1916 Commemoration in Dublin (pics)

Great pics, Morlan, and thanks for videos too.

Yes – great stuff there 🙂

Was there a fly past at the end Morlan? We were told at least twice on television that the small contingents of aircraft that kept going by would eventually combine at the end for a full fly past, but it doesn’t seem to have happened!

From a vaguely more architectural perspective, you’d really have to question the use of giant wedding marquees at the GPO, which combined with horribly utilitarian and barricading galvanised metal fencing and supports looked completely inappropriate for such a ceremonial occasion. They looked like something rural parishes cobble together for the Community Games courtesy of the local FF big wig – embarrassing to be honest. And Dublin’s Mayor gliding up to the portico in a silver Megane hatchback?! (:D)

But overall meticulously planned – it was refreshing to hear both Captains Murphy’s and Ryan’s articulate and confident clear English and Irish instead of the usual incompetent bluster of those in Irish public life we’re so accustomed to. The parade also went off without a hitch.

One of the most significant yet simple changes made as part of the O’Connell Street IAP works really came to light during the proceedings – the simple pulling of the west pavement out beyond the columns of the GPO. No longer curtailed by the kerbline, the pillars now all stand on their own feet, landing confidently down on the ground as seperate architectural elements rather than being bundled together as a single unit as the roadway almost forced them to do in the past.
The other improvement that’s not really evident on the street but is very apparent in television aerial views is the tightly knit cobbled surface of the Plaza roadways which is different to the wide paving slabs of the median and side footpaths. The setts are wonderfully evocative of the 1916 era cobblestones that lined the street up till around 1920-30 – they looked great. A pity though the central marquee couldn’t have been moved back to the western roadway of the Plaza instead of straddling the median. The sense of a ceremonial space, the whole purpose of the design, was completely absent 🙁

Great shots of the parade. Was there meself and thought it was marvellous. What a great attraction for the city. The tourists there too loved it although they hadn’ta clue what it was all about. Got a good few photos too but not worth posting as they are mainly of the parade.
The finale was the best when the bands combined playing the very catchy Garryowen (a favourites jingle of General Custer too). Pity however that the viewing points for the spectators were hampered. Will they ever get rid of that fencing, it’s everywhere. The people were penned in or hemmed in and the views were very resrictive. I took advantage from McDonalds window.
There were marches and events all over the weeekend in the city which added a wonderful liveliness. There was a pageant of sorts yesterday wity the Labour party paying homage to the workers and the Irish Citizen Army and the Shinners had their day out on Saturday with Gerry himself making an appearance and speech at the GPO.

The spin off of the commemoration was that it was truelly great for the city and tourism overall.

Was there a fly past at the end Morlan? We were told at least twice on television that the small contingents of aircraft that kept going by would eventually combine at the end for a full fly past, but it doesn’t seem to have happened!

All aircraft did not combine into one mega flypast – but in fairness this would have required the Alouette helicopters (40+ years old???) to keep up with the government jets – and even if they could both fly at the same speed, turbulence etc. could be a problem…

Compatible types did fly together in large formations, and were a wonderful sight to see –

• Gulfstream / Learjet / Beechcraft Super King Air / PC 9’s
• Cessna’s / Alouette’s / EC135

Great photos available here – be sure to click to the second page: http://www.irishairpics.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=1&t=1174

– John.

The jets flying over look good!

Are they mirroring the plan of O’Connell Street / D’Olier Street / Westmoreland Street here?