I was there too
The castle at Carrigadrohid stands on a rock in the middle of the River Lee, adjoining a bridge, giving the local village it’s name, after the Irish, Carraig an Droichid, meaning ‘rock of the bridge’. (Wikipedia)
I’d never been before, but I went with Blarney Photography Club to photograph this scenic location last night. Luckily, I caught the last of the setting sun behind the castle.
| Aperture | ƒ/16 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 26mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/13s |
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 |
On South Gate Bridge last summer, I spotted flowers growing from between the stones of the structure. Google Images says they’re Red Valerian, but I don’t know. They were thriving in their little spot, but I think they’re gone now as the bridge was cleaned in the recent past.
Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral is of course visible in the background, towering over nearby buildings, but still, nothing compared to nature growing, as it will.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 75mm |
| ISO | 1000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
The horses in the field adjoining Castlemartyr Resort were a curious bunch when Blarney Photography Club visited last week, when they came over to us for a chat and a sniff of our cameras.
This one threw all caution to the wind and just kept eating, ignoring me, and enjoying his best life. Rightly so, too.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 6400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Two buckets are no match for an ephemeral cat in the shadows as it played with the light of the setting sun at Castlemartyr Resort last week.
The shadow of the cat is courtesy of the cat statue I posted recently. Again, well worth going down to see them, and for a stroll around the gardens.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 103mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
I spotted a bike for hire that must have been dumped in the river for quite some time before being returned to the lock area. It was underwater so long that seaweed grew on it and tiny seashells grew on the pedal!
I presume it’ll be picked up, and hopefully cleaned up or recycled.
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 2000 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Hey! There’s a cat on the roof!
Just one of the statues displayed at the Art+Soul exhibition in the Castlemartyr Resort was one of a cat standing on a large key. I thought it might be nice to see if the cat can stand on the roof of the hotel. 🙂
| Aperture | ƒ/8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 24mm |
| ISO | 100 |
| Shutter speed | 1/100s |
When you visit the Castlemartyr Resort in Co. Cork, you cannot miss the waterfall in the river next to the entrance road. It’s a beautiful spot and well worth visiting!
| Aperture | ƒ/9 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 101mm |
| ISO | 400 |
| Shutter speed | 1/60s |
I have no idea what was so interesting. On a bench in Bishop Lucey Park in 2019.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 16mm |
| ISO | 1600 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
At a rally for Gaza on the Grand Parade last February, a large crowd listens to someone speak.
| Aperture | ƒ/1.8 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 75mm |
| ISO | 125 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
Frank Flaherty, the Cork Birdman, who passed away earlier this month, pictured sitting on the wall of The Outdoor Adventure Store in 2021. His dog sits underneath, waiting patiently.
| Aperture | ƒ/4 |
| Camera | ILCE-7M3 |
| Focal length | 17mm |
| ISO | 800 |
| Shutter speed | 1/500s |
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 |
