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
This was a walk from the Emlagh area, Ballyferriter, to Ventry, via Leataoibh, on the Dingle Peninsula, It was a reasonably pleasant day with sunny spells and cloudy patches, which I think often make the landscape more interesting and photogenic.
Cruach Mharhain is the peaky mountain in these photos. I have previously posted photos taken from a walk up this mountain, but I must have deleted that post. I had to delete several earlier posts to create more media space. I have to walk up there again some day soon, but it requires some preceeding days of dry weather, and that’s not easy to get here at this time of the year.
When walking alone I get better photos. When I walk with other people I am distracted with conversation and also I always think I am very boring as a walking companion, as I keep stopping to snap the views. So, on this occasion I did not take many shots, and instead I have included the following six photos from the same route, on earlier dates.
Just a farm shed on the roadside. I would think it was probably once someone’s home, a long time ago.
The Three Sisters, above, a familiar sight that can be seen from many places in this area.
A quiet country road, looking back, with Mount Brandon in view.
I really liked the character of this rusty old tractor. As you can see I gave it some aging treatment.
Mount Eagle in this one above. Another one I must climb again soon – also waiting for dryer weather for this one. I often do a short walk up for some heart & lung exercise.
I liked the mossy clumps that nestled on this ailing holly bush in someone’s garden.
A view over Ventry and Dingle Bay, with the Iveragh Peninsula (South Kerry) across the bay.
Arriving in the Ventry area, here is Rathanane Castle, (also Rahinanne, spellings vary here) a tower house that was built by the once very powerful Fitzgerald family, way back in the 15th century. It was built on top of the remains of an ancient ringfort and souterrain. This castle, like so many others across Ireland, was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s forces around 1650, when he led a band of troops through Ireland, on a very bloody campaign. (Cromwell was a British political and military leader). I read only recently that he died from complications of malaria, contracted from a mosquito bite he sustained while in Ireland. Wonder if it was a Kerry mosquito! I was surprised to learn that there was malaria here then.
It is posssible to walk in around the castle on payment of about a euro to the land owner. I have been in there a few years back. Two photos below are from that occasion.
It was a rather dull cloudy day, giving a menacing feel to the atmosphere.
Shortly after that we arrived at Ventry village to pick up the car we had parked there earlier, being a linear walk.
This link will take you to more photos of the Emlagh, Ballyferriter area:
Fluffy clouds, Dunquin. Below the horizon stands the Blasket Centre, which provides information and history about the vibrant community that once lived on Great Blasket Island, the larger island on the left, below.
Just below the Blasket Centre on the coast, this very nice new viewing platform has been built on the cliff, at a cost of €2.25million+ !!! I have heard that the rusty effect alone was a substantial part of the expense.
There are stunning views of the Blasket Island group from the Dunquin coast. This is on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, South West Ireland.
More coastal views from Dunquin.
These shots were taken on Dunmore Head, which is nearest to the islands. Here there is another of those World War 2 lookout shelters, of which there are several around the coast. Unfortunately they don’t look very pretty.
An Ogham Stone stands on Dunmore Head. So named because it has some of the ancient Ogham script carved on it. Ogham is an Early Medieval alphabet used to write the early Irish language, and later the Old Irish language. (Pronounced Ohm, it has a silent G). Dingle Peninsula has a large percentage of the country’s Ogham Stones.
Couminole Beach, not very obvious here because the tide is high and the sandy area is covered over. It’s a beautiful beach for a saunter and a few photos, but not so safe. Nevertheless, my walking companions went down for a swim – yes in January! I didn’t venture down on this occasion as I was in a hurry.
The steep path to Dunquin Pier can be seen in the above photo.
I have to show these shots of this beautiful horse with his long mane!
This friend of mine, Lisa, likes to feed him daily with her vegetable peelings and give him a bit of attention, as she passes on her daily walks in Dunquin.
Lisa has named him Gruaig Fhada, which simply means Long Hair. Her own hair makes them a good match.
I have never seen a horse with such a long mane before! I assume he is a shire horse.
He is rather lovely, isn’t he?
So hard to see his dark eye in that black patch. I don’t know how he can graze with that hair in his eyes!
On my website there are many photos and a few paintings of the Dunquin area, including captures of Couminole Beach which I bypassed above:
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!
A few days ago I discovered these baby swallows in the shed. This is the second brood but I was expecting to see them in the same nest nest as the first lot, but I was very surprised when I saw that they had moved house.
This morning, 29th of August they left the nest. After a lot of excitement, flying around all day, they settled on the gutter in view of my living room window while their parents fed them for some time, and it was very entertaining indeed! My photos were taken through a rather dirty double glazed window – not the most ideal optical equipment, but I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity!
Due to the new editor on wordpress I have been unable to space out the photos, so I apologise that they are too close together. I am in fact most disgruntled with it, as I detest the new block editor, it’s too time consuming, and have attempted to use the old editor. However, it’s not so simple and I have been unable to use the editing techniques that I usually use. This is supposed to be the old one, but it isn’t! I’m very tempted to terminate my relationship with WordPress.
On this walk we took a path to the left of Mount Brandon, a different side of the mountain from that my previous post. We had intended to go up Brandon but due to low cloud and skeins of foggy patches coming from the sea we thought it safer to not go to the top of the mountain. I was secretly glad of this, to be honest, because I didn’t feel fit enough for the more challenging walk we might have taken.
The landmarks remained the same for much of the walk, but the clouds changed all the time.
This is how Brandon appeared as clouds rolled by.
My guess at this story is that the farmer left this old vehicle here to use as storage for his fencing materials, and it was first vandalised by human eejits, and later attacked by multiple storms.
These two photos were taken in the same minute, and look how quickly the picture can change in this kind of weather.
We accidentally deviated from our path and arrived at this cliff edge, and sat for our picnic on the grassy slopes below, where I picked up a few sheep ticks – again! There is Lyme disease here, but one can stay at home and be safe, or go out and take chances. At least you can’t pass Lyme disease on to anyone else, unlike Covid-19.
So, back down on low ground, and even on the correct route, just signposted with no obvious path.
A lovely walk with great views, and the foggy clouds even added to the beauty of the scenes. I hope you enjoyed the images.
Thanks for viewing my post. Please click on this tag for different views of Mount Brandon, photos and paintings on my website:
A lovely walk on the far side of the Connor Pass from Dingle, to Brandon Point on the edge of Mount Brandon, and up the hill from the car park. Beautiful views, well worth the journey, although negotiating the tourists on the pass is somewhat precarious in August. Parts of this road are very narrow and winding, with overhanging rocks, and a steep drop on one side.
With the Connor Pass well behind, this is Cloghane Estuary
View from the car park at Brandon Point.
…and walking up the hill, looking at the views.
One of 83 wartime (WW2) lookout posts around the coast of Ireland.
Jasmine and friends, a lovely bunch of people relaxing at the top of the hill beside the cairn. You can sometimes meet the nicest people at the top of mountains!
Brandon Beach
On the journey back to the pass.
Home safe and sound after this enjoyable little bit of a hill walk. So nice to see the scenery at the other side of Brandon Mountain.
Next I have some photos to show of yet another side of Mount Brandon. Here is a preview:
Thank you for your visit to my post, I hope you will join me again for my next post, coming soon.
