I was there too
It’s lovely to see well cared for dogs. Shih tzus need so much grooming or their fur gets in their eyes, but this one had a nice bow, and happily walked along a street in Madrid.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
A man blows over the top of a bullet casing at a military show in the old Cork Gaol in 2013.
It’s an odd feeling to post this photo. I’ve had it in my “todo” album for more than a decade and apparently never posted it before. Once it’s published I won’t see it so often as I don’t revisit the “published” album too often.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 105mm |
| ISO | 250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/125s |
I haven’t been to Graiguenamanagh in Kilkenny very often, which is unfortunate as it’s a pretty town, but here’s a photo of some of the boats tied up on the river there from quite some time ago.
| Aperture | ƒ/10 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/200s |
The skeleton of Páirc Úi Chaoimh before it was rebuilt reveals the Blackrock end of the stadium.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 32mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
Last week, we experienced the sudden loss of an extraordinary and beautiful person. Velda, my Dad’s partner and a constant presence in our lives for over twenty-two years, passed away after a brief illness.
Velda and my Dad, Barra, lost their spouses in the late 90s, at ages that were far too young to be going through something so devastating. We were all so happy when Dad met Velda and love was in the air again.
Velda was loyal, compassionate, fun-loving, unflappable and full of joy and laughter. She loved hiking, gardening, travelling and more. She baked some seriously delicious muffins for us, whenever we called. She was someone with a love for life and a tremendous intellectual curiosity. She used her retirement to explore, crossing tundra on the Orient Express or hiking the Peruvian jungle and fishing for piranha. She was always interested in people, and loved to hear and debate everyone’s thoughts on current events. She brought a fierce intelligence and warmth to any discussion, and saw the best in people.
Many a bottle of fizz was shared with her during family celebrations over the years. There was always an atmosphere of fun when she was around, her laugh was so infectious. You were guaranteed to be in good humour after meeting with Velda. It was an honour to have her in our lives for so long. She will be greatly missed by all of us.
And, now that I have told you about Velda, you will remember her too. As Terry Pratchett wrote in his book, “Going Postal”,
Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?
Terry Pratchett, Going Postal.
Thanks to my family for help writing this. I couldn’t have done it without you.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 39mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/100s |
On a quiet October morning in 2016, I travelled into town as I saw there was fog forecast, and I wasn’t disappointed. While I was photographing the boats lined up along Kennedy Quay, a single rower came up the river.
He quickly glided past my position along the river, but I grabbed a few photos, including R&H Hall, and a view of the Elysian that is somewhat blocked by further development over in that direction.
When I go back there again some morning in eight years time to photograph the fog, I’m sure the quay will be unrecognisable.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 17mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/80s |
After the crowds have gone on a cold November day in 2017, I visited St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican for some photos, and came across two women taking advantage of the quiet for some photos.
The sun had already set, and it wasn’t 5pm yet, but it was nice to be in such a normally crowded area with hardly anyone about.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 17mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/6s |
I wonder if this man checking his phone noticed the mural behind him in Bishop Lucey Park. In this fragment of the mural you can see the old Roches Stores building, Mangan’s Clock and Shandon Bells.
You won’t see that mural there now. This is a snapshot of it from 2015.
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 105mm |
| ISO | 200 |
| Shutter speed | 1/320s |
