. Augustine’s, a Gothic church in Galway completed in 1859.
Apparently during renovations in the 1970s, the original window over the main altar was replaced by a new window depicting the Resurrection. The artist is George W. Walsh.You can read a bit more about Mr. Walsh via this link. His father, with whom he apprenticed for several years, was a pupil of stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke.
While no one seemed to mind me meandering about with my camera, I focused mostly on that window above the altar with its many lovely parts making an incredibly beautiful whole.
The other window that caught my attention happened to be a depiction of St. Augustine himself. Later I discovered that Mr. Walsh also composed and completed that window.
It was a bit rainy that day so I did not take many exterior shots, but via this link you can view the building. On this webpage, you can read just a bit more about the history of the Augustinians in Galway and more about the construction of this particular building.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, churches, colors, faith, Galway, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, Priory of St Mary, religion, stained glass windows, The Claddagh, travel on November 11, 2014| 3 Comments »
I’ve been on a bit of whirlwind travel for work and pleasure. In addition to spending time among swans, I managed to step into a few churches along the way. Here’s a bit of the beauty to be found at the Priory of St. Mary’s, The Claddagh, Galway, Ireland. I hope I have the opportunity to return one day.
Words + Images 