These photos are from Trábeg Strand, a small and often dramatic wild beach in the Kinard West area on the south side of the Dingle Peninsula.
It’s pot luck whether you get any sunshine when you go out for a walk here, and after a promising start to the morning, the sky clouded over before getting there.😕
This is also one of those wild places to which photographers are drawn for those really turbulent sea images. This was not the best day for that, with the swells of last night’s gales already dying down.
Not to be deterred, I thought, I’m here now so I’ll make the best of it. I lived close to this beach many years ago, before digital photography. I haven’t been back many times since. (Wonder where all those 35mm prints are now!)
This is the entrance to the beach. – Very stoney at the moment. In my previous life here I observed the sand come in and go out frequently with the storms. Now it appears more stoney than ever. I was also very surprised how high the water level was, considering it was only an hour away from low tide. I expected to be able to walk around the rocks to different sections of the beach at this time, but not so. A low spring tide should be ok – next time!
This large stack here is a very familiar landmark, which can be seen from many high places, particularly the Conor Pass road, shown below, on another day.
The sea stack is called The Searrach (Siorrach), there are often alternative name variations and spellings here. The Searrach means foal.
Every photographer who comes here wants to get a good big splash on the Searrach. I just have to be content with the stack and no big splash pictures. The water, though rough, just wasn’t quite wild enough. Must find those old prints!
It really didn’t feel safe on the beach, you can’t trust the ocean, when it’s rough and the beach is small. We didn’t stay for long. I’ll definitely have to go back.
For some of my images of the wider Kerry area check out this tag for Kerry Coast Images
2020 for me started in the beautiful state of Mizoram, in North East India, where I spent Christmas and New Year. Here is the city of Aizawl, built on mountain peaks, and with wonderful sunsets.
Back home to the Dingle Penninsula, in the South West of Ireland, to enjoy, endure, survive the winter storms and the powerful, magnetic and awe inspiring Atlantic Ocean.
And experience the beautiful beach walks!
But….who could have thought…the dreadful Covid-19 came along and threw us all sideways – or worse, in some cases.
I had planned a trip to Italy in March, but had to cancel. Social life was on hold for most people.
Luckily, I was still able to walk and capture the beautiful coastal images – for a while longer, before restrictions became stricter.
More time to study the birds in my garden, through the window.
As a little experiment I recorded myself playing flute with the bird song in the garden. If the image looks upside down to you, it will correct itself when you click it.
Local sunset, below.
Lockdown to a greater or lesser extend affected all of us, world over. Our individual experience of the world became very small, as we were obliged to reduce our social contacts and curtail travel. Many shops and pubs were closed. My regular trad Irish music sessions in local pubs, where I joined in with my flute were cancelled, indefinitely!
For a time my photography focused on my immediate area, and the garden. These sunsets from around the house and very local area take on a caged appearance, as indeed we were caged, all of us, in some measure.
I am very lucky that the local area has many beautiful places for walking. beaches were closed for some weeks, but cliff walks were possible.
My birthday celebration was a cliff walk, with friends. It was lovely.
Much garden navel gazing was undertaken. I never took so many photos of flowers and garden creatures before.
I never before appreciated how beautiful apple blossom can be.
Wildflowers became objects of scrutiny and much enjoyment too.
So many bees in the garden!
– And I discovered just how photogenic the humble daisies can be.
Thistles too!
I am so thankful for my good luck in being able to take many coastal walks.
Seaside and flowers together here. Lovely sea pinks make a wonderful show in early summer.
Beaches finally opened again, in June, I think. It’s all a bit blurred in my memory now, as Covid-19 figures rose and fell and lockdowns went in and out of different levels of severity.
Tourists returned in full force to the Dingle area in the summer, much to the relief of those whose livlihoods depend on tourism.
Sunsets around my area continue to fascinate, less cage-like with the summer foliage.
