Mid-summers day 2013
Fuji film x100
Sunrise over kilkenny
Midsummer’s day 2013
Midsummer’s Eve/Litha/Feill-Sheathain/Alban Hefin/Gwyn Canol Haf
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year falling circa June 22 when the Sun enters Cancer (this year 20 June 2012 19:09 EDT). This is the time of celebrating the Earth’s bounty. The God is vibrant and at the peak of his power and the Goddess is fertile and pregnant. This reflects in our fertile gardens, brimming with life and and the fruits of our labor. The Sun is bright and strong. Animals in nature have established families they are showing off to the world. Midsummer is a celebration of the Earth and all she provides for us, also known as Litha after an ancient European fertility Goddess. This is also time sacred for the Fae and is one of the days one can see the them (keep a sprig of rue in your pocket so they don’t lead you away!!)…This is the time when the Oak King and Holly King battle for supremacy again, Holly King emerges triumphant this time around, they meet again at the Winter Solstice when the Oak King shall prevail.
Activities:
Midsummer is a good time to see the Fae folk; skip through your garden ensures fertility (not necessarily your own fertility) for the season; renew your vows/affirmations/bond with the God/Goddess; Stay up the entire night (old custom); harvest your herbs and other light garden work (weeding, etc.); have a bonfire (if you are oh, so lucky to have the place & clearance to do so!!); If you practice sex magic today is a powerful day to do so; ideas for family: spend a day at the beach, go birdwatching (be sure to bring a bird guide!), gather flowers and make Midsummer crowns or garlands for you hair and/or altar.
Incense: Wisteria, Rose, Mints
Decor: Suns, green plants, flowers, early garden bounty, herbs, bees, butterflies, birds, dragonflies,etc.
Herbs/Flowers: St. John’s Wort, Fennel, Vervain, Trefoil, Mugwort, Lavender, Rose, Fern, Daisy, Elder, Honeysuckle, Oak, Chamomile
Colors: Red, Yellow, Gold (represents the Sun God), various shades of green
Stones: Jade, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli=psychic awareness & fertility of mind & body (for more info on lapis visit http://www.earthbow.com/crystals/lapis.htm) ,diamonds
Knockroe, County Kilkenny
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Each midsummers there is a meeting at knockroe passage grave, Co Kilkenny to mark the rising and setting of the mid summers sun.
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We welcome in Mid summers day !
By the lake, a poem
Sigma SD15, 18-50mm lens, iso 50
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
By the lake : By Jon Coe
I watched the ripples, as I drifted away
the lake was deep, on this golden day
Lured by reflection, in this tranquil deep
I lost my mind, then I fell asleep
Trees were talking, murmured rustling leaves
sunlight glistened, on catkin weaves
Dragonflies, and fish that spawn
could not awake me, from this dawn
.
I floated far and I drifted near
there was no time, as was not fear
Taken away, on this autumn noon
stars were shining, behind the moon
When crickets struck their evening call
the bullfrog chirped, his sombre all
And as the sunset shone, upon this land
the moon took me quietly, by the hand
I stretched and weeped, the night, it fell
I returned my spirit, to this inspired shell
The lake, my friend, shall always be
my place of relaxation, next to, and within me
Day of the – Rhododendrons
The Vee – County Tipperary
The Vee in county Tipperary is one of Ireland most visited landscape locations. ‘The Vee’ refers to a V-shaped valley in the Knockmealdown mountains. Formed in the ice age the Vee itself is on the Sugar Loaf mountain , and forms a pass from Tipperary to Waterford between Knockaunabulloga (on which you will find Bay Lough) and the Sugar Loaf mountain.
The Vee is predominantly famous because of the breathtaking panoramic views afforded to travellers and sight seers going through the pass. The journey rises to about 2,000 feet (610m) above sea level above Bay Lough, and as it does so it gives wonderful views of a portion of the ‘Golden Vale’ between the Knockmealdown and Galtee Mountain Ranges.
On a clear day (or night) the Vee affords views along and across the valley to Clonmel, Cahir, Ardfinnan, Clogheen, Ballyporeen and even Cashel. You can also see the Galtee Mountains across the valley, the Comeragh Mountains along the valley and Slievenamon, behind Clonmel, quite clearly.
Each June however the entire area is covered in the bright pinks of Rhododendron flowers, I visited the area on Saturday just to photograph this event taking place, in the wild this plant is incredibly invasive and as you can see from these images has become the overwhelming feature the the entire area.
