2025 – In Photos dot Org

The witches and ghosts of the Dragon of Shandon

Young woman in elaborate witch costume with black pointed hat, green face paint, hot pink satin dress and black cape poses during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork at night with pink and orange striped van and colourful murals visible behind

Parade participant in cream-coloured elaborate Victorian-style coat with tall black top hat and theatrical face paint holds yellow fabric puppet during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork with colourful mural backdrop.

Young person with long red hair in Victorian-style white dress, leopard print shawl and ornate black top hat with purple flowers poses during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork under string lights at night

Participant with long red hair in Victorian dress, black decorated top hat and theatrical face paint makes peace signs with both hands during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork with King Fadez shop visible in background

Close-up of participant with long red hair wearing ornate black top hat with purple flowers, theatrical white face paint with pink cheeks, leopard print shawl and white Victorian dress during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork at night

Enthusiastic male participant in brown period coat with burgundy waistcoat and white cravat displays elaborate theatrical face paint with swirls and designs during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork with King Fadez shop in background

Wheelchair user in burgundy Victorian dress with elaborate white moth or butterfly wing costume piece being pushed through Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork with crowd of costumed participants and pink and orange striped van visible in background

Some of the ghosts and witches at the Dragon of Shandon parade, 2025.

Aperture	ƒ/5
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	8000
Shutter speed	1/30s

Cork’s Halloween Parade Brings Magic to the Street

Group of Dragon of Shandon parade dancers in metallic skirts and black clothing with theatrical face paint performing on North Main Street, Cork, at night with colourful murals and parade marshal in hi-vis vest visible in background.

Participant in black feathered bird-like costume with grey mask and large white wings performing dramatic pose during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street, Cork, with pink and orange striped van in background.

Crowd of Dragon of Shandon parade participants in black clothing and face paint gathered on North Main Street Cork at night with pink and orange striped van and colourful murals visible in background, spectators filming on phones.

Young participants in elaborate black costumes with skeleton face paint performing choreographed routine during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork, including child in grey outfit in foreground.

Young participant in black costume with detailed skull face paint and orange fabric details crouching dramatically during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork with crowd and King Fadez shop visible in background.

Two young participants in black clothing with skeleton face paint and orange prop masks performing energetically during Dragon of Shandon parade on North Main Street Cork at night with string lights visible overhead.

This is what Cork’s Dragon of Shandon parade does best. It transforms the streets into a moving theatrical spectacular where elaborate costumes, dedicated face paint, choreographed performances, and pure Halloween energy collide in the most brilliant way possible.

Aperture	ƒ/2.8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	2000
Shutter speed	1/15s

Cork’s Halloween Spectacle in Motion

Three Dragon of Shandon parade participants posing on Patrick Street Cork - man in orange dungarees with denim jacket, person in skull face paint with "2039" marking, and person in yellow patterned full-body suit, with crowd and colourful parade backdrop visible behind them at night.

Dragon puppet or float with fierce carved wooden head featuring flames and elaborate details being carried through Dragon of Shandon parade on Patrick Street Cork at night, with two participants in face paint and decorative waistcoats manipulating the construction, motion blur visible in background.

Yeah, that’s a giant demonic head they’re pushing along the North Main Street, Cork. 🙂

Aperture	ƒ/2.8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	160
Shutter speed	1/3s

Dragon of Shandon’s Spooky Crew

A puppeteer manipulates a large white skeleton puppet on Patrick Street during the Dragon of Shandon parade in Cork, with a pink and orange striped van, costumed parade participants, and spectators visible in the background under street lights at night

A puppeteer with skull face paint looks up whilst manipulating a towering articulated skeleton puppet overhead during the Dragon of Shandon parade on Patrick Street in Cork, surrounded by crowds of spectators and other costumed participants, with colourful building murals and string lights visible in the background at night

A few more photos of the Dragon of Shandon parade last night. I’ll spread these out over the next few days. You’ll get a proper chance to experience the fun of the night.

They’ll all be visible here in the future if you’re coming across this post by itself.

