It was a beautiful evening in Dingle. Light clouds in the distance promised a fantastic sunset. I decided to head to Stradbally Beach to the north of the town but time was running out. Up and down the Conor Pass and as I drove along the road I saw clouds rolls in off the sea and worried they would hide the sun. I looked to my left and saw a blazing red ball of fire hanging a few degrees above the horizon and hoped I’d get my camera out in time to photograph it.

It was my first time to Stradbally Beach and the road I hoped to follow to the beach turned out to be a private caravan & camping site, with a gate across the entrance. I drove on. The sun dipped below the high dunes next to the road and eventually I came across an opening where quickly parked. I grabbed my camera and tripod and ran to the beach, only to see a sliver of the red sun disappear behind the cloud on the horizon! To say I was disappointed is an understatement!
I consoled myself by taking photos of a nearby headland in the cloud, and the rotting wooden stakes of a beach fence that might look good in black and white.

As I drove back to Dingle I saw that clouds were creeping inland from the sea and the sky was still somewhat bright. This photo was taken on the way into the Conor Pass. It was stunning to see and even though I was eaten alive by midgies I’m glad I stopped and it made up for my earlier disappointment.

The Conor Pass and the north side of the Dingle Peninsula was covered in the cloud the next day. The south side basked in boiling heat!