Rhododendron ponticum, in Ireland
This web site decribes Rhododendrons as an invasive species and for good reason.
Habitat: Mixed deciduous forest. Temperate heaths. Raised and blanket bogs.
Description: This species was first introduced to parks, gardens, and demesnes in Britain and Ireland in the 1700’s. Rhododendron ponticum is readily recognised by its distinctive attractive flowers and large dark green coloured, oval leaves. It can grow quite tall with specimens regularly attaining 8 m.
Origin and Distribution: The species is native to both Europe and Asia. It is believed that the current populations of Rhododendron in Ireland have been introduced from material taken from both the Iberian Peninsula populations and the Asian populations of this species. Rhododendron has a complex history.
Impacts: Rhododendron can from very dense thickets and out-compete native plants for space and resources, especially for sunlight. Other impacts on fish and invertebrate communities have been recorded. Rhododendron can also prevent access to sites by the shear mass of plant material blocking paths and right of way.
How did it get here? Natural dispersal by seed and vegetative means and planted by people.
Where is it found in Ireland? Planted in gardens, parks and demesnes.
Prevent Spread
Import only clean soil from known source
Ensure all vehicles and equipment are cleaned to avoid cross contamination.
Be aware of the threat of colonisation from upstream areas washing Japanese knotweed material downstream.
Promote native species and biodiversity – use alternative, native plants
Know what you are buying/growing and source native Irish seed and plants
Do not swap plants and cuttings
Clean plants before adding to ponds (dispose of water away from water courses)
Never collect plants from the wild
Safe disposal of plant material and growing media
In the aerial photograph above, the Rhododendrons show as the lighter green area in the middle of the image and rise the full hight of the mountain on the left of Bay Lough and follow the flow of the river that flows from the lough down the valley and into the woods below.
From a personal stand point, each June it is a wonderful site to see, many Tourists visit the area during this period just to take in the views it offers, however it is a little overwhelming to witness the extent this plant has taken over the mountains in this part of county Tipperary. When you take into account that it was only introduced in the 1700’s as a decorative plant into a local garden in the valley below.
Image Gallery
All images taken using a Nikon D7000
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
The Vee, County Tipperary
The giants causeway
Geology and Myth
It was on a very wet October morning that we arrived at the giants causeway, its located just outside of the town of Bushmills, county Antrim, on the north Irish coast.
Its a national trust site so you have to pay a fee to get in to the area. Its a small walk from the visitors center to the causeway itself but its well worth it.
This is both a magical and mythical location and one of the worlds most geologically fascinating places.
I took the following images on the day and even though it was very wet and dull I think they get across the feeling you have when your walking around this site. I have added some information as the the geology and the myth’s associated with this truly wonderful place.
The Geology of the causeway
Giant’s Causeway, ( Irish: Clochán an Aifir) promontory of basalt columns along 4 miles (6 km) of the northern coast of Northern Ireland. It lies on the edge of the Antrim plateau between Causeway Head and Benbane Head, some 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Derry. There are approximately 40,000 of these stone pillars, each typically with five to seven irregular sides, jutting out of the cliff faces as if they were steps creeping into the sea.
Formed 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleogene Period, the Giant’s Causeway resulted from successive flows of lava inching toward the coast and cooling when they contacted the sea. Layers of basalt formed columns, and the pressure between these columns sculpted them into polygonal shapes that vary from 15 to 20 inches (38 to 51 cm) in diameter and measure up to 82 feet (25 metres) in height. They are arrayed along cliffs averaging some 330 feet (100 metres) in elevation.
Myths behind the magic
Thanks to Kirribilli for this re-telling:
Long, long ago there lived a mighty warrior who was known across the length and breadth of Erin for his strength and bravery, no man on the island was his match and apart from repelling the hoards and the armies that attempted to invade our green land, being the best can be a bit boring and Fionn mac Cumhaill needed a challenge, he needed to prove to himself that he was the greatest warrior both on and off the island.
At that time the scourge of Scotland was a giant called Benandonner and on hearing tales of this beast of a man, Fionn knew that if he could beat this giant, his name would be known the world over. He made his way up to the Ulster coast, shouted across the water at Benandonner and challenged him to a fight.
