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The Role of the Mandolin in Irish Traditional Music
Get PDFThis dissertation critically examines the emergence and use of the mandolin in Irish traditional music. This research is informed by an investigation of a variety of socio-cultural and musical factors that shape the potential for the integration of the mandolin into the tradition. Information is drawn from Irish and international sources that focus on the use of the mandolin in other cultures and musical traditions. The development of the mandolin as an instrument and the music associated with it in Europe from the seventeenth century, through a period of popularity in the nineteenth century, and its eventual adoption into Bluegrass music in the twentieth century are examined. Musical developments in Ireland in the twentieth century are also investigated in order to contextualize the emergence of the mandolin as an instrument in the Irish music traditions.
A number of existing subcultures in Irish traditional music which engaged with innovation and experimentation fostered the integration of the mandolin into the canon of Irish traditional music. The influence of Irish mandolin players is documented in this study and explored through a detailed investigation of recordings, which combined with interviews, video recordings and other published sources, are employed to illustrate the stylistic approaches on the mandolin in Irish traditional music. It contends that these musicians, including those more readily identified as banjo players, through their musical activities, facilitated the introduction of new instruments and new approaches to Irish traditional music. Thus, the integrity of the mandolin as an instrument in Irish traditional music was encouraged, leading to its acceptance as a recognised and familiar instrument in the soundscape of Irish traditional music
History: Discipline or Instrument?
Get PDFA review article of John M. Regan, Myth and the Irish State (2014) Irish Academic Press
Development of a Process Assessment Model for Medical Device Software Development
No full textSoftware that is incorporated into a medical device, or which is a standalone medical device in its own right, is of a safety critical nature and subject to regulation from various jurisdictions (principally the EU and the US). In order to satisfy jurisdictional regulations, developers of medical device software generally implement standards and guidance provided by international standards bodies and national administrative departments. However, the various standards and guidance documents are not developed as a single cohesive set but often as separate resources addressing distinct areas of concern. The result for medical device software developers is that integration of these various sources represents a challenging undertaking.
The aim of this paper is to describe the integration of the several process models and regula-tory standards, first, into a process reference model and then into a process assessment model for medical device software development. The focus is on the integration of regulatory standards from the medical device domain with generic software development process mod-els, resulting in a unified best practice framework for medical device software development. The process reference model for medical device software development is going to be pub-lished this year as IEC TR 80002-3, and the process assessment model for medical device software development is currently being validated through pilot studies in medical device in-dustry.
This best practice framework will help small software developers in their adoption of regula-tions-compliant best practices while reducing the overhead associated with understanding the long list of regulations and standards they need to adhere to when developing software for medical devices. This framework will also help the manufacturers in selecting their software suppliers assuring that the suppliers have adopted the best practices and are compliant with the medical device standards and regulations
Thermal insulation of the building fabric: a comparison of a conventional house and a passive house
No full textPassive houses are becoming ever more popular in Ireland today. Many people are adapting to the concept of living and experiencing the passive house standard compared to the more popular conventional house. The author believes that the two aspects that drive the passive house perception is the owner’s personal interest in wanting to embrace the passive concept and the end results of minimalistic heating bills. This dissertation focuses on the thermal comparison of the building fabric between conventional house construction and passive house construction. The purpose of the research is to give the reader a clear understanding of what is involved within the thermal insulation of the building fabric. An important aspect of this dissertation is to make sure all necessary information in relation to the building fabric is clarified. It is important to give the reader an insight into the comparison between a conventional house and a passive house. An analysis of the buildings methods were compiled into a case study where a comparison of the various elements were carried out. This dissertation has found that when comparing the conventional house against the passive house, not only were the U-values significantly more efficient for the passive house but also elements such as airtightness, heating loads, energy demand and building energy ratings have all been favourable towards the passive house. It also identifies potential heat saving aspects that passive house occupants would benefit from
Solar shading of commercial buildings
No full textThis study investigates solar shading in the context of commercial buildings. The motivation behind this research is to examine, if the inclusion of solar shading into building design can assist in the comfort of the users who occupy these buildings and to investigate can the incorporation of a solar shading system aid in the reduction of expenditure on mechanical cooling. In order to assess this, an examination has been carried out on published information regarding relevant aspects of solar shading encompassing the effects of solar gain on buildings (i.e. solar glare and heat gain), the impact on users of buildings and the possible reduction in reliance on air conditioning. An analysis of how such an assessment would take place through sun paths and glazing transmittance has been discussed. The various shading techniques possible have been outlined, followed by an examination of differing control methods and their application. In order to quantify shading and glazing transmittance an assessment of the g-value is outlined with the relevant pre-determined tables. A cost benefit analysis is included to discuss the cost implications of including a shading system and the reduction in expenditure on air conditioning from previous studies is outlined. The conclusions of this research are that shading systems have a definite role to play in achieving an environmentally sound building; however, every building will require differing analysis to uncover the most applicable shading and control system for the subject building
