PHOTOGRAPHED IN FEBRUARY 2008
The Canon 5D was the first "good" DSLR that I ever had and I made a big mistake by upgrading to the 1Ds MKIII which proved to be faulty from day on. I sold the 5D but recently I purchased a unused 5DIII at an amazing price and I also still use the IDsMkIII but in manual mode only. However I was an early adopter of the Sony Mirrorless range of cameras with the A7RIV and FX30 being my most recent purchases.
The Blackrock Baths, located on the coast of Dublin, were once a popular spot for swimming and diving. The baths were constructed in the 1830s and upgraded several times over the years, notably in 1887 and 1928. The most significant upgrade included a steel grandstand that could seat 1,150 spectators.
However, the baths fell into disrepair in the late 1980s due to several factors:
Cutbacks: The Irish government faced financial difficulties in the 1980s, leading to cutbacks in funding for public amenities like the baths.
Competition: The growing popularity of indoor heated swimming pools in hotels and other private facilities drew people away from the outdoor, unheated Blackrock Baths.
Maintenance: The baths, being exposed to the sea, required constant maintenance to prevent deterioration. The lack of funds made it difficult to keep up with the necessary repairs.
The baths were officially closed in 1987, and for years, they remained a derelict site. Several proposals for redevelopment were put forward, but none came to fruition due to various reasons, including financial constraints and disagreements over the appropriate use of the site.
In 2012, the local council deemed the remaining structures unsafe and ordered their demolition. The diving board and viewing gallery were demolished, but the rest of the structures remain standing, albeit in a state of disrepair.
The reasons for the incomplete demolition are not entirely clear, but some possible factors include:
Cost: Demolishing the remaining structures would be expensive, and the council may not have had the necessary funds.
Historical significance: The baths have historical and architectural significance, and some people may have opposed their complete demolition.
Redevelopment potential: There may still be hope for redeveloping the site, and demolishing the remaining structures could make that more difficult.
The future of the Blackrock Baths remains uncertain. While some people advocate for their restoration and reopening, others believe that the site should be repurposed for a different use. The baths serve as a reminder of Dublin's past and the changing nature of public amenities over time.
The Blackrock Baths, located on the coast of Dublin, were once a popular spot for swimming and diving. The baths were constructed in the 1830s and upgraded several times over the years, notably in 1887 and 1928. The most significant upgrade included a steel grandstand that could seat 1,150 spectators.
However, the baths fell into disrepair in the late 1980s due to several factors:
Cutbacks: The Irish government faced financial difficulties in the 1980s, leading to cutbacks in funding for public amenities like the baths.
Competition: The growing popularity of indoor heated swimming pools in hotels and other private facilities drew people away from the outdoor, unheated Blackrock Baths.
Maintenance: The baths, being exposed to the sea, required constant maintenance to prevent deterioration. The lack of funds made it difficult to keep up with the necessary repairs.
The baths were officially closed in 1987, and for years, they remained a derelict site. Several proposals for redevelopment were put forward, but none came to fruition due to various reasons, including financial constraints and disagreements over the appropriate use of the site.
In 2012, the local council deemed the remaining structures unsafe and ordered their demolition. The diving board and viewing gallery were demolished, but the rest of the structures remain standing, albeit in a state of disrepair.
The reasons for the incomplete demolition are not entirely clear, but some possible factors include:
Cost: Demolishing the remaining structures would be expensive, and the council may not have had the necessary funds.
Historical significance: The baths have historical and architectural significance, and some people may have opposed their complete demolition.
Redevelopment potential: There may still be hope for redeveloping the site, and demolishing the remaining structures could make that more difficult.
The future of the Blackrock Baths remains uncertain. While some people advocate for their restoration and reopening, others believe that the site should be repurposed for a different use. The baths serve as a reminder of Dublin's past and the changing nature of public amenities over time.
PHOTOGRAPHED IN FEBRUARY 2008