Now normal people would take a boat and sail across the sea but not these two, they set upon ripping huge rocks out of the ground and throwing them into the sea separating Ireland from Scotland until after hours and days of back-breaking work there stretched a rocky causeway linking the two lands.
They’d agreed to fight between their two lands and seeing that bridge was complete, they made their way across the land bridge. As they approached each other it became apparent how big Benandonner really was, this wasn’t just a big man, this was a true giant.
Now Fionn was not a small man himself but the sheer size of the Scottish giant scared him, suddenly a fight with a monster like that wasn’t as appealing…
So he ran.
But not too far, once he was out of Benandonner’s sight he disguised himself as a baby, which was somewhat apt as he always had his best ideas when he sucked his thumb.
When Benandonner found the baby he asked it who its father was, he was told the baby was Fionn mac Cumhaill’s. When he heard this and saw the size of the baby, he imagined how big the father would be, he would be gigantic, he wouldn’t stand a chance, so he ran.
He ran back to the land of the Scots and on his way back he made sure to destroy the bridge, lest Fionn ever come looking for him…
Gallery
Sleivenamon (Mountain of the women)
Nikon d7000, 300mm focus length, iso 100
Slievenamon, county tipperary
Irish landscape photography, kilkenny photographer : Nigel Borrington
Slievenamon
The origin of the mountain’s name is explained in Irish mythology. According to the tale, Fionn mac Cumhaill was sought after by many young women, but he said that he could have only one partner. His partner would be whichever woman won a footrace to the top of the mountain. Fionn stood on the cairn atop the mountain and gave a signal to start the race. The winner was Gráinne
Getting on-top of slievenamon
Canon g1x, iso 100
Slievenamon, county Tipperary
Irish landscape photography : Nigel borrington
Slievenanom, county Tipperary is our closest mountain about a 15min drive, I would love to begin including it into my posts much more than I have to date, I walked up this mountain a few times last year and although its hard going it is more that possible for most people.
The most interesting thing to me about the mountain is at the very top and it is the burial Cairn you can see in the last of these pictures. No one appears to know anything about it yet its mystery must call someone to find out more….
This articular was published in 2008 in the “Tipperary star news paper”
The Story of Slievenamon
Published on 03/11/2008
Since our Tipperary Star travels all over the world, especially on the Internet our emigrants will surely be interested in the story behind the Tipperary’s anthem Slievenamon. It was printed in the Irish Daily Mail in September and all Tipperary people good and true would surely be in the better of knowing all about it.
The stirring strains of that great Tipperary anthem Slievenamon are guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of many exiles. On first glance Slievenamon which is not far from Clonmel in South Tipperary and rises to 719 metres seems rather unprepossessing. But rocks and its valleys contain many hidden gems such as a prehistoric cairn which may contain a passage grave but remains unexcavated.
Slievenamon, which means mountain of the women in Irish deprives it’s name from the fairy women of Feidhlinn.
Legend has it that the celtic warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill chose his bride Grainne from a group of maidens who raced to meet him near the top of the mountain. Slievenamon is also steeped in the national struggle. A group of United Irishmen were betrayed and slaughtered on the mountain during the 1798 rebellion.
Tipp. people are rightly proud of the mountain and guard it jealously, five years ago when an entrepreneur planned to build a wind farm in its slopes there was such public outrage that the scheme was dropped.
The song Slievenamon which began life as the Maid of Slievenamon was written by the Fenian author and journalist Charles J. Kickham who was born in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary in 1828. The Irish version was attributed to Michel Og Langain. Kickham, the son of a draper wrote many more ballads while his novel Knocknagow first published in 1873 was the great nationalist novel of late 19th century Ireland. It was reprinted many times and also turned into one of the earliest feature firms in 1917.
Whichever version of Slievenamon you prefer, English or Irish, anyone with Tipp. blood in their veins will stand proud when they hear their county anthem.
And what about the time when the Thurles Cathedral Choir sang it on the steps of St. Peter’s in Rome. The many people who accompanied the choir on that very special occasion said they will never forget it, not to mind the choir itself which poured heart and soul into their rendering of such a beautiful melody. Traffic streaming by, mostly motor bikes made a recording, a true recording, an impossibility but anybody on foot – pedestrians – certainly watched and listened in joy and amazement and why not – a once in a life time occasion especially for the choir. Sadly some have gone to their reward and great it must be. We remember them especially.
