Father Mathew Quay is a road that is definitely closed. The tarmac has been torn up to be remade into something better, hopefully.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 25mm |
| ISO | 1000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Tag Archives: Blarney Photography Club
It’s a bird city
Cork City, where birds have become incredibly adept at turning human carelessness into dining opportunities.
Urban-adapted birds like the seagulls and crows photographed here have developed significantly different behaviours compared to their rural counterparts. City-dwelling seagulls often show reduced fear responses to humans and have learned to time their foraging around peak human activity periods, such as lunch hours when dropped food is most available.
Crows, meanwhile, have demonstrated remarkable problem-solving abilities in urban environments and can even learn to associate specific locations with regular food sources. Studies have shown that urban bird populations often have different dietary compositions, stress hormone levels, and even song patterns compared to rural birds, reflecting their adaptation to city life and the constant presence of human activity.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 150mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
Rocks in the Misty Surf of West Cork
The restless Atlantic waves become ghostly veils of white mist caressing the rocks on Owenahincha Beach, Co Cork.
Henry shared a photo of this same rock yesterday. There are lovely swirls of water in his photo.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 2s |
Cathedral Candlelight in Cork
A beautiful brass candle stand in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. When Helios was on display in the Cathedral, I visited there with Blarney Photography Club and took the opportunity to photograph other parts of the cathedral’s artistic heritage.
The inscription above reads, “NÃ mar is toil liomsa, ach mar is toil leatsa”, which roughly translates as, “Not as I will, but as you will”. A reference to the Biblical quote, “Not my will, but thy will be done”.
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, completed in 1879, is the Church of Ireland cathedral of Cork and is renowned for its French Gothic Revival architecture and exceptional craftsmanship. The cathedral contains numerous examples of fine metalwork, woodcarving, and stained glass, much of it created by Irish artisans.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 23mm |
| ISO | 640 |
| Shutter speed | 1/6s |
Sunset Fishing at Ballycotton Pier
A series of photos showing men fishing off the pier at Ballycotton, Co Cork a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful evening. Lovely time to be there.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
Fireworks at the 2025 Cobh People’s Regatta
A few simple edits of fireworks in Cobh on Sunday night. Great fun and a great night out with friends!
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 169mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 3s |
Inniscarra’s Historic Stone Bridge
This is the narrow bridge that crosses the River Lee near the Ballincollig Royal Gunpowder Mills.
I found out today while doing a little research that the bridge was built in 1805, replacing an older 6 arch bridge. It’s very narrow, but a survey showed that 7,000 cars cross it every day!
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/30s |
Bee goes buzz
An Asian hornet was spotted in Cork recently. If they gain a hold in this country it could be very bad news for bumblebees like the one in this photo.
This particular bee had 3 of us surrounding her with cameras trying to photograph her as she fed on the nectar of this little flower.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 240mm |
| ISO | 4000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Nature’s Spotlight in Ballincollig Park
It’s sometimes hard to believe there was a gunpowder mill in this area, but look around and you’ll see the ruins everywhere. Here though, I found a winding, worn path running parallel to the neat tarmac of the modern path.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1s |
Am I prolific?
A slightly battered boat in Ballycotton, Co Cork.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 124mm |
| ISO | 2000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
A Fishing Boat’s Story in Cork
These intimate details from a single fishing boat in Ballycotton harbour tell the story of Ireland’s working coastline better than any wide-angle vista could manage. Every weathered rope, rusty chain, and salt-stained life ring speaks to the daily reality of earning a living from the sea.
Ballycotton’s fishing fleet primarily targets lobster, crab, and various fish species in the rich waters off the East Cork coast. The heavy rope and chain equipment visible in these photographs is essential for handling fishing gear in the often rough conditions of the Celtic Sea. Modern Irish fishing boats like this one typically use a combination of traditional techniques and modern technology, with equipment that must meet strict safety regulations while remaining practical for daily use. The life rings and safety equipment visible are mandatory under Irish maritime law, and the weathered appearance of the boat’s equipment reflects the harsh marine environment that constantly tests both vessels and crew along Ireland’s Atlantic coast.
Videos I think you’ll learn from:
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 320 |
| Shutter speed | 1/60s |
Heroes of the Sea
The RNLI flag flies in Ballycotton Harbour.
The RNLI operates one of Ireland’s busiest lifeboat stations at Ballycotton, which launched 57 times in 2023 alone, rescuing 49 people and assisting 67 others. The station operates an all-weather lifeboat capable of handling the most challenging sea conditions off the Cork coast. Ballycotton RNLI has a proud history dating back to 1858, and the station’s crews have been awarded numerous medals for gallantry, including gold medals for particularly heroic rescues. The RNLI is a charity that relies entirely on voluntary donations and is crewed by unpaid volunteers who undergo extensive training to perform rescues in some of the most dangerous maritime conditions around the British and Irish coasts.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 110mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |