The Olympia Theatre needs little introduction to Dubliners having been in existence for 100 years this year, with its famous canopy standing over the footpath on Dame Street.

In 1879 it opened as Dan Lowrey's Star of Erin Music Hall on the site of Connell's Monster Saloon. Undergoing several name changes it was rebuilt and reopened as the Empire Palace Theatre in 1897.

Opening finally as The Olympia in 1923, a whole century of touring and local artists have happily performed at the venue.

Generations of Irish people have returned to the Olympia to see the most famous actors and musicians in the world performing at the venue including David Bowie, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hady, Noel Coward, Alec Guinness, Blur, Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine, Hozier, Dua Lipa and REM to name a few.

In 2021 the Olympia signed a sponsorship deal with 3, a mobile phone company, who also sponsor the Point in Dublin's Docklands and subsequently applied for planning permission in 2022 to erect a faux-art-deco arch over the building and adding several LED screens to the exterior as well as internal alterations.

Dublin City Council allowed for much of the permissions sought including for refurbishment of much of the fixtures but refused painting of the lower ground floor from red to grey, the aforementioned faux art-deco arch and the LED screens.

I think the decision to allow for necessary amendments to the building is important but the LED screens, I'm glad those did not get the permission requested.

Imagine the view of the Olympia from Dublin's iconic City Hall here, with bright and shiny LED lights going 24 hours a day.

In reality, most artists on at the Olympia would not need much advertising in order to sell tickets, so it wouldn't seem like in a cultural streetscape such as Dame Street that bright visual interruptions would be necessary. 

It does look like necessary works will be carried out but the classic Dame Street streetscape will remain the same, the colour can be changed - but not it seems to grey, no arch and no LED screens.

It's good to know that the Olympia will continue to welcome artists from Ireland and overseas for years to come.

Find out more about what's on at the Olympia.

While researching new locations for photography workshops recently, I found this very scenic woodland for the first time.

Not a famous location, and all the better for it. This woodland is quiet and has a mixture of native and non-native broadleaf trees.

Unfortunately it is increasingly being surrounded by large conifer plantations that often result in the decline of these deciduous arboreal islands and the life that exists therein.

I don't think it is an ancient woodland, rare places in Ireland, but it certainly is old and has the look of a very pretty wood indeed with narrow, twisting paths, a river, moss-covered rocks and trees, as well as plenty of wildlife.

I will be back here to photograph and to lead photography workshops so if you would like to join me to learn how to photograph woodland scenes, contact me to improve your photography in 2023 in Ireland's fantastically scenic woodlands.

Happy Christmas from Ireland. As is most typical, we haven't seen snow at Christmas this year, to quote a famous Pet Shop Boys song "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas."

Despite the cold weather of recent weeks, Ireland is quite mild - as is often the case, winter usually comes in January and February, deep into the season.

We have had winter already this year, but also Winter is Coming.

Here, a fine wintery image from the Irish countryside, a mountain ridge and snow under a deep blue sky.

I think, based on how cold it has been already in December, that we will see more snow and cold temperatures throughout the rest of winter and into spring 2023.

If you can't join me to photograph in Ireland in Winter 2022/2023 then join me in Spring and Summer 2023 to photograph the hidden Ireland.

One of the most prominent, and fantastic views in Waterford City is that from Merchant's Quay on the south side of the River Suir looking towards the lofty Ard Rí Hotel on the Airmount side of Waterford.

Opened in the 1960s the 160 bed former hotel was bought by Jurys in the 1990s who then sold it to the McEniff hotel chain who still own six hotels in Ireland.

In 2005 the hotel burned and it closed for good. Subsequent fires and vandalism followed before it became a canvas for one of the Waterford Walls projects which saw Joe Caslin create this large street art piece to at least give the impressive structure some dignity.

The site was bought in 2017 and has not been developed since despite plans to do so. This side of Waterford City, part of which lies in neighbouring County Kilkenny, is due to undergo a large scale transformation that will see a whole new section added to the city known as Waterford North Quays (SDZ).

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Join Panoramic Ireland, that's me, for a photography tour in Waterford in 2023 and beyond.