Images of a Winters Message – Poem by Mark R Slaughter
Images from a Kilkenny winter
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
A Winter Message
By : Mark R Slaughter
A flake of snow in flurry thro’ the air
Had landed as a kiss upon my cheek:
A secret message, just for me to share;
.
To take to heart but never dare to speak
About or presuppose to other eyes
Your open feelings – distant though they are.
And so, upon my own surprise:
A flake of snow returned from me afar.
.
The Lighthouse – by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
Sigma Sd15, 15-30mm lens
Dungarvan Lighthouse, County Waterford
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The Lighthouse
By, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
The rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
And on its outer point, some miles away,
The Lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.
Even at this distance I can see the tides,
Upheaving, break unheard along its base,
A speechless wrath, that rises and subsides
In the white lip and tremor of the face.
And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright,
Through the deep purple of the twilight air,
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light
With strange, unearthly splendor in the glare!
Not one alone; from each projecting cape
And perilous reef along the ocean’s verge,
Starts into life a dim, gigantic shape,
Holding its lantern o’er the restless surge.
Like the great giant Christopher it stands
Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave,
Wading far out among the rocks and sands,
The night-o’ertaken mariner to save.
And the great ships sail outward and return,
Bending and bowing o’er the billowy swells,
And ever joyful, as they see it burn,
They wave their silent welcomes and farewells.
They come forth from the darkness, and their sails
Gleam for a moment only in the blaze,
And eager faces, as the light unveils,
Gaze at the tower, and vanish while they gaze.
Slievenamon – Walking to the top.
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm lens
The Walk up Slievenamon, County Tipperary
Irish landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
The mountain of Slievenamon is about 15km from home, in Tipperary and just across the county border from county Kilkenny. Its Elevation is 721 meters and on a clear day offers good views of a large part of the south east of Ireland, including down to Hook-head on the Wexford coastline.
The pictures below are taken on a walk up to the top two weekends ago, it was a very foggy Sunday morning at the top as you can see. The mist only added to the wonderful feeling of being up there even though none of the best views where possible.
The Walk up Slievenamon a Gallery
Sundays on the hill
Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8g lens
Ballykeeffe Wood and Nature Reserve, County Kilkenny
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Sunday’s are a great time to get outside and do some walking, so why not find a woodland walk and a place with a view.
Sit down stay for a while and relax….
Its the weekend so….
Fujifilm x100s
Glenaskeagh, County Tipperary
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
It’s the weekend so why not find a country lane to walk down, take your time and enjoy the views.
It takes time to clear your mind and relax, so stay out until the evening ….
Glenaskeagh, Tipperary , Weekend Gallery
Kilkenny landscape photography
Fujifilm x100
Kilkenny forestry, Hugginstown, county Kilkenny
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Forestry is one of the biggest and fastest growing industries in Ireland today, only some 10% of the Irish country side is Forested this being the second lowest in Europe.
This article on thejournal.ie covers this subject very well:
Ireland now has the ‘second-smallest’ forest area in Europe
The Gallery below is of a Birch woodland near Huggins town county Kilkenny.
The foresters had been in and thinning the trees so that this area can develop into a wonderful open woodland space.
Kilkenny Forestry , Black and white Gallery
The Red Barn Remembers
Fujifilm x100
The old red barn. kells, county Kilkenny
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The Red Barn Remembers
The red barn stands, silhouetted against the sky.
A tree wraps its young limbs about her
as if to protect her from time and age.
Her roof is sagging, color faded ,
An errant plume of red along her frame.
.
Yet, proudly she stands, remembrance of a happy time.
Shelter from the rain, children
Playing in her hair, lovers hiding in her shadows.
Beauty I see now, not bright, not boastful.
With dignity and respect she bows to age.
Knockroe
Nikon d7000, 35mm f1.8g lens
Knockroe passage tomb, county kilkenny
irish landscape photography
Knockrow passage tomb is located about 15km from Callan. county kilkenny and I have visited this tomb many time, The images in this post are from Monday this week, it was a warm and sunny October afternoon and a perfect day for walking around the area the tomb is located in.
Knockroe passage tomb, County Kilkenny was excavated in 1990. It has some 30 decorated stones and could be connected to Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, the front of the cairn flanking the eastern tomb was decorated with a frieze of quartz. Also, like Newgrange, the roof-box in the western tomb allows the rays of the sun to pass along the upward-sloping passage at the Winter Solstice (21st December), when it illuminates a tall red-sandstone portal.
Unlike Newgrange however these rays pass through the roofbox at sunset rather than sunrise. The other aspect of Knockroe that makes it worth investigating is that until its discovery, the prior most southern site of its kind was at Baltinglass Hill in County Wicklow. And the fact that there are two tombs on the one site also marks it out as uncommon.
Two of the images below show a track that at some point in the past was cut through the centre of the tomb, for a farm on the hill just above, thankfully it looks like any damage was not to the most important parts of the site. but no one knows for sure what was removed.
