A Storm Gathering Over Kerry’s Fear Marbh

Storm clouds gathered on an August evening on the Dingle Peninsula. I was hoping for a nice sunset, and the sun briefly appeared, but this was a few minutes later. Strong winds started to blow and I had to hold on to my tripod to stop the camera from shaking and potentially falling over!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length112mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/1.3s

Dunquin’s Dramatic Edge

Dunquin Harbour is mostly photographed from the cliffs above because there is a narrow winding path that descends on a steep trajectory to sea level.

As I said previously in my photo of An Fear Marbh the sky was a monochrome grey but suddenly the clouds dispersed and some of the lovely light of the sunset leaked through. This is a bracketed shot I got from near sea level before rushing up the path to get a few more photos. 🙂

Dunquin Harbour served as the traditional departure point for boats traveling to the now-uninhabited Blasket Islands, with the last permanent residents leaving in 1953. The harbour’s dramatic location at the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula made it strategically important for accessing the islands, despite the challenging Atlantic conditions. The area is rich in Irish language and culture, being part of the Kerry Gaeltacht where Irish is still spoken as a community language. The distinctive rock formations visible in this photograph are part of the ancient geological structure of the Dingle Peninsula, composed primarily of Devonian sandstones and siltstones that were formed over 400 million years ago and shaped by countless Atlantic storms.


Apertureƒ/13
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/5s

An Fear Marbh at Sunset

It looked like there wouldn’t be any sunset, but I was down at the bottom of Dunquin Pier when I saw an orange glow coming from behind the large rock blocking my view of the sun that had just set.

If you know how steep that path down to the pier is, I hope you’ll have some sympathy for me as I raced up again to capture what turned out to be a momentary break in the thick clouds. I was surprised I saw any colour in the sky!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length42mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/8s

The Wild Beauty of Coumeenoole Beach

Coumeenoole Beach at the end of the Dingle Peninsula is a favourite spot on a drive around that headland. It’s dangerous to swim there, but it’s such a picturesque area we always end up there every time we visit the area.

Coumeenoole Beach gained international fame after being featured in the 1970 film “Ryan’s Daughter,” directed by David Lean, which showcased its dramatic cliffs and sweeping scenery to audiences around the world


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/100s

Unexpected Stop on the Slea Head Drive

The Dingle Peninsula is pure magic, isn’t it? Beautiful scenery, wild oceans and if you’re unlucky, a traffic jam caused by a cow walking up the road.


Apertureƒ/9
CameraCanon EOS 20D
Focal length11mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s

Hay Bales at Dusk

In a field behind Wine Strand on the Dingle Peninsula, I spotted some hay bales. The sun had already set, but the sky wasn’t very interesting. The lay of the land cast an interesting shadow and I like photographing bales whenever I see them.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/250s

The Three Sisters at Twilight

From Dooneen Pier on a lovely April day in 2022 I saw the Three Sisters off the distance. The sea was fairly calm, and the evening was warm for that time of the year. I think I spent a good hour wandering up and down the pier taking photos, until darkness descended, and I went back to our B&B.


Apertureƒ/13
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length72mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/25s

Hussey’s Folly caught in the light

Hussey’s Folly at the mouth of Dingle Harbour as it was caught by the rays of the sun. This was almost exactly four years ago, at the height of the Covid pandemic.

Apparently, Covid levels are just as high now and the latest strain is quite nasty too. It will always be with us. 🙁


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length83mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s