Lovely coastal and mountain walks. These photos were from different sides of Mount Brandon.
I updated my photos of Dingle Harbour, and took several shots around the town of Dingle.
The swallows raised two families in my shed. These first day out fledgling swallows only had a couple of weeks to grow strong before their long flight to South Africa. I wonder if they made it.
Some apple trees did bear fruit, though hundreds of babies were blown off the trees in summer storms before they were ready to eat. This is the entire harvest from several young trees.
Exploring beyond my own area, as easing of Covid restrictions permitted, I visited Killarney, South Kerry, West Cork and more.
The Gap of Dunloe, near Killarney.
On Cape Clear Island, above, off the coast of West Cork.
The small mainland harbour, Baltimore, County Cork, below.
Back on local Ventry Beach, below.
In October, a cruel hand was served on Dingle. After a several months of Covid-19 related hardships, Fungie, the globally famous Dingle Dolphin disappeared, without trace. Fungie, a wild dolphin has lived in Dingle Harbour of his own free will for 37 years. He was probably about 45 years old. Missed by many, whether they made a fortune running Fungie tourist trips, or whether they were just people who loved to see and play with the dolphin. For sure, Dingle will be a different place without him. This was a major event here. It’s not easy to explain how this wild, free dolphin touched the hearts of Dingle people and many visitors from around the world.
I have no photos of Fungie, preferring to leave that to the Fungiephiles who had developed considerable expertise. Here is a video from Jeannine Masset and Rudi Schamhardt.
More local captures below.
Fungie is gone, but the Dingle Peninsula remains the same beautiful place.
An autumn forest walk, above, in Glanteenassig Wood, on the Dingle Peninsula.
December shots from Mount Eagle, below.
The Blasket Islands, above.
Snow on Mount Brandon, shot from the garden, heralding the coming of Christmas 2020
On Christmas Day on a local Ballyferriter beach, Béal Bán, some brave swimmers rushed into the cold water, with an air temperature of about 8 degrees C. I did not partake, I prefer to stick to the heated pool these days. But it was fun to be there and support them.
Recent Storm Bella, seemed to last for about three days.
I completed a number of paintings this year, and failed to complete several more – so far. I’ve dicovered that I can be more motivated in that field when I have more activity in general in my life. The slower pace of things this year seemed to diminish my motivation in the more demanding creative side.
Now we are in a 3rd wave of the Corona Virus, with a new more transmissable variant of the virus in the country. In fact a case was discovered in Dingle recently. We have a high level lockdown again, going even stricter after today, but vaccines have arrived in the country; I for one will not hesitate to take advantage when it’s my turn.
So now 2021 approaches. May you all be lucky enough to only have contact with those people who are honest, compassionate and kind, who treat you as they would wish to be treated, and I wish the best of health and happiness to you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Leaving Dublin Airport early on a December morning, below.
When travelling, I really love to pass the time taking photos out through the aircraft’s window. For those who will only accept technical perfection, this is not for them. Scratched windows, sometimes with condensation and reflections do not give a perfect image, and often, depending on the position of the sun there will appear a spotty effect on the images. But in general I’m happy with a pleasing image and to gain that I’m often happy to forfeit technical perfection.
Below are mountains in Europe, I guess the Alps.
Spot the plane in the centre of the picture below.
Arrival at Cyprus below, showing one of 108 dams and reservoirs in Cyprus.
The following photos are views on the flight from Kolkata to Aizawl, Mizoram, via Imphal
Thanks so much for viewing my photos. If you would like to see more aerial photos please take a look at my earlier post:
On a recent beach walk I came upon these gulls appearing to play a little game on the water. I was fascinated by their behaviour as I had never noticed anything quite like it before. The water was fairly calm with occasional gentle waves rising and breaking on the shore. They sat on the water with their backs to the waves waiting for the wave to break, whereupon they flew up in the air and then immediately dropped after the wave had broken and passed on. They repeated this several times as I watched them.