Knockroe passage tomb : Gallery
Molly, the mountain girl….
Nikon d700
Molly on Slievenamon, County Tipperary
Irish landscape photography
Molly is our 10 year old golden retriever she has been on many walks on the Irish mountains, I just love her along-side me while walking and look at the views.
She will often, take a rest to look at the views just in the same way I will, here she is talking a seat at the foot of Slievenamon, county Tipperary, after the long walk to top.
October In The Mountains
Slievenamon, a mountain in october
irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
October In The Mountains
by : Aletha Rappaport
The North Wind does blow,
His chilly fingers on my face
Tell me it is time to go –
To leave our mountain home
And seek a warmer clime
Before ice forms on the lake.
How can winter be so close?
The woods are alive with color –
.
Yellow, yellow and more yellows
Of every shade and hue –
Reds and orange, browns and russet too.
Autumn having her last fling
Before submitting to Winter’s icy sting.
The Waterwheel, by Jalaluddin Rumi
Nikon D300
The Waterwheel at kells, County Kilkenny
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The Waterwheel
Stay together, friends.
Don’t scatter and sleep.
Our friendship is made
of being awake.
The waterwheel accepts water
and turns and gives it away,
weeping.
That way it stays in the garden,
whereas another roundness rolls
through a dry riverbed looking
for what it thinks it wants.
Stay here, quivering with each moment
like a drop of mercury.
Kilkenny landscape photography
Fujifilm x100
Sheepstown church, County Kilkenny
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Sheepstown Chapel, which is located at the end of a very small field in county kilkenny was built during the twelfth century which mark the reorganisation from a monastic church system to a diocesan system. The grounds of the church are small with only a very few graves with in the walls, the chapel building is also tiny. When built, only being used for the local community of farmers and their workers.
The chapel was dedicated to St. Muicin, It’s architectural details, as in the doorway are plain, except for the beaded moulding on the four corners of the building and what is known as a ” Clock – Stone ” high up on the West Gable.
The location is very secluded and peaceful, the kind of place well worth visiting and taking your time in.
Read more: http://www.documentingireland.com/products/sheepstown-church-knocktopher-newmarket-co-kilkenny-2-/
Sheepstown church, County Kilkenny, Gallery
Eva Cassidy – Who Knows Where The Time Goes ?
“Who Knows Where The Time Goes?”
Across the evening sky,all the birds are leaving
Oh but then you know, it was time for them to go
By the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I do not count the time
for who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
.
Sad,deserted shore
your fickle friends are leaving
oh, but then you know it was time for them to go
But I will still be here
I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time
for who knows where the time goes?
.
I know I’m not alone
while my love is near me
I know that its so until its time to go
All the storms in Winter and the birds in Spring again
I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes?
who knows where the time goes?
who knows where the time goes?
.
Thanks to a very great friend for the inspiration …
Sunday evening Poem
Fuji film x100
Kilkenny landscape view
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Today is the tomorrow
By Neol Cronin
Always on the horizon but never here,
Travelling towards, but never near,
Never sure of what’s in store
No matter what, we will always want more.
Tomorrow’s a day, full of great hope,
Because maybe today, we just cannot cope.
Tomorrow is the day, to us no-one can give.
Tomorrow is the day, we will never live.
.
Our being is the present, the here and now.
Our hope – is tomorrow, somewhere, somehow
Tomorrow’s the pipedream, we have today
Today is the tomorrow, we sought yesterday.
Its the weekend so….
All images taken using a Nikon D300
Lough Derg Way, Trail walk, County Limerick
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Its the weekend so why not find a long country trail to walk, take some time to sit down a look at the views.
Clear your mind and relax……
An afternoon at Rosskerrig, Ahakista
All images using a nikon D300
Rosskerrig, Ahakista, West cork, Ireland
Irish landscape Photography
Rosskerrig, Ahakista is on the Sheepshead peninsular in county West Cork.
Its a wonderful location for an Irish holiday and perfect for landscape images of the coast line alone both sides of the Atlantic bay. It was a very warm but hazy afternoon around Easter time, the light from the sun was oddly very low even though it was still only around 3pm.
For these images I had the camera on a tripod and used a polarising filter.
Rosskerrig, Ahakista, West cork, Gallery
Rosslare Habour, county wexford, a week on the beach
All images taken with a Nikon D300
A week on Rosslare beach, county wexford
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Rosslare Holiday Resort is located in the South east of Wexford and has some of the best hours of sunshine in Ireland, Along with having one of Ireland’s small but best used ferry ports it is also visited by many people for holidays or day trips to the wonderful beach.
We stayed here back in 2008 for a wonderful week and walked ourselves and Molly our Golden retriever along the beach each day. She made many new friends with people and dogs during her time here, managing to get them to entertain her in the sea for hours.
I really enjoyed watching so many people enjoy themselves here, walking along the beach, swimming, and exercising themselves and there dogs.
