Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

Programme Monday, 5th November Location: Kilkenny 12am-7.30pm             Delegate registration at The Set Theatre 1pm-3.30pm               Tour of Medieval Mile Museum, Rothe House Garden and Talbot's Tower with Cóilín O'Drisceoil 3.00pm-4.30pm         Tour of the Heritage Council with Colm Murray 7pm-8.15pm               Archaeology and society. Lecture by Prof. Brian Fagan (Venue: The Set Theatre) Tuesday, 6th November Location: Kilkenny 9am                              Delegate registration in The Set Theatre 9.45am-4.30pm         Creativity and community and well-b...

< 3D Images | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V I had left it pretty late on the Sunday afternoon before I got out to see May Street Presbyterian Church, and then lingered there quite some time. But, scanning the EHOD brochure, I saw that the First Presbyterian Church on Rosemary Street was still open and nearby … I could make it! Like St Mark’s, Dundela, I’d been in this building only once before, many years ago for another EHOD event. It was time to renew an old acquaintance! This beautiful building was initially constructed between 1781 and 1783 to the design of Roger Mulholland . Thus, it is the oldest surviving place of worship in Belfast. The front façade was extended in 1833 and the rear was extended in 1906-7. The latter additions were to the design of Belfast architecture firm, Young & Mackenzie . From the outside, it appears that the main body of the church is circular in plan, but it is only when you go inside you find that Mulholland’s des...

Get yourself a pair of 3D glasses and enjoy these anaglyphs of this wonderful church. Click for larger images. A catalogue of similar images on this blog is available: here . Back to main post > Back to main post >

< 3D Images | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part VI > On the Sunday morning, perusing the EHOD brochure, I realised that there was little on offer in east Belfast that I’ve not already seen, so it was time to cast the net somewhat wider. One of the first that caught my eye was May Street Presbyterian Church in central Belfast. Like many of the other EHOD properties I’ve reported on for this blog, I’ve passed by on a regular basis, but never ventured in … it was time to change that! From the outside, it is a rather severe, Neoclassical building that, to my eyes at least, has always appeared somewhat stern and uninviting. Well, the building may have looked that way, but the people inside couldn’t be further from it. I received a warm welcome and an excellent guided tour about the building, all the time being serenaded by some extremely fine organ music … what’s not to like? The building opened in 1829, essentially as a platform for the near-legendary Presb...

Once again, I present a selection of my experiments in the world of 3D anaglyphs. I hope you like them! Click for larger images. A catalogue of similar images on this blog is available: here . Back to main post > Back to main post >

< 3D Images | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part V | Part VI > After depositing my all-cultured-out father-in-law back to the house, I again looked through the EHOD brochure and my eye was drawn to Belmont Tower. Like St Marks , I frequently pass by on my assorted perambulations through east Belfast, but I’ve never been inside. It was time to put the camera and tripod back in the car and make the short trip to see this place! Of all the places I visited on the 2014 EHOD weekend, this was the only one where I was the sole visitor. Admittedly, it was getting late in the evening and they were cleaning up and putting everything away for the night. Even still, I was given a warm welcome and offered all the information and assistance I could wish for. The story of this place started in the 1860s, when Sir Thomas McClure , a wealthy tobacco merchant (and eventual MP for Belfast) donated land and £1600 in cash to build Belmont Presbyterian Church , manse, and school. Both ...