Kerry – In Photos dot Org

Black and Blue

A striking blue wall on Dykegate Street caught my eye, especially in the bright sunlight that cast a stark shadow across it.

Dingle is located in the heart of the Kerry Gaeltacht, one of Ireland’s officially designated Irish-speaking regions where Irish is the community language. The bilingual street signs throughout the town reflect this status, with the Irish name “Sráid an Daighide” appearing first, followed by the English “Dykegate Street.” The tradition of painting houses in bright colours in Dingle dates back centuries and was originally practical – helping fishermen identify their homes from the sea. Today, these colourful buildings have become one of Dingle’s most distinctive features, with strict planning guidelines ensuring that the tradition continues while maintaining the town’s unique character.

Aperture	ƒ/4
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/2500s

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!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	112mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/1.3s

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.

Aperture	ƒ/13
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/5s

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!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	42mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/8s

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

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	24mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/100s

Look down on Dunquin Pier

I remember the day I took this photo, in August 2020. When I arrived, a group of young women were taking selfies at this spot and from my perspective, they looked like they were standing on the edge of a cliff. It’s still dangerous, but it was a calm evening and there was plenty of space if you’re an invincible teenager, unafraid of your mortality.

At the time, only pubs that served were alllowed to open due to Covid restrictions, but B&Bs and hotels were open. Breakfast in our B&B in Dingle was strictly monitored, with guests having to book their times so the dining room didn’t become too crowded.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7M3
Focal length	38mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	3.2s

Kayaking Adventures in Dingle Harbour

Two people kayaking at the mouth of Dingle Harbour in Co. Kerry while I was on a boat looking for Fungi, the Dingle Dolphin, back in 2017.

We saw Fungi that day. He broke the water a few times.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	Canon EOS 6D
Focal length	116mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/125s

Wild Atlantic Waves

Waves crash onto the beach and rocks of Couminole Beach, Co Kerry near full tide. A dangerous beach for swimming at the best of times, it would be foolhardy to go swimming there in conditions like this!

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	Canon EOS 20D
Focal length	20mm
ISO	100
Shutter speed	1/640s

Nature’s Art: Fungi Patterns

I spotted this fascinating looking fungus growing out a dead tree trunk last weekend. I’d no idea what kind of fungi they were until an AI identified them as a Polypore.

This is a good sign, for that small forest I found them in, just outside Kenmare:

Polypores have been used as indicator species of healthy natural forests or old-growth forests in Europe. They are good indicators of invertebrate diversity on dead wood and include many endangered species. Polypores make good indicators because they are relatively easy to find – many species produce conspicuous and long-lasting fruiting bodies – and because they can be identified in the field.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	800
Shutter speed	1/500s

The Edge of the Lake

Another one from that walk in Kenmare a few days ago. I spotted this couple walking by with their dog, and then they stopped a distance away with the dog exploring the shallows. I love silhouettes, so this photo came to be.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	125
Shutter speed	1/500s

A bench by the Lake

A small bench is nestled among the trees in Kenmare, on the shores of Kenmare Bay. What caught my eye immediately were the three trees surrounding it. They frame the bench in a pleasing way, the bare branches providing a skeletal, natural, surrounding to the man made bench.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	94mm
ISO	200
Shutter speed	1/200s

A Kenmare Robin

I spotted this little fella down in Kenmare, County Kerry the other day. A Robin, bold as brass, perched right there on a dead branch, posing like he owned the place.

He stayed there for a few minutes surveying the area, and let me get a little closer for a photo.

Aperture	ƒ/8
Camera	ILCE-7RM5
Focal length	240mm
ISO	400
Shutter speed	1/500s