Rosslare beach people and dogs, Gallery
A connection from the hill tops.
Communications tower, Windgap woods, country Kilkenny
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The woods at Windgap, County Kilkenny, sit above the valley we live in. A walk through the woods offers some wonderful views of the Landscape below.
The wood is also the home to the local communications tower, high in the woodlands it is hard to reach by car and one evening last week I noticed the service people driving through the fields to get to the building below the tower.
I feel that the contrast between the landscape and this tower is what I really hope to show here, but of course with out it I would not be able to show you these images?
Kilkenny landscape Gallery
Now that Autumn has begun (Two Autumn Poems)
Autumn colours in the Landscape
Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Autumn
By : Dorian Petersen Potter
Autumn comes singing in
Displaying her treasures’ galore.
So prettily dressed she grins
Spreading more beauty than before
She transforms the trees one by one,
She paints their leaves with new hues.
There’s a different kind of fun,
Now that Autumn has begun
.
There’s a magic in the air,
In the smells and all the colors.
Cool breeze plays with my hair,
While her beauty I just stare!
Autumn has come back at my door,
What a sight! It’s the season I adore
.
Amber Glow
By : Wesley Mincin
Red and yellow painted leaves
hang idly within the trees
They break and sail along the breeze
As fires of Autumn’s time
They dance and surf upon the ground
Overlap each other with ruffling sound
A setting I am glad I found
As fires of Autumn’s time
Like fires of the Autumn season
they leap and dance without a reason
A factor of Autumns many seasons
As fires of Autumn’s time’
The grey clouds break, the sun appears
The dancing leaves appear to sere
These flames its kept for many years
As fires of Autumn’s time
Classic Irish homes
Images take using a Nikon D7000
Classic Irish Home, County Tipperary
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
When I first came to live in Ireland, one thing I really noticed what the different architecture around the country.
While many homes in both Ireland and main land Europe can and do look the same, I started wondering what the classical Irish house looked like, Well this house sitting on the borders of county Tipperary and Kilkenny to myself is it.
Rectangular with it’s five windows at the front and an arched red front door, this house is so classically Irish in nature that I would now see it as the classic 1900’s Irish home.
These houses could both be a Farm house with the Farm yard at the back or a town house sitting with a garden at the back and the street at the front.
Classical 1900’s Irish home
Wild Mushrooms in the Irish woodlands.
All images using a Fujifilm X100
Autumn Mushrooms at Woodstock, County Kilkenny
Irish Nature and landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
On Saturday while walking through the woodlands above the River Barrow, Woodstock, Inistioge in county Kilkenny. At the back of a farm yard I came across these Mushrooms growing in the ground of the woodland.
At this time of year just as the Autumn is taking a hold the local woodlands come to life with all kinds of Mushrooms, I managed to get the below pictures and intend to go hunting for more during the week and next weekend.
The Image above is of Shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus) Mushrooms and below are Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) mushrooms .
Irish wild mushrooms, Gallery
Irish landscape photography
All images taken using a, Fujifilm x100
The black and white Farming landscape of the woodstock estate, county Kilkenny
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The Following images are from the wonderful Rural landscape of the Woodstock farming estate, above the river Barrow at Inistioge, county Kilkenny.
Taken last Saturday afternoon, while walking in the area.
Irish Landscape : Gallery
My Land
Fujifilm X100
The Landscape of county Kilkenny, Ireland
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
My Land
By Thomas Davis
She is a rich and rare land;
Oh! she’s a fresh and fair land;
She is a dear and rare land–
This native land of mine.
No men than her’s are braver–
Her women’s hearts ne’er waver;
I’d freely die to save her,
And think my lot divine.
She’s not a dull or cold land;
No! she’s a warm and bold land;
Oh! she’s a true and old land–
This native land of mine.
Could beauty ever guard her,
And virtue still reward her,
No foe would cross her border–
No friend within it pine!
Oh! she’s a fresh and fair land;
Oh! she’s a true and rare land;
Yes! she’s a rare and fair land–
This native land of mine.
Nigel Borrington
Rain Water, The chaos of falling and splashing
Nikon D7000, 105mm f2.8 Macro lens
Rain water, County Kilkenny, The chaos of falling and splashing
Irish based photographer : Nigel borrington
Yesterday here in Ireland was very wet, I still had to use my Camera.
So I sheltered under the cover of the Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, and took these images of the rain running of the roof and hitting the ground. The rain flowed freely from the lowest parts of the roof and down over the bolts that hold it together.
The rain was so heavy that the effects I feel I captured, show just how chaotic the water looks as it splashed of the paving stones.
Rain water flowing and landing
October 19, 2013 | Categories: Comment, Gallery, Kilkenny Landscape images, kilkenny photography, Nature and Wildlife | Tags: Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Irish photography, Kilkenny, Landscape, macro photography, Nigel Borrington, Nikon D7000, Rain water, rain water images, weather photography | 9 Comments