cork 1

I arrived in the city after dark got the no8 bus as instructed and asked for the international youth hostel. the bus driver was polish and did not understand me and did not know where anything was. I had to ask all the other passengers if they knew where it was. On arrival shown to a horrendous darkened hot dorm where people were in bed. Paid for a private room which was lovely.  Next day set out to explore the city

isn't this an amazing sculpture?  It is lifesize. the thing on the pedestal isnt like any animal I've ever seen, mostly resembles an armadillo but what would be the point of that?

the hostel was right opposite the university - now why didnt someone tell me that.  I had a wander round. they had captured a lot of ogham stones which they were holding

struck me about these ogham stones - how do they know it was writing? Looked very much to me like someone used to sharpen their knives on it

went to the museum which was in a park and there was this wonderful ancient tree

a beautiful view of the river from the park

How about this fantasy tree isnt it amazing.  I asked some park wardens about it and they said it was a natural tree, the artist cut the top off, the tree was killed and the wood treated, then the artist spent

months sticking these tiny mirrors all over it.  It is quite spectacular - I liked it. they said it had a life of about 12 years, then I suppose it decays from inside, or shrinks and becomes unsafe, or something

Irish faminey kind of sculpture in the park called the apple woman

plaque in the park to some Irish men who were executed in 1798

sculpture of witches in the university cloisters