The information was sent in by G. Brown of Dublin – Gratias Gerry. It will be enjoyed by the Tipp. people all over the world – yes – we are everywhere, and their families. Some Tipp. parents feel very proud when their children sing it at concerts and parties in the U.S. and indeed receive many requests for repeat performances. One young boy with beautiful tenor voice is in great demand and there is a promising future ahead of him – his parents emigrated from Cashel and enjoy a wide social circle of people who want to hear the boy with the beautiful voice – Slievenamon is always included. So be proud of your anthem and of your county too wherever you are.
I am very much drawn towards the Mountain that towers above the local landscape in which we live, I am going to spend more time posting this summer and recording its landscape and finding out as much as I can about its history.
A sense of place – our old family farm
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
I have introduced the old family farm before but I just wanted to post some images that fill in some for impressions of the place. The farm has been worked on for many generations. Sadly its no longer lived in any more but we do our best to visit and keep the old place going….
Gallery of Burnchurch farm, County Tipperary
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm VR2 lens
Images of the old farm, County Tipperary
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Kilkenny landscape photography
A Wednesday afternoon walk – an eight image gallery.
An afternoon walk, Burnchurch County Kilkenny
The towns-lands of Burnchurch, county kilkenny offer one on the most wonderful landscapes in county Kilkenny. The National ploughing match was held here some years back along with national sheep trials. I helped in submitting images for both events.
I took a couple of hours off this afternoon to walk Molly our Golden retriever and take some landscape photographs for my blog and website this time.
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr II lens, iso 100
Burnchurch, County Kilkenny
Landscape photography by : Nigel Borrington
Irish clean water standards – ( EPA 2012 )
In May 2012 I received a call from the Irish EPA in Cork, they were looking for some images in order to help finish the publication of some brochures, before the launch of new European clean water standards.
In the end I got both the front cover and many of the internal images, these are just some of the work submitted, this project was a great chance to publish some of my landscape photography.
I also completed the design of the from cover as below….
Morning meditations, in a foggy kilkenny landscape
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.4 lens, iso 1600
Fog over a Kilkenny Farm
Kilkenny Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Morning meditation
I find nothing to fill the emptiness,
Of a very cold grey moment
In the endless time of my waking up attempts,
When feeling is painful and the morning is fogged,
Time comes and goes as I try to understand,
Understanding becomes big, huge as a true thing can be,
Truth is relative they say,
Points of view and ways to see,
Interacting is so self defined,
Perceptions float when empty seems deathlike,
Silence in and out is not necessarily peace,
Nothing is rational in a sleepy fogged mind,
But the sun has no fault for this,
So,
I decide to get up from my warm bed,
In a fogged, cold, grey and empty morning,
Carry on my sleepy, fogged mind,
With the conviction this certainly is a different day.
By : Mirela Kapaj
Its the weekend so…..
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.4 lens,iso 100
Kilkenny landscape view
Nigel Borrington
Its the weekend so take a country walk and stop for the views………..
Great black backed gulls – Saltee Islands, wexford
Nikon D700, Nikon 300mm f2.8 vr lens
Gulls an the Saltee Islands
Wildlife photography by,
Kilkenny based Photographer : Nigel Borrington
Two young Gulls taking a rest on a cliff top, on the Saltee islands, county Wexford…
Mystery of a place – Castlemorris house and gardens
Fujifilm X100
The Green door
Irish landscape photography: Nigel Borrington
This old door and the stone shed it is attached to is all that remains of one of Ireland greatest ever country houses, The house had some 356 windows and belonged to the Montmorency family.
In its day in the mid-19th century, it was one of the finest (and largest) houses in Ireland at that time and compared well with Bessborough in Piltown.
Built around 1751 in the parish of Aghaviller, the Castlemorris estate was previously known as “Diore Lia” (a grey wood). Formerly home to the Morres and de Montmorency families, the family vault can still be seen in the local churchyard.
The churchyard also contains the remains of an ancient round tower. Built to protect the occupants and valuables of monastic settlements from Viking raids, these towers dot the Nore valley.
In 1924 the house was sold to the Land Commission. In the early 1930s it was unroofed and a demolition sale took place. Many parts of the house can be found in houses around the country.
The house itself was finally demolished in 1978. The grounds now merge with other Coillte woods, totalling approximately 2,000 acres in the district. Ms de Montmorency-Wright gave an excellent talk and should be complimented for her extensive research into her family and their association with Castlemorris.