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Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/250s

The Big Bones Brigade

One of the fabulous skeleton dancers at tonight’s Dragon of Shandon parade in Cork! What a buzz and atmosphere! Crowds were lining North Main Street where we waited, down Castle Street and then on to Cornmarket Street. Amazing night. Not to be missed next year!

More photos to follow when I have time to edit them.

Aperture	ƒ/2.8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	320
Shutter speed	1/25s

A Killarney Stag’s Portrait

We were lucky to spot this stag and a number of hinds as we entered Killarney National Park a few weeks ago. The light was terrible. It was just after sunrise and we were walking through a wood. I’m thrilled with this photo of a magnificent stag.

Here’s another photo of this stag.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	600mm
ISO	12800
Shutter speed	1/60s

The Tiered Beauty of O’Sullivan’s Cascade

One of the highlights of a recent trip to Killarney was discovering O’Sullivan’s Cascade. There’s a 1.7 km walk from your car to the falls, but it’s worth it as the area is lovely.

Aperture	ƒ/11
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	54mm
ISO	640
Shutter speed	1/25s

A Dog’s Boating Adventure

This little doggy was out with his family on the water off Sheep’s Head last July. It looked like they had lots of fun!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	160
Shutter speed	1/250s

The Hi-B: Cork’s Phone-Free Pub Experience

Right, so this is the Hi-B (short for Hibernian Bar), and it’s become genuinely famous for one simple rule: no mobile phones allowed inside. That glowing red and gold Art Deco-style entrance practically screams “we’re doing things our own way,” and the “est 1791” proudly displayed tells you this pub has survived long enough to have opinions about modern technology.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	6400
Shutter speed	1/500s

The Jazz Festival Parade

Brass band musicians marching down a Cork street during Jazz Festival parade at dusk, with trumpet player in beanie and puffer jacket in foreground, spectators watching from shop doorways, and someone filming on mobile phone visible in the right foreground, with turquoise evening sky above.

Lamarotte brass band performing on Patrick Street during Cork Jazz Festival parade at dusk, with massive sousaphone bell dominating the frame, drummer visible on left, surrounded by large crowd of spectators outside Guineys and Penneys stores under evening sky.

Brass band musicians performing on Patrick Street in Cork during the Jazz Festival parade at night, with trombonists and saxophonists in casual clothing playing energetically outside Gino's Italian restaurant and Cherish jewellers, with crowd of spectators visible in the background.

I did not know that there would be a small parade of brass bands down Oliver Plunkett Street until my wife was told about it an hour before!

It was just after sunset and dark and getting cold but there was huge excitement as the crowd followed the musicians down the street.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	12800
Shutter speed	1/320s

TBL8 Brass Perform in Cork

TBL8 Brass Band playing in Cork earlier this evening. They were so good. Blasting out the hits!

TBL8 Brass band performing on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork during the Jazz Festival, with frontman on a megaphone in white clothing, surrounded by brass section and horn players in black, with red mobile phone shop and Christmas lights visible in the background at dusk.

Wide-angle low perspective shot of TBL8 Brass band performing on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival, showing the full brass section spread across the pedestrianised street with Georgian buildings, shop fronts, and Christmas lights in the background at dusk.

Two saxophone players from TBL8 Brass performing on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival with drummer and bassist visible in background, shoppers and spectators watching from the pedestrianised street at dusk with Christmas lights illuminating shop windows.

TBL8 Brass frontman energetically performing with megaphone on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival with a young girl in pink standing beside him, surrounded by large crowd of festival-goers and band members at dusk.

TBL8 Brass frontman performing passionately with megaphone on Oliver Plunkett Street during Cork Jazz Festival at dusk, with band members and large crowd of spectators visible behind him, including families and children, with illuminated shop windows in the background.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	16mm
ISO	250
Shutter speed	1/500s

The Forest Guardian

Early Saturday morning a few weeks ago we gathered to photograph deer as the sun rose. Walking through the forest in Killarney National Park we spotted a group of deer. The light was terrible. I’m sure this was shot at ISO 12800 to get a crisp image and I’m really happy with it.

This group of deer stayed in the forest away from curious humans for the rest of the morning, though we could hear this stag bellowing several times off in the distance.

Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	600mm
ISO	12800
Shutter speed	1/50s