When the sun rises tomorrow…

It seems unreal but most of the Covid19 restrictions will be lifted in Ireland tomorrow morning at 6am.

  • Pubs and restaurant hours to return to normal.
  • Nightclubs reopen.
  • FULL attendance at indoor and outdoor events.
  • Covid pass requirement gone for hospitality.

You’ll still need the Covid digital cert (or I presume a negative PCR?) to travel on a plane though.

Today we had just over 11,000 new cases of Covid19, but it’s omicron, “the mild variant”. Our hospitals aren’t overflowing. The Taoiseach spoke this evening and acknowledged that case numbers will go up. Hopefully not too many of those extra people die or suffer long term disability.

Despite the frost on the ground in the photo above this has been a remarkably mild winter. If I go anywhere I’ll be eating and drinking outside for a good while yet.


Apertureƒ/1.8
CameraSM-G998B
Focal length6.7mm
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Shutter speed1/1050s

A New Day Dawns

The sun almost breaks over the horizon on a lovely October morning in Kerry last year.

Happy new year! Thank you for visiting or subscribing to this blog. Please say hi in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/80s

The sunrise flows

Because of the disc’s enormous magical field, at sunrise, the morning light flows over like thick golden syrup, accumulating in valleys and then slowly crawling over the top of an hillside. The same can be said about the night, which spreads like plum jam.

Terry Pratchett

Sunrise over Muckross Lake in Killarney, Co Kerry. On a visit there with Blarney Photography Club one morning in October 2021.


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CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length191mm
ISO100
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The boats of Gougane Barra

Another early morning sunrise photo at Gougane Barra with Blarney Photography Club. Way back in 2016 I published a similar photo but the Gougane Barra boats were swapped. They’ve been there quite some time!


Apertureƒ/10
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
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Sunrise over Muckross Lake

An early morning drive to the Lakes of Killarney this morning resulted in an eventful trip for Blarney Photography Club today. Rain didn’t spoil the sunrise, but a trip afterwards to the Gap of Dunloe didn’t go so well with a literal storm blowing up between the hills.

The photo above is from Dinis Cottage if you’re interested. Lovely walk down there and so picturesque!


Apertureƒ/11
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/160s

Morning Walks around Blarney

Covid-19 Lockdown began again in Ireland for six weeks until December 1st. Hopefully people don’t go crazy drinking and partying in December thinking the Coronavirus is gone, but of course they will. Bet we’ll have another lockdown in January.

We’re restricted to exercising within 5km of our homes now, which is ridiculous when you live in a village but obviously makes sense if you live in a build up urban area. I get out for a quick walk most mornings around Blarney and the sun rising is always a nice experience.


The Mill built an outside dining area for customers and even had nice fake trees with these flowers dotted around the area. When lockdown was announced they pull down part of it, including these trees. Hopefully they’ll be back in December.


The leaves of trees in the carpark of the Woollen Mills in Blarney as the sun rose.


Waterloo Joinery and other signs point the way up Waterloo Road.


Mushrooms growing in a tree stump in the grounds of the Woollen Mills.

Aperture ƒ/8
Camera DSC-RX100M4
Focal length 12.06mm
ISO 5000
Shutter speed 1/40s