Chaffinch
Photography / March 14, 2011

Chaffinch

A female Chaffinch (I think) looking under the snow covered leaves for food at Curraghchase Forest Park, on Christmas Day, 2010.

Sunflower
Photography / March 11, 2011

Sunflower

This shot is totally out of season, I know. I took it last August (2010), but I only got around to processing it recently. Sí loves Sunflowers, so she grows a few every year – I thought this one looked particularly fresh faced after a shower of rain.

One 540EZ to camera left.

Kylemore Abbey
Blog/Photography / March 09, 2011

Kylemore Abbey

Taken on an overcast day at Kylemore Abbey. As far as I can remember, Kylemore Abbey was originally a private home built by Mitchell Henry back in the 1860s. Mitchell, a wealthy English politician, spared no expense during construction of the house.

For me, the highlight of the grounds has to be the walled garden – it originally featured 21 glass houses, which were heated by boilers which allowed him to grow banannas and other tropical plants. And as most of the glasshouses were linked, it also gave guests a dry warm place to walk on the days when the weather was being less than cooperative. Sadly all of the original glass houses were collapsed over time, however two have been restored to their former glory.

In the 1920s, the Benedictine Community founded the Abbey and opened a boarding school. They are doing a fabulous job maintaining the grounds.

I really wish I could have seen this place in the 1800s – it must have been something else.

Road to Leenane
Photography / March 06, 2011

Road to Leenane

Taken on the road to Leenane from Louisburgh. I took a few different shots of this particular view. For me the road provides scale, but I’m not 100% sure about the composition at the same time. Comments and thoughts appreciated.

Louisburgh Turf
Photography / March 02, 2011

Louisburgh Turf

Taken a few miles outside Louisburgh, Co. Mayo if my memory serves me correctly. Beautiful part of the world – if a little bleak at times.

Winter Scene
Photography / January 24, 2011

Winter Scene

Another Wintery shot taken on Christmas morning 2010. I’m noticing a trend starting here – time for a change of topic and I have to stop shooting into the sun!

Winter Light
Photography / January 12, 2011

Winter Light

Taken very early on Christmas Day while walking around in Adare, Co. Limerick. The low, early morning Winter Sun burst through the frost covered trees casting long shadows.

Easy Rider
Photography / January 06, 2011

Easy Rider

Happy New Year everyone! This shot was taken at the Honda 50 ride-out at Pumpkin Festival in Virginia, Co. Cavan last October. I really like the movement and the colour of the bike. To me it looks like an honest bike – I’d say it’s used very regularly judging by the paint job.

A few recent changes to the site are explained in the new/old blog. Time is short these days with the wedding a little over a month away. But I have lots of photos waiting to be processed – I hope to keep posting over the next few weeks.

Soapbox Racer
Photography / November 19, 2010

Soapbox Racer

A tetraptych of shots taken at the OUTSTANDING soapbox race at the Pumpkin Festival in Virginia, Co. Cavan.

This particular entry was made out of two wheelie bins – making a fine Massey 165. Maximum attack is the only way to describe this drivers approach. He stayed off the brakes all the way down to the straight, getting big air off the jump. Unaware of the recent departure of one of his rear wheels on landing, the driver demonstrated incredible commitment – opting to look down the road as he poured on the opposite lock, deperately trying to wrestle his machine back in line. This guy was determined to make it home. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, the wreck came to a standstill in front of us. After being helped from the Massey by the marshals, the driver walked down the course smiling for the cheering crowd, carrying his only souvenir of the event, the rogue rear wheel. Theres always next year.

Seriously, we were really impressed by the engineering, bodging, creativity, driving skills, commitment and general lunacy of all the teams involved. Well done to all.

We’ll be back again next year – with a racer of our own. I think we’ve found something new to do in the Motorsport off-season next year. 😉

Click here for full size Image.

Pumpkin
Photography / November 17, 2010

Pumpkin

Eanna and Stephani were kind enough to bring Síofra and myself up to the Pumpkin Festival in Virginia, Co. Cavan back in October. The festival was much bigger than I expected, with lots of huge pumpkins, food stalls and entertainment – it made for a great day out.

354
Photography / November 15, 2010

354

Another from the challenge set by ivansantry – “A car at night”.

A HUGE thank you to Kevin – he answered at least one hundred questions from me while he explained the positioning and power of all four strobes used in this shot.

The car is a BMW E36 M3 as run in the National Hillclimb and Sprint Championship. The post title “354” is a reference to the class that I race in and the position I finished in last year. The 35 stands for Class 3B (unlimited saloons – anything goes power-wise) and the 4 is where I finished in the class in 2009. As it happens, after managing only five rounds of the championship this year, I finished in the same position, so I will be in Car 354 for 2011 again. Fingers crossed I’ll get out for a full season next year and finish a little further up the field.

M Power
Photography / November 11, 2010

M Power

The second in a series of shots from a challenge “A car at night.” set by ivansantry.