The Red Bridge at Fota
A scarlet-railed bridge, a limestone arch, and a pond almost still enough to hand you a second bridge for free. I caught this one at Fota Wildlife Park, framed through a gap in the spring foliage, the fresh greens crowding in from both sides. The contrast is what pulls me in. Those bold red posts…
Ardmore from the Air
I didn’t plan this one, like the photos of Blarney from a few days ago. It’s the kind of shot you only get when you’ve nabbed a window seat and the cloud cooperates. We were somewhere over the Waterford coast when Ardmore slid into view below, the whole headland laid out like a quilt someone…
Blarney from Above in 2016
Blarney, from the secondary school and Woolen Mills to the Castle Digging through the archive I found these two aerial photos of Blarney from September 2016, and the first one stopped me. See those fields that border the houses on 3 sides? They’re now Cluain Ard with houses, gardens, driveways, the lot. Back then it…
Barefoot on the Dunes
We’d climbed up onto the dunes just as the weather turned. One minute it was postcard Fuerteventura. Bright sand, blue sea, the whole thing was beautiful and the next a slab of grey had slid in off the Atlantic and parked itself overhead. Suddenly we were running for our cars as rain pelted down. But…
It’s difficult to TOP West Cork
When the weather is as nice as it is now, there’s nowhere like West Cork. Rolling hills and beautiful countryside, trees heavy with leaves and flowers in bloom, friendly people, and loads of things to do. One way is Bantry, Ballydehob is the other way. We were headed to Ballydehob when I stopped for a…
Golden Reflections on the River Lee
An evening walk along the River Lee near the Inniscarra Hydro Station a few years ago and we were rewarded with a lovely sunset shining on the banks of the river.
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,”…
The Shakey Bridge is Gone!
In 2019, Cork’s riverside scene took on a rare and almost surreal quality as the beloved Shakey Bridge, or Daly’s Bridge, vanished for the first time since 1927. Locals strolling along the Lee were greeted not by the familiar wobbly walkway, but by its ornate white tower standing alone, flanked by colourful houses and lush…
Lifebuoy on Duty
It’s reassuring to see lifebuoys at the beach, especially when the sea is rough. Unfortunately, not every person in distress in the water can be saved, as has happened at this beach in Youghal in the past.
The Tranquil Waters of Robert’s Cove
Robert’s Cove in Co. Cork looked particularly spectacular this afternoon when I visited. We arrived to a sudden shower of rain, but it soon stopped, and we wandered up the path alongside the cliff away from the beach. Panoramas really don’t post well online. I need to do something like they do on Instagram where…
A Quiet Walk on Cape Clear
Two people walking along the road by the south harbour on a pleasant, warm day in 2013. I haven’t been back there in a long time, but hopefully, I’ll make a return this summer.
Scottish Skyline: From Spires to Bridges
A beautiful sunset pictured from our apartment in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. The weather was glorious that week! It hardly rained at all! Did you know that the Forth Bridge, visible just left of centre, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the world’s longest cantilever railway bridge when it opened in 1890?…












