Image from the Waterford coast.
Sigma SD15, 18-50mm lens,iso 50
Waterford coastline, June 2013
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Last evening I went for a drive and stopping the car, I walked along the Waterford coastline. At some point I sat down and looked at the views. Just taking some time to really look!, we spend most of our life’s thinking and talking, watching tv and living other peoples life’s not our own.
Maybe! we should find a space, a space for our own life’s, a space in which we can grow something called “a mind of our own….”, this isn’t a sin! to give yourself time, to be individual.
So then, a Poem
Cool sea laps against the rocks,
following the sands of time,
Sometimes the sea seems suspended like a clear mirror reflecting peace
and sometimes the sea rages, undeniable in it’s quest to never cease.
People can gaze upon it and think they have found a reason to exist,
others gaze and see themselves and begin a peace with tomorrow.
But only the waters of the sea’s stay
yet the tides come and go and seem to show time drifting away.
One picture is not enough nor will any amount,
as the sea is all of them and none of them, calm and smooth or angry and rough.
It keeps the wheels of the world turning more than a single life,
as it will always be their giving life and gaining the respect it always should.
Time and space ….
Merge – (a poem by : Kadambari Kashyap)
Sigma Sd15, 18-50 f2.8 lens, iso 50
Spirit of place, public sculpture, County Kilkenny
Photography by : Nigel Borrington
Poem By : Kadambari Kashyap.
When our spirits merge…
I or You won’t be there anymore,
But us.
There won’t be anyone talking,
Rather our souls would sing in
Ecstatic harmony.
In a language unknown.
When our spirits merge
There will be nothing left
But we will burn
As the sun and stars do every moment.
When our spirits merge
All things will come to an end
But to start again.
In a new form
In a new desire…
And as we make way for something new
In our sweet surrender
To each other
we will be healed
healed of the entire past
of me, you and the rest…
In that surrender, something
Will be on fire, death will inevitably
Consume it.
And soon after that
Divine creativity will bloom out
When our spirits will burn and merge.
Red damselfly, on the banks of the river Barrow, co.Kilkenny
Nikon D7000, 85mm Focus length, iso 200
red damselfly resting, Banks of the River Barrow, Co.Kilkenny
Irish nature Photography by : Nigel Borrington
Walking along a river bank at this time of year you should always have your camera with you, all kinds of insects are out and about. Just brushing past the long grasses brings up the Dragon fly and the damselfly, you have to move very slowly to get them but it’s well worth the effort.
I managed to get this shot along with some others, I will post more of them over the next few day or so.
Flowers on the river bank
Nikon D7000, 85mm focus length, iso 200
Flowers on the banks of the River Barrow, Co.Kilkenny
Kilkenny photography, Nigel Borrington
I took this image yesterday, while walking along the banks of the river Barrow here in County Kilkenny. There had been a shower just before I got out of the car but the weather and the temperature afterwards was like a head wave for Ireland !
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
Sunset on the River
Sunset on the River
Jan Weeratunga, South Africa
Reds, pinks, oranges and gold’s catch the edge of the clouds and slowly turn the evening sky into a canvas waiting to be painted.
The sun’s last ray’s bounce off the cloud’s lining as it sinks gradually beyond the horizon.
Playfully the rays dance off the shimmering surface of the river,
Another fish jumps from the water,
Sending a concertina of ripples to the riverbank’s shoreline.
Golden waves approach as the setting sun sinks slowly below the horizon,
And small waves lap the side of our boat in an unending regular rhythm.
The repetitive knocking of the fender against the hull takes on the beat of the river,
Tapping the boat and shoreline alike,
It’s constant rhythm disturbed only by the wake of a passing boat or water bird landing on its surface.
Crickets join in with their own percussion as the melody is taken up by the surrounding birdlife,
Each chorus, their evening song as they head along the river bank in search of their nights roost.
Insects buzz over the surface, darting this way and that,
As swallows swoop swiftly, snapping them up in their gaping beaks.
Against the Western horizon a kingfisher dives into calmer waters bathed in a glorious warm orange light.
To the East the night’s first star is born,
It shimmers and shivers into life,
Just as the river serenely falls to sleep.
Peace is coming to the river as the ‘time between times’ –
That suspended few minutes of sunset –
Links all things in this world in a glorious golden moment before darkness descends.
Gradually the river slips into sleep
And the moon begins to rise and perform her dance across the waters glassy surface;
Replacing her brothers golden rays with her own silver ones.
Silver shimmering light bathes all beneath it,
Only disturbed by an occasional fish breaking free of its watery surrounds,
To be touched and blessed by the moonlight,
Before diving back down to the river bed.