In ancient woodlands, bluebells and wild garlic grow
Fujifil X100
Kilkenny Ireland
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
In Ancient Woodlands
We walked within an ancient wood
Beside the path
Where oak and beech and hazel stood,
Their leaves the pale shades of May.
By bole and bough, still black with rain,
The sunlight filtered where it would
Across a glowing, radiant stain—
We stood within a bluebell wood!
And stood and stood, both lost for words,
As all around the woodland rang
And echoed with the cries of birds
Who sang and sang …
My mind has marked that afternoon
To hoard against life’s stone and sling;
Should I go late, or I go soon,
The bluebells glow where wild garlic grows— the birds still sing.
Fujifilm X100
Kilkenny Ireland
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
St Patrick well
St Patrick’s well is located In Clonmel, County Tipperary.
The Well pre-dates Christian times by a considerable period, clearly only being referred to as belonging to St Patrick since he or the local church converted the local people to Christianity.
“The Celtic pre-Christian period.
There is a lot of evidence to show that in ancient Ireland well worship was widely practised. Many if not all of Ireland’s holy wells of later Christian times had been objects of pagan veneration, and regarded as sacred, centuries before the advent of Christianity. In fact many Irish place names which have their origins dating from pre-Christian times are derived from wells. One of those sacred springs Tipra Arann in the present Barony of Clanwilliam around Tipperary Town, gave its name to County Tipperary. In the Bronze Age there seems to have been no temples constructed for the purposes of worship. Pagan rites were performed in the open air. Those were places of popular assembly as well as centres for pagan worship and sacrifices.”
Sacrifices ? There is no evidence of this so I think the writer of the page is talking about offerings. Items of personal value placed into the well as a thank you to the water gods.
“St Patrick and his disciples on their travels throughout the country took advantage of those assemblies to preach the Gospel and to baptise the new converts. To St. Patrick coming from lands within the former Roman Empire some of those Celtic customs must have appeared strange. Well worship was re-orientated and transformed into a Christian context. In due course, from being places where pagan rites had been performed, the wells became places of Christian worship. There was a tradition which has died out that people visited St Patrick’s Well before sunrise on the first day of May – a date which coincides with the Celtic Festival of Bealtaine.”
I find the idea of Holy wells in the early Christian period to be fascinating, It appears, as covered above to be a clear attempt by the church to override the previous worship of water gods and to move this worship over to the new God that the modern christian church now worships.
Boarding the Titanic
Fujifilm X100
Titanic Museum, Cobh, County Cork
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
This small pier that now looks well past its best days, helped transport one hundred and twenty three passengers from the white star line booking hall at Cobh/queenstown county cork on to small ferry’s and then on to the HMS Titanic before she set sail to New York.
This is the list of Titanic Passenger boarding at queenstown (11 April 1912 a:10:30am d:13:40pm) on that day. While visiting the museum and Pier you cannot help but feel the moment when these people boarded their boats and looked back at the harbour of Queenstown as they headed towards the Titanic. At the time of course they were only looking forward to a new life or the great experiences that they had ahead of themselves.
We however cannot help but view these moments in a different light….
In the above passenger listing, If the passenger survived the events that followed they are listed in the boat number that they were found in, if they didn’t they are listed as a body or if they were not found they have no entry in the last two columns.
Fujifilm X100
Fishing Harbour, Cobh, County Cork
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Fujifilm X100
View of Cobh, County Cork
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Fujifilm X100
Titanic Museum, Cobh, County Cork
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Croaghlin, Teelin, County Donegal
Nikon D7000, 24mm f2.8 af-d lens
Croaghlin, Teelin, County Donegal
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.4 af-d lens
Croaghlin, Teelin, County Donegal
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Croaghlin Teelin, is one of County Donegal’s most iconic landscape images. The cliff and coastal views appears in many tourist websites and tourist office publications.
There is a long walk up the stone path to get the best views, but it is well worth the effort.
If you are visiting Donegal, Croaghlin is near Carrick and past Killybegs.
Allihies
Allihies area from the old Cloan hills road.
Nikon D7000, 24-85mm f3.5 lens.
Allihies, west cork
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Allihies, west cork, offers one of Ireland’s most remote and stunning Landscapes, This shot was taken on a visit Last year.
The old Cloan, copper mining road out of the town gives some stunning landscape views of the area below
It also passes the old copper mines in the hills above the town.
Its the weekend So…
Why not find a remote place to visit…..