Waterproofing of subterranean structures: modern versus traditional systems
No full textWaterproofing methods and systems for subterranean structures have evolved and improved over the course of history. This dissertation aims to describe some of the more traditional methods along with some modern systems. The main reasoning behind this is to ascertain the possibility of reviving some of these older methods and incorporating them into modern construction. This will involve firstly describing what a subterranean structure is along with where and when they might be used. The next step will be to gain some background information about a selection of different waterproofing systems available both historically and in modern times. These systems will be analysed, compared and then applied to a case study, firstly to aid the full understanding of each individual system and secondly to see if they have any distinct advantages or disadvantages when applied to solve the same problem. The results will be assembled and analysed in the final chapters and some interesting aspects of waterproofing will be brought to light including the adaptation of some traditional systems for modern use. By the end of this dissertation the reader will hopefully have gained a more in depth knowledge of system for waterproofing subterranean structures
Descriptive Piece: ‘Drunken Kelly’
No full textA descriptive piece can be termed succinctly as ‘storytelling through music’. In Irish traditional music, the best known example of this type is the ‘Fox Chase’. It was played in Ireland as early as the 18th century1. For this particular piece, the uilleann pipes portray the story of the chase by imitating the barks of hounds, the trumpets of the hunters and the howls of the fox.
In the Counties of Leitrim and Longford there is a rich fiddle tradition of which a large number of music manuscripts dating back as far as the mid-nineteenth century have survived. Among these manuscripts are a number of descriptive pieces, which include: ‘The Hare in the Corn’ (a similar theme to the ‘Fox Chase’); ‘The Old Man Rocking the Cradle’ and ‘Drunken Kelly’. In all of these, scordatura, or ‘cross-tuning’ as it also referred to, is employed by the fiddle player to create the necessary imitations required by the pieces2. The main focus of this article is ‘Drunken Kelly’
The effect of workmanship on the design of notched timber beams
No full textTimber beam notching has always been a staple of a carpenter's arsenal in the pursuit to make things fit. The effects of such actions are little known and this report intends to review the design process of notching, to answer certain questions. Why are the load carrying capacities of notched beams so much lower than standard beams? To what degree would this strength reduction be influenced by variations in the fabrication of said notches? To that end a review of the current understanding in timber notch design based on linear fracture mechanics theory which is the study of the effect of creating a point of concentration in an element, will be undertaken. Then a series of destructive tests to demonstrate the impact of notching timber as well as the effect of variance in workmanship in notch manufacture. The findings of this report are for the purposes of understanding the process and comment on the current level of understanding within the construction industry as to the implications of notching. This report does not intend to challenge any existing codes of practice, merely to understand the degree to which these codes allow for human error and negligence
The comparison of experimental & theoretical uplift on a model structure due to a high water table
No full textUplift pressure can be defined as the hydrostatic force of water exerted on or underneath a structure tending to cause a displacement of the structure. This force is quite common in structures such as dams and tunnels. Hydrostatic uplift can become significant when considering the size of structures such as dams or tunnels. However structural failures have occurred due to the failure to design for hydrostatic uplift. The purpose of this dissertation is to assess the forces that hydrostatic uplift can exert on a structure when it is subjected to a high water table using a flow net approach. An experimental analysis was constructed in a drainage and seepage tank to model the performance of the structure and the magnitude of the uplift forces as the level of water table varied. This dissertation contains a brief history of Hydrostatic Uplift, some failures which have occurred due to it and the theories associated with it. The theoretical and experimental results will be compared and discussed and conclusions will be drawn as to the reliability of the methods associated with analysing Hydrostatic Uplift. This paper concludes that analysing the effects of Hydrostatic Uplift by using a flow net approach, does provide a reasonable and conservative estimate of the actual hydrostatic pressure
The repair and maintenance of historic roofs
No full textThe roof is the first line of defence therefore a good working roof is crucial to the survival of the historic building. However, despite such importance, a roof can often be the most neglected part of the building. Research suggests that maintenance is crucial to prolonging the life span of the roof and preserving the significant aspects of the historic fabric. This dissertation examines the way in which historic roofs are repaired and maintained. The study involves a review of the typical defects found in historic timber roofs and an appraisal of the appropriate techniques theoretically used to repair them against the back drop of governing legislation. Using case studies, the research produces comparative analysis between the outlined techniques and the actual methods being used in reality. The concluding evidence supported by these case studies highlights the discrepancies between good practice, actual repairs and also magnifies the range of defects that can occur if appropriate maintenance is neglected in historic, traditional roofs