County Cork – In Photos dot Org

Church Bay’s Cosmic Cathedral

The Milky Way as seen from just above Church Bay, at Weaver Point, in Co. Cork. This was last night, a few minutes after the moon had set. Unfortunately, the centre of the galaxy was hidden behind a bank of clouds at the horizon. The forecast said there would be about 30% cloud, but thankfully it mostly didn’t cover most of the galaxy.

The best time to see the centre of the Milky Way again from Ireland will be in March 2026. However, you’ll still be able to shoot the less bright celestial arms once the moon has set for a good few weeks, probably.

I recommend using Sun Surveyor to plan a Milky Way shot. Photopills is good too, but the street view integration in Sun Surveyor is difficult to beat.

Aperture	ƒ/2.8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	6400
Shutter speed	20s

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

Driftwood at Owenahincha

Last night Blarney Photography Club travelled to Owenahincha Beach to do some seascapes. We hoped to do some Milky Way photography later in the evening too but cloud cover got thicker and after some socialising in the nearby Celtic Ross Hotel we went home.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	2s

Bantry Market’s Most Diverse Stall

Traditional Catholic culture meets modern Irish culture in this stall. A statue of Mary holds a Cork flag, the red and white instantly recognisable by anyone in the County.

There’s something for everyone at this stall.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/1600s

A Bantry Market Character

People of all ages come to the market in Bantry, Co Cork, looking for bargains.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/500s

Sunset Fishing at Ballycotton Pier

Four fishermen silhouetted against golden sunset sky while angling from Ballycotton pier with layered clouds and reflected light on water, County Cork

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.

Evening fishing scene showing silhouetted anglers on Ballycotton pier with dramatic storm clouds gathering overhead and village buildings visible in background, County Cork

Sunset fishing at Ballycotton pier with harbour crane silhouetted against dramatic sky, anglers casting lines as sun sets over the water, County Cork

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/320s

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

Anglers Under Ballycotton’s Big Sky

There were 6 or 7 people fishing in Ballycotton. Most were standing on the pier, but these two had climbed up on the pier wall. Judging by the bag of fish they had, it was a good choice of location.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/160s

A Fishing Boat’s Story in Cork

Coiled ropes and fishing equipment on the deck of a working boat with yellow wheelhouse structure in Ballycotton harbour, County Cork

Close-up view of a yellow fishing boat deck showing life rings, rusty chains, and weathered equipment with other boats visible in Ballycotton harbour, County 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:

Just get out and photograph something.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	320
Shutter speed	1/60s