I was there too
In 2003, the Dutch submarine, Dolfijn, or Dulfun, visited Cork for a few days. I happened to be around town and spotted it from Kennedy Quay where I’d been photographing the ships, buildings and machinery.
When it left Cork, it headed to Mallorca. September in Cork is nice, but I wouldn’t mind a few days there in October!
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | CYBERSHOT |
| Focal length | 11.3mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
In early 2005, Winthrop Street was dug up and repaved. I really don’t like the modern surface. Part of it feels slippery, and the middle section is uncomfortable to walk on. Anyone else?
| Aperture | ƒ/2 |
| Camera | CYBERSHOT |
| Focal length | 9.7mm |
| ISO | 320 |
| Shutter speed | 1/30s |
Yesterday, I noticed that Henry was warning us (in Blarney Photography Club) that there was likely going to be a great display of aurora borealis that night. I’m recovering from a cold, so I was just going to stay in and watch TV, which I did. Nothing was going to get me out into the cold night.
I woke up this morning around 2am and saw a message from my sister where she sent on a fabulous photo of the aurora in the sky over her home. Already feeling FOMO, that was the last straw and I got out of bed and drove down to the River Martin walk to photograph the sky silhouetted by the hills on either side. I hoped there would be some sort of reflection in the water of the pool, but it wasn’t strong enough.
I should have gone home then, but I’m glad I drove up to Waterloo Church and you can see some of the photos I took there too.
The temperature had dropped from 2.5C to 0.5C in the time I was out and my camera battery had gone from 57% to 0%, and a torch battery had succumbed to the cold too.
To my eyes, I could see a green glow, but the pink and purple were only really visible in the photos. I could make out the red in the sky behind the church, though. A remarkable display.
There’s a good chance of more aurora tonight. I need to lie down now for a nap. zzzz
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 640 |
| Shutter speed | 60s |
On a quiet February day in 2019 I walked down Winthrop Street and saw this busker strumming his guitar.
| Aperture | ƒ/6.3 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 4000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
If you walk over to Cow Strand on Sherkin Island, you’ll come across this boat, maybe. At least in 2015 you would have. It might be gone by now.
Take a look at Google Maps. I think that’s this boat.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 80mm |
| ISO | 250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
We were visiting Sherkin Island in 2015 when I saw a rider pulling another horse along with him. This was on Cow Strand, but I’d seen him riding on Silver Strand earlier in the day. A lovely, warm, August day just before school was about to start again.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 160 |
| Shutter speed | 1/250s |
On a day when there’s a storm blowing outside and the sky is a white sheet covering the land, I like to look at the beautiful colours of the sunset.
| Aperture | ƒ/18 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 175mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/2.5s |
Someone struggles with a trolley full of cardboard. It looks like it may be about to fall over!
| Aperture | ƒ/2.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 250 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Joe Healy’s book, Cork In Decades Past, this evening, and what an event it was! Although the official launch came a bit late, as the book has already sold out, but about twenty copies were available on the night. They were all gone by the end of the night. If you want to get a taste of the stunning photos featured in the book, be sure to check out Joe’s Twitter feed, where he shares captivating snapshots regularly.
This book is a delightful journey through the evolving landscape of Cork City since the early 1980s. Both Dan Boyle and Seamus McGrath spoke about their favourite images, adding depth and insight to the evening. My own copy of the book now sits proudly on my desk, boasting a lovely, high-quality finish that’s a pleasure to look at.
The good news? Another printing has been ordered and will be available just in time for Christmas. If you have any connection to Cork at all, this book is a must-have treasure that you won’t want to miss.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 70mm |
| ISO | 8000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/160s |
In 2018, a ship called WISDOM visited Cork. Which is odd because this site says the ship was renamed, “Jasmine Scan”, in 2012. Apparently, it’s now called “WARTHOG” and bears a striking orange colour that’ll be hard to miss.
If you were ever nostalgic for the old R&H Hall building, it’s here too. Must be loads of photos of that place taken by loads of people over the years. I’d love to see some from when it was actually being used.
| Aperture | ƒ/9 |
| Camera | Canon EOS 6D |
| Focal length | 28mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/80s |
A life buoy at the beach in Youghal. It was a fairly breezy day, just after the triathlon.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7RM5 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/1000s |