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Watch the sun set…..
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Stay and go for a walk in the moon light…
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All images using a Fujifilm X100
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Allihies (/ælˈæhiz/; Irish: Na hAilichí, meaning “the cliff fields”)[1] is a coastal parish (and townland) in the west of County Cork, Ireland.
Torc waterfall
The Torc river and waterfall are located in The Killarney Nation Park, county Kerry. These four images show some of the rivers flow over the Torc Waterfall and into Muckross lake below.
Nikon D200, 35mm f2.8 lens
Irish Landscape Photograhy : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D200, 35mm f2.8 lens
Irish Landscape Photograhy : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D200, 35mm f2.8 lens
Irish Landscape Photograhy : Nigel Borrington
Nikon D200, 35mm f2.8 lens
Irish Landscape Photograhy : Nigel Borrington
The D200 camera was mounted on a tripod for all these images and I used a slow shutter speeds to blur the rivers water flow.
This Old Caravan
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.4 lens
The old Caravan
Walton Court, Oysterhaven Bay
County Cork
I took these images one September afternoon while we were on a weeks holiday at Walton Court, Kinsale, County Cork. I was walking our dog Molly down towards the beach when we came across this old wooden Caravan.
I just had to get some shots, it makes you wonder about the life it has had and how long it has been sitting here.
I found the owner the next day and its been a long term dream to restore it but I think the downturn has probably delayed that a little, one day however it would be wonderful to see it looking as new
Nigel
Marriage: From a Humanist point of view…
As a photographer who has and hopes to keep working in the wedding photography field, I have often wondered how it all started. How it is that most people accept the formal church wedding and some want something a little different.
I have contacted the Association of Irish Humanists and received a book that they kindly sent me “The humanist philosophy”, this little green book is a wonderful guide to the humanist view of our Christian world.
I knew it was for me the moment I opened the front cover and the following quotation was printed on the inside page..
” … We believe that it is better to love men than to fear gods; that it is grander and nobler to think and investigate for yourself than to repeat a creed” ‘A humanist credo’ Robert Green Ingersoll, 1833-1899
Well, this very simple little quotation says it all to me. “Investigate for yourself”! don’t just repeat in parrot fashion something you have been trained to say every Sunday…. Hum, How can I resist knowing more!!
So over the next weeks I will post some, relating to my conclusions of this little book and its view on life and birth,death,marriage,art,etc….
Nigel
Tramore Beach
Nikon D200, 35mm focal length f2.8 lens, Iso 800
Tramore Beach,
County Waterford
Word list and play:
People, beach, sand, sounds, waves, cars, chips, cans, parking, fun, dogs, running, holes, digging, walking, sitting, looking, sleeping, parents, kids, couples, crying, kicking, ball, boats, boards, paper, bags….
Feel free to add more !
Nigel Borrington 
Just another ghost estate – Callan, co Kilkenny
Ireland Ghost estates
Yesterdays Lunch time walk was a little more attractive than today’s, at some point however I wanted to post about Ireland’s and Kilkenny’s ghost estates.
The country as a whole feels like its gone through the worst of the last years since 2007, however when you take a walk around these local ghost estates you may not think so.
I took the below photograph during the building of this new estate in Callan, during July 2007.
The Callan housing estate in these pictures was the last to be built in 2007, other estates in the town being built between around 2004 and 2008. None of the houses in this estate ever sold and I heard recently that the council are about to order its demolition.
The entire area around the estate is covered in broken glass, yet there is nothing to stops any Adult,child or dog walking around this location….
Number of Irish Ghost estates by counties Carlow (15), Cavan (21), Clare (9), Cork City (6), County Cork (90), Donegal (22), Dublin City (24), Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown (10), Fingal (17), Galway City (6), Galway County (20), Kerry (21), Kildare (25), Kilkenny (21), Laoighis (15), Leitrim (21), Limerick City (0), Limerick County (11), Longford (19), Louth (17), Mayo (21), Meath (19), Monaghan (18), Offaly (6), Roscommon (35), Sligo (24), South Dublin (7), Tipperary North (16), Tipperary South (17), Waterford City (6), Waterford County (9), Westmeath (18), Wexford (24), Wicklow (11).
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May 30, 2013 | Categories: Comment, Landscape | Tags: ghost estates, Ireland, irish economy, Irish photography, Kilkenny, Nigel Borrington | 25 Comments