SEPTEMBER 1999 – Oscar Madisons Bar in the Main Street of Kinsale, Ireland. © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
During our Ireland trip in 1999 we also visited Kinsale in County Cork at the south coast. Back then, we usually did not plan our overnight stays ahead, so we did not have a pre-booked accommodation for that night. When we were in Kinsale, we regreted this, because it is one of those beautiful spots that simply deserve more time. However, all the B&Bs were fully booked that day, and so we just walked around the town center and the harbour area.
I took this photo into the Main Street street. I was attracted by the colorful houses that were brightly illuminated by the sunlight. And I smiled when I saw the name of the bar on the right: Oscar Madisons Bar. Oscar Madisons, I thought, where have I heard that name before? And then I realized that it is the name of the divorced sportswriter in the 1968 hit movie The Odd Couple, played by Walter Matthau. And indeed, the sign of the bar featured in 1999 an illustration of Madison (who looks stunningly similar to Matthau) as he lifts a pint (presumably) in New York.
By the way, since 1999 this spot at the Main Street has somewhat changed:
- Hoby’s Restaurant (on the left) had become CRU, a winebar and bistro, which closed its doors in January 2023 after five years in business.
- The Cottage Loft Restaurant and B&B (in the middle) was Thai Cottage for a couple of years and is now home to Finns’ Farmcut, a neighborhood restaurant featuring a small seasonal menu with fine grass-fed beef and lamb.
- Oscar Madisons Bar is still in business today but the sign has been removed (apparently before 2009.) The bar has adopted a bright orange logo, and the house has been painted in the same strong color.
Kinsale? A lovely place to stay, and I hope to return someday.
Design ideas
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | September 1999 |
| Location | Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland |
| Camera | Canon AE-1 Program |
| Image Source | Fuji Slide Film |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 6491 x 4288 Pixels |
| Copyright | © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
Zanzig.com Photo Hub 