Patient or not? A dog waits as his owner chats at the farmers market in Blarney on St. Patrick’s Day this year. More Photos.

A balloon seller on Daunt Square in September 2009, during one of our photowalks. A shopper takes her ease in the foreground.

Grim faced people walking along O’Connell Street in Dublin a month ago.

I am Legend.

Strong shadows in exceptionally bright sunlight in May 2008 in Blarney.

Academy Street, as it was back in August this year. Construction work has finished since. I wonder if it’ll ever start up again?

The Celtic Fisher, out of Tralee, was docked in Dingle Harbour in early November.

The bike park on Patrick’s Street, Cork.

First of all Virgin Megastore was sold off to Zavvi and shortly afterwards they had a liquidation sale and went under. Now Director’s Cut are in there and it’s a depressing store. There’s no piped music to liven the dead atmosphere, oh dear!

Quebec city recently celebrated it’s 400th birthday, making it one of the oldest cities in North America! Here’s part of the tourist area of the older part of town. A lovely walk through a beautiful area.

Last Sunday a “fun day” was held in the square in Blarney. I had completely forgotten about it until we got down there and there was a huge crowd there with food stalls, a bouncy castle and this inflatable slide and various races for all the kids. Shame about the weather though. Barry’s Balloons obviously…

A man taking a break in Bishop Lucey Park, Cork. Coca Cola Ireland made headlines last week when it emerged they were going to outsource their distribution network. Unions weren’t happy of course.