On the longest day of the year, we turned out on yet another balmy summer evening, outside the courthouse in Midleton for the third annual ECCG Scavenger Hunt.
With five teams of three created, the LearnPhoto365 App randomly generated the themes for the shoot which were: Short, Artistic and Faithful. Following the obligatory group photo and with the Pike Man pointing the way, it was off around the town at 7pm to harvest the images.
At 8.30pm the teams were back in the Midleton Park Hotel and with the images selected and uploaded, the competition was on. After two viewings, points were awarded and the results accumulated as follows:
In third place were: Group A comprising Cliona Murphy, Kevin Day and Eoin Murphy
In second place were: Group C comprising Jim O'Neill, Trevor O'Connell and Proinsias O'Tuama.
And the Winners were: Group E comprising Eileen Upton, Keith Johnson and Fidelma Read.
The winners (and everyone else) received a beautiful ECCG-themed cake created by Days Eurospar, Whitegate for their efforts. Well done everyone!
Click here to see a full gallery of images from the shoot. Enjoy!
The "Morgenster" is a brig, a two masted, filly square rigged sailing ship. Her rigging is based on the American clippers from the Eighteenth Century. She is a stunning and elegant ship and has been sailing as a clipperbrik since 2008 when her restoration was finished. Its mission is to preserve a historical heritage of seafaring and to help further develop all persons on board. During Tall Ship races she can always be found in the leading group and is always a feared competitor. Her rigging is said to be dated to 1840. As a training ship she is allowed to sail around the world with up to 36 trainees and a crew of 10. Her young apprentices take sail training voyages supported by the Cork Sail Training Bursary Scheme.
We passed by the Irish Lights vessel, ILV Granuaile, anchored securely in the Harbour. She stood majestically above us as we ventured close to her. Her size would have been no match for us had she decided to move!!
corkscrew - a cast iron support system that enabled construction in deep water on mud and sandbanks. The Lighthouse itself was designed by George Halpin and was first lit in 1853 and remains a working light to this day. It has a focal plane of 10 metres and white and red lenses depending on direction of approach.
It was then time for Finbarr and me to hold on as Kevin turned up the throttle and we sped in the direction of Crosshaven. We passed beneath Camden Fort Meagher looking out protectively across the Harbour. We then slowed again as we were now entering into the Owenabue Estuary and the Sunday daytrippers were out in their boats. Crosshaven is home to The Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest Yacht Club in the world. We cruised by the magnificent yachts, standing stately on the still waters. We went up the estuary towards Curabinny Wood and then turned back again. The day was very overcast and unfortunately the sky was not lending itself to showing any colour at all. It would definitely be a place to revisit with a blue sky overhead.
We then decided to head for East Ferry. White knuckled, Finbarr and I held on as we sped off. As we neared East Ferry, looking east across the Owenacurra River to the mainland we could see the Bell Tower of the Holy Trinity Church. It was built in 1867 of red brick and limestone banding and its Bell Tower stands 75ft high. We slowed as we neared the church sitting at the foot of a wooded hill. This was a rare opportunity to photograph this church in such a tranquil setting. Only the noise of the cameras clicking could be heard over the peace and quiet of the birds singing in the evening.
It was with a sense of excitement that we heard during the week that a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, steam-hauled train would visit Cork City on Friday and Saturday as part of a six-day private charter tour, The Emerald Isle Explorer.
By 8.30am on Saturday, the locomotive was already well in preparation for the run as it sat, puffing silently, alongside two modern siblings in the sidings of Kent station. The coaches were also in preparation with staff attending to the final details.