They could have positioned themselves further back where they would rise and fall gently on the waves, but they seemed to prefer to be at the precise position where the waves broke.
To adopt a more logical view, they may have been intending to catch some little fish in the breaking wave. That’s what I originally thought they would be doing, but they appeared to be making no attempt to dive into the water.
Either a bad fishing day – no fish, or they really were just playing and enjoying the heatwave at the time.
More pictures of one of the wonders of the west of Ireland. These photos were taken on Cosán na nEighe, a coastal walk next to Clogher Beach, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. Loads more photos of this area on my website:
It was blooming cold today, considering it’s a Spring day in March. Some of the country is covered in unseasonal snow, and the Dingle Peninsula has a smattering of it on high ground, like here below on Mount Brandon. I braved the cold to take my camera for a walk. Here are some photos taken on Ballyferriter Beach, Béal Bán, and some others in the countryside nearby.
Thank you for visiting my blog. For more Dingle Peninsula photos It would be great if you would also check out my website:
This is my second post about my visit to Cyprus a few months ago, where I of course took hundreds of photos – as one does. In this post I am focusing on the Stavrovouni region.
The Stavrovouni Monastery is spectacularly built on the top of a volcano shaped mountain, of the same name – Stavrovouni Mountain, in the Larnaca district. It can be seen from miles away on all sides. The monastery was originally founded by St. Helena in the fourth century AD, and has gone through many changes throughout the centuries. It is one of the oldest monasteries in the world.
The monastery is open to visitors – male visitors, that is. Women aren’t allowed inside – we might be a distraction for the monks! But no matter – the monastery is not the only interesting feature, as the surrounding landscape is truly breathtaking and worth the trip just to experience that alone. I have so many photos it’s difficult to choose which to show – I may do another post to show some more of them.
If you click on the images individually, you should get a clearer, sharper image.
Please visit my website, with photos from Cyprus and other countries, and also my paintings
It’s not often that I get across to the east coast of this country nowadays, but I recently made a short visit to Courtown, in County Wexford. The weather wasn’t great, the sunshine was scarce and the light was dull, but I grabbed a few opportunities to capture some images
It must be said that Courtown once had the most perfect beach in the world – with a marvellous expanse of dry, soft, clean, golden sand. The water depth was perfect and safe for swimming. Admittedly, it didn’t have the fabulous scenery of the Kerry beaches, with which I am now very familiar, but the quality of the beach itself was second to none. Sunshine was always more plentiful in that part of the country too. I have no photos of what it was like before – but OMG – look what is is now!
What happened to all the lovely sand?
It’s an understatement to say that erosion has taken its toll. Tons of boulders have been deposited to ‘protect’ the coastline. Time has shown once again that nothing stays the same.
Bathing still continues between the piles of boulders
It’s good to see that there are still some gaps in the mountains of boulders, where families can enjoy the sun, sand and sea.
Weather shows its visual charms
A glimpse of normality
Off shore activities are definitely more popular now
Less beach – more sea. You win some, you lose some!
Swimmers still enjoy the beach
The wood by the beach
The opening of woodland trails do compensate in part for the loss of so much beach
The beach, viewed from the wood
The woodland trail is really lovely
View of the woodland from the beach
Storm torn trees. Winter storms have wreaked havoc on them also
But alas, the woodland was not safe either from the ferocious storms of last winter.
Graffiti on a storm felled tree
Graffiti on this storm felled tree on the beach echoes my thoughts about transience and change, although I could not read the full sentence that once was there.
Great for the stove – if I could carry it home!
I quite liked these natural sculptures that have landed on the beach
More of nature’s offerings
Many pieces already chopped – presumably for the home fires
The last rays of sun creep up along the RNLI boathouse
Evening walk as the sun goes down
Something for all ages in Courtown
Even the dodgems look different
Please check out my other photos of County Wexford on my website:
