The Big Bones Brigade

One of the fabulous skeleton dancers at tonight’s Dragon of Shandon parade in Cork! What a buzz and atmosphere! Crowds were lining North Main Street where we waited, down Castle Street and then on to Cornmarket Street. Amazing night. Not to be missed next year!

More photos to follow when I have time to edit them.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length24mm
ISO320
Shutter speed1/25s

A Killarney Stag’s Portrait

We were lucky to spot this stag and a number of hinds as we entered Killarney National Park a few weeks ago. The light was terrible. It was just after sunrise and we were walking through a wood. I’m thrilled with this photo of a magnificent stag.

Here’s another photo of this stag.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length600mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/60s

The Tiered Beauty of O’Sullivan’s Cascade

One of the highlights of a recent trip to Killarney was discovering O’Sullivan’s Cascade. There’s a 1.7 km walk from your car to the falls, but it’s worth it as the area is lovely.


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length54mm
ISO640
Shutter speed1/25s

A Dog’s Boating Adventure

This little doggy was out with his family on the water off Sheep’s Head last July. It looked like they had lots of fun!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length240mm
ISO160
Shutter speed1/250s

The Hi-B: Cork’s Phone-Free Pub Experience

Right, so this is the Hi-B (short for Hibernian Bar), and it’s become genuinely famous for one simple rule: no mobile phones allowed inside. That glowing red and gold Art Deco-style entrance practically screams “we’re doing things our own way,” and the “est 1791” proudly displayed tells you this pub has survived long enough to have opinions about modern technology.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO6400
Shutter speed1/500s

The Jazz Festival Parade

Brass band musicians marching down a Cork street during Jazz Festival parade at dusk, with trumpet player in beanie and puffer jacket in foreground, spectators watching from shop doorways, and someone filming on mobile phone visible in the right foreground, with turquoise evening sky above.
Lamarotte brass band performing on Patrick Street during Cork Jazz Festival parade at dusk, with massive sousaphone bell dominating the frame, drummer visible on left, surrounded by large crowd of spectators outside Guineys and Penneys stores under evening sky.
Brass band musicians performing on Patrick Street in Cork during the Jazz Festival parade at night, with trombonists and saxophonists in casual clothing playing energetically outside Gino's Italian restaurant and Cherish jewellers, with crowd of spectators visible in the background.

I did not know that there would be a small parade of brass bands down Oliver Plunkett Street until my wife was told about it an hour before!

It was just after sunset and dark and getting cold but there was huge excitement as the crowd followed the musicians down the street.


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/320s

TBL8 Brass Perform in Cork

TBL8 Brass Band playing in Cork earlier this evening. They were so good. Blasting out the hits!


Apertureƒ/4
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length16mm
ISO250
Shutter speed1/500s

The Forest Guardian

Early Saturday morning a few weeks ago we gathered to photograph deer as the sun rose. Walking through the forest in Killarney National Park we spotted a group of deer. The light was terrible. I’m sure this was shot at ISO 12800 to get a crisp image and I’m really happy with it.

This group of deer stayed in the forest away from curious humans for the rest of the morning, though we could hear this stag bellowing several times off in the distance.


Apertureƒ/6.3
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length600mm
ISO12800
Shutter speed1/50s

Sale at Brown Thomas

The January sales in Brown Thomas attract many but the shop is a good place to meet someone as I presume this gentleman was, back in 2016.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraCanon EOS 6D
Focal length105mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/250s

When the Lee Became a Mirror

The Banks of the Lee were quite different by the Peace Park in 2004. Trees and shrubs obscured the river from the small park. It looks so different now.


Apertureƒ/4.5
CameraCYBERSHOT
Focal length11mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/500s

Punk Legends at Cyprus Avenue

The Undertones performing on stage at Cyprus Avenue with dramatic red and white stage lighting, the lead singer centre stage with arm raised holding a microphone, flanked by a guitarist on the left and bassist on the right, with drummer visible in the background and audience silhouettes in the foreground.

I shared a couple of photos of The Undertones last year but since they’re coming back to Cork next year and tickets just became available I decided to go look through the shots from that night again. They are fantastic, and I’m looking forward to seeing them again when they visit Cork.

The atmosphere in Cyprus Avenue is electric, and the lighting is so atmospheric and dazzling. Great venue for a gig.

The Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1974 and became one of the most important bands to emerge from the late 1970s punk movement. Their debut single “Teenage Kicks” (1978) was famously championed by legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who called it his favourite song of all time and requested it be played at his funeral (it was). What makes The Undertones particularly notable is that they emerged from Derry during the height of the Troubles, yet their music deliberately avoided political themes, instead focusing on universal teenage experiences like romance, frustration, and growing up. This made them hugely influential in showing that Northern Irish bands didn’t have to be defined by the conflict. The band’s current lineup still features four of the five original members, though original lead singer Feargal Sharkey left in 1983. They reformed in 1999 with new vocalist Paul McLoone and have been touring consistently since, proving that great punk rock ages remarkably well!


Apertureƒ/1.8
CameraILCE-7RM5
Focal length75mm
ISO4000
Shutter speed1/160s

Cork in Miniature

I love this mural showing various sights around Cork City. It’s just off Paul Street and well worth a look. The artist, Garreth Joyce, painted it in 2023.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/125s