Poverty Stone & Jeanie Johnston Ship

Located on Custom House Quay, Docklands, the Human Rights and Poverty Stone (2008) commemorates the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of World Poverty, which is celebrated every 17th October. There are over 50 such memorials around the world, the original was inaugurated on 17th October 1987  in Paris on Plaza of Human Rights and Liberties (Trocadéro) where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.

The limestone memorial was all cut by hand, using traditional method, by Stuart McGrath, a master craftsman based in County Wicklow.

In a modernised CHQ (1820 Custom House Quarter building, former warehouse) one can visit EPIC Ireland: The Emigration Museum. Moored outside is a replica 19th century ‘famine ship’ called Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship, which is opened to visitors.

In the distance, the impressive but traffic-saturated Samuel Beckett Bridge 

(more photos in this post http://picturesofdubhlinn.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/samuel-beckett-bridge.html).

Like the rest of Dublin, the Docklands are currently busy with construction work. Probably not much to do with shipping. Hopefully, plenty of jobs for everyone and more economical stability. 

The orange structure is the 19th century Diving Bell which was used to build the quay walls until 1958. It was a ground-breaking innovation in its day, allowing underwater construction: six men could work inside the hollow and bottomless bell, thanks to the water having been pumped out and compressed air being fed into the space. While the bell was lowered on the riverbed, they could excavate at their feet, putting the soil in trays, and levelling the area where concrete blocks weighing 350 tonnes each would be positioned. 

The Diving Bell is 13 metres high, weighs 90 tonnes and is now opened to the public.

Designed by engineer Bindon Blood Stoney who also made O’Connell Bridge in Dublin.

“Don’t pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side…” 

Chris de Burgh (quote from his 1982 song)

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Seamen’s Memorial, for the seamen who lost their lives on Irish Merchant Ships during WWII.

In the distance are the two Poolbeg Stacks of Poolbeg Generating Station (1965) - now decommissioned. The two chimneys are over 207 metres high and are now protected. They feature in the first of 3 music videos made for the U2 song ‘Pride (in the name of love)’ (1984) and are mentioned in ‘An Encounter’ by James Joyce (in ‘Dubliners’ 1914).

More photos of Dublin’s Docklands in the next post
http://picturesofdubhlinn.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/docklands.html