The moon arches across the night sky,
Playing with the stars,
Until her brothers warming rays tell her it is once again time to allow the miracle of night and day to exchange places.
.
At first only a thin glowing red streak spreads along the tree line,
But quickly the shades of red are replaced by orange and then yellow,
And as the sun wakes from its nights slumber,
Dawn summons us from sleep,
And the tempo of waves against the boats hull increase with the blaze of activity that is engulfing the river,
And the throbbing beat signals a new day is beginning.
Sunday afternoon walks, river Borrow, co.Kilkenny
Fuji film x100, iso 200
Swans on the River Barrow
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Sunday afternoon walk along the river Borrow, Co Kilkenny and I came across this family of swans. It was just wonderful to spend sometime with them and get some photo’s along the way….
Surfing at Bunmahon beach, county waterford
Canon G1x
Surfing at Bunmahon beach, county Waterford
photographer : Nigel Borrington
An evenings walk and one of the best evenings during the summer so far, walking along Bunmahon beach we came across these surfers.
I spent sometime photographing them as they had some great fun in the waves, as did ourselves watching them ….
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 Dad I Didn’t Even Get To Meet
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr2 lens, iso 100
A chair for the dad I did’t even get to meet
Nigel Borrington
A Poem by : Brandy poole
I never even knew you
but deep inside I knew
you were out there waiting
for me to find you
days and months past
years flew by too
till that day
I finally found you
the grass was so green
the dirt so rich
there stood your headstone
with your name engraved in it
I couldn’t believe
to my surprise
you lay to rest
oh dear, oh my!!
my father so dear
I’m too late
God has taken you
to heaven above
I cried so softly
for my dad I never knew
oh why oh why
please tell me what to do
so many questions not answered
the things wanted to say
please God tell me
why did you take my daddy away
…
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
In my Mothers Kitchen
Poem by : Susan Lower
My mother’s kitchen was worn with age.
In the old farm house,
where we lived and played.
She kept it nice and tidy.
The glasses always washed.
Not a plate out of place.
On the old red linoleum floors.
I did roller skate.
I learned to bake a cake.
Without a book, without any taste.
There I watched from the window,
my sisters kiss their dates.
My mother’s kitchen held a telephone.
Where my sisters stretched the cord,
and hid behind the next door.
Inside the wall of this place.
Comfort grew without the frills of lace.
Never were we late
when Mother called us in from the barn.
My mother’s kitchen is where I knew she’d be.
When I came racing home from school.
She always stood waiting for me.
Its the weekend so……
Fuji X100, 28mm lens, iso 100
County Kerry coast-line ,
Irish Landscape photography:Nigel Borrington
It’s the weekend so if you can find a place with a view and lose yourself in it…..
Kilkenny landscape photography
Its a great morning here in county Kilkenny….
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm vr lens
A kilkenny landscape
Nigel Borrington
I was Up early this morning, and took this shot of our local landscape as the very early sun broke through the clouds, just for a while. I am trying as hard a possible to fight that Friday feeling and get some plans going, we have a long weekend here with a bank holiday on Monday but must keep going, just one more day …..
Kilkenny Landscape Photography
Nikon D7000, 24mm lens, iso 100
River Barrow, Country kilkenny
Kilkenny landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
What a wonderful spring evening we are having in County Kilkenny, A walk with our dog Molly along the river Barrow was just a wonderful way to end the day…..
Paragliding from Slievenamon
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.8 lens, iso 100
Paragliding off Slievenamon, county Tipperary
Kilkenny based photographer : Nigel borrington
During the Summer last year, I was lucky enough to be walking up Slievenamon, county Tipperary while some Para-glider’s were taking off from the side of the mountain. I spent a good long time with these people and got some great photos during the afternoon, here are just two of the many I got….
Nigel
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.8 lens, iso 100
Paragliding off Slievenamon, county Tipperary
Kilkenny based photographer : 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
Friends
A friend indeed! : Nandi Mhlongo
I have a friend, a friend in word & a friend indeed.
A friend who loves me with all friends being & I love friend too.
My friend rejuvenates me
A friend of my youth,
A friend indeed!
I have a friend in word, my friend reminds me of my purpose in life
I can exhale with my friend by my side
My friend is good to me
A friend indeed!
When my friend is gone, I miss my friend already
But my friend has gone home because I am home for now
But the truth is our home is in our friendship.
I have a friend, a friend indeed!
My friend in word is my friend indeed and my friend in need.
Friendship is all we need & we have.
I have a friend a friend indeed!
Nikon D700, 24mm focus length, iso 100
National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
Nigel Borrington
All images Taