Mary Curtin: 2026

2026/06/01

Salthill's Two Sisters

Lonergan's Atlantic Bar at the bottom of San Antionio Park - a few weeks after it was painted sea-blue.

I don't know if anyone does actually call these two famous Salthill buildings "sisters" - but it feels like they should!

Lonergan's has had a red coat for as long as I remember. Until a few weeks age, it went bright blue. It looked a bit odd at first, but on reflection is a better fit with the "Atlantic bar" idea.

I'm not sure what the side street is actually called, and from the looks of the signs, neither are the council Atlantic Tc, San Antonio Tce, San Antonio Park - or whatever you're having yourself.

(Salthill, Galway, 1 June 2026)

2026/05/25

Mr S Seagull

Seagull in a tiled inner-city street late at night - showing a lump in his beak, and pink webbed feet

One of our neighbours, out for a early morning walk. With a mean look in his eye!

(Galway, June 2025, just after midnight).

2026/05/24

Cows, cash and otherwise

One day in September 2007. at the Cliffs of Mohr in County Clare. Ireland. The cash cow are the ones on the path in the background.

2026/05/20

Another photo that's been surprisingly popular on Google Maps: the wet day really highlights the cheerful light yellow of this restaurant with short-stay accommodationupstairs, compared to the dull grey carpark gates and old townhouse next door.

2026/05/19

Eyre Square Hotel

Another spot which doesn't often feature beauty in the built environment - but this day in May 2026, it positively glowed for a few minutes at least.

2026/05/18

Sparkling in the sunshine

Just happened by this corner as the sun was sparking off the lettering. Its not not normally a spot for moments of fleeting beauty, but every corner has it's moment.

(Galway, May 2026)

2026/05/17

Just a carpark

I snapped this carpark in Canada (somewhere near Banff?) in June 2007. In the moment, the sheer scale if it was impressive, with scow capped mountains that felt like they were right next door.

The Gastown Steam Clock, Vancouver

Built only in 1977, this is somehow a historic tourist attraction. It “chimes” by sending up puffs of steam to the classic chock-chiming tune, every 15 minutes.

Photos taken in June 2007, Vancouver.

2026/05/15

The Iconic Corrib

This a snap I took one day in May 20206 of a frequently-photographed section of the river Corrib.

In the middle of the river are the remains of fish traps, constructed during the 1800s, designed to catch spawning Atlantic salmon swimming upstream. Behind is Weir House which is home to the low-profile Galway County Club, and the Fisheries buildings. Further up the river, you can see the Salmon Weir bridge - and the modern salmon-weir is out of site behind it.

2026/05/14

A very cross street

You'd be grumpy, too, if a piece of dental work took weeks to complete!

(Galway, corner Cross and Mainguard Streets, May 2026, weekend after the Fleadh Na Bealtaine fesitval.)

2026/05/13

A D Hamilton Jewellers and Coin Shop

This very ordinary picture of a jweller's shop in Glasgow was snapped in Septembe 2023.

Someone "loved" in in Google maps this week so I decided to share it here.

Glasgow, 2023 - loved on maps in 2926

2026/05/12

Public Market Center

Signs at the entrance to Seattle's Pike Place Market, sometime around closing at 5:30pm were bold and in-your-face - just like the cars. (May / June 2007).

2026/05/08

Claude, sans intelligence

Bold, brash and in your face, but better than the colour-scheme before this one.

2026/05/06

Liminal light in Salthill

Ten minutes earlier, I was definitely staying on the bus rather than hop off into the rainstorm. Now, the sun is out.

Mostly. But I need to walk under those clouds.

2026/05/05

An elusive Western

It's very difficult to get a good photo of this hotel, which has a charm in how it blends architectural styles and pragmatic frontages. Even today there was still scaffolding in place detracting from the interesting curved wall n on the left hand side.

Seaside coffee-kiosk with dramatic skies

This city-council owned seaside coffee kiosk is between licensees, but still enjoys dramatic sky-views: fleeting moments of beauty at the intersection of nature and the built environment.

2026/05/04

Fleeting beauty - in a bookies office?

Bar 1 betting in Galway 's Prospect Hill has scrubbed up well in the May sunshine. Previously the electricity box outside was know an Galway's dodgiest bar-table, as local "characters" gathered around.

Today this betting-shop looked shiny, new and clean. My "moments of fleeting beauty"-meter normally needs more than that! But here and now, it pinged.

The sloped top that was added to the electricity cabinet outside helps!

2026/04/30

Builder's provider, with a dripping tap

I've never understood how the drip on this tap doesn't get more attention. But the building looks mighty fine on a sunny day. (Galway, Ireland, April 2026).

2026/04/29

Small apartment block under construction in the late-afternoon sunshine

Apartments under construction on the very edge of Salthill - or is it Knocknacarra?
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Part of the same site - back in 2017 - CC BY 4.0 ... find out more

2026/04/27

D 💙B L I N

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Dublin city council installed this artwork? locally-loyalty-inspiration? outside the Mansion House - which is described on Google Maps as a local government office, and in other sources as the original Lord Mayor's house, and sometime offices / parliament, etc.

Perhaps they were just aiming to help wandering tourists to remember what city they are in today!

My shop, Granny likes it!

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A very ordinary photo, of a design shop which has a very Irish name and a pretty shop-front. It's been very popular on Google Maps.

2026/04/25

Picnic invasion in St Stephens's Green

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A cheeky Dublin swan waddled on in and staged a full-scale invasion of this couple's picnic in St Stephens's Green: The man tried to appease him by plucking grass, which swannie was only to happy to eat. But then he headed into the centre of the rug to check out the human fare as well.

Dublin, Ireland, April 2026

I do have a second photo from this scene: the swan is in the middle of the picnic blanket, and both the people are recognisable so I'm not posting it here. But contact me with some details if it's you and you'd like a copy.

Vancouver Hostel, Jericho Beach

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I stayed in this youth hostel I stayed at Jericho Beach in Vancouver in June 2007.

The building was an air force barracks in the 1930s, and with 4 beds in a dorm it had a very institutional feel. But the location made it a great place to stay, and gave easy access to some fabulous sunsets nearby as well as easy access to the city on public transport that just worked - remember this was before we got Google Maps on our phones!

2026/04/16

Skagway Bill in Totem Square

Bronze status of An Alaskan a prospector holding a rifle, with mining tools like a pick and shovel strapped to his backpack- striding out into the uknown.

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"Skagway Bill" aka The Prospector is a bronze statue by American artist and sculptor, Alonzo Victor Lewis (1886–1946).

In June 2007 when I took this pic, it was in Totem Square Sitka, Alaska - near the Sitka Pioneer Home.

Created in honour of the Alaskan pioneers, it is a depiction of local prospector, William "Skagway Bill" Fonda.

2026/04/15

Banff

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This feels like the most classic tourist snap ever: A small edge of Banff Railway Station, the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada, giving a tiny sense of the alps and forests in the area.

Approx June 2007.

2026/04/13

Ceramic security gnomes?

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Little men keeping a sharp eye on comings-and-goings at a pottery studio on the Dingle Peninsula, September 2007.

Russian Bishop's House, Sitka

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I snapped this quick-pic of the mustard-yellow "Russian Bishop's House" in Sitka National Park, Alaska in June 2007: it's actually home to a really interesting museum.

2026/04/05

A well-anchored cross

Celtic memorial cross with an anchor around the base, located in Howth Harbour

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The Howth Seafarers' Memorial, apparently locally known as Fisher's Cross: A memorial erected in 1994 by the Howth Fishermen's Association [to] commemorate the lives of all persons lost at sea, not matter where or how. (Howth, Dublin, Ireland, July 2007)

Galway's most unassuming takeaway

Chan's Chinese restaurant and takeaway, Doughiska Road, Doughiska Neighbourhood Centre, Galway - open in October 2021

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I took a quick-pic of this pointedly-rectangular Chinese restaurant in October 2021, when they were most probably takeaway only. Not even sure why I snapped it. But today someone "loved" the photo on Google Maps. So here's a a high-res copy of the photo, in case someone wants it.

How much is that horsie in the window?

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I caught sight of the horse in the first-floor window, looking mighty fine in the strong, late-afternoon sunshine: there's no cobwebs on him! (Galway, Spanish Parade, April 2026)

2026/03/26

Crystal Valet, Crystalline clouds

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I took a quick snap, help me remember the name of the car-wash in an old shed between two houses.

Didn't realise until later just how mesmerizing the sky looked at the time, even with rows of power-lines crossing it. Natural beaty in a most unexpected scene.

O'Reilly's Bar and Restaurant, Salthill, Galway in February 2026

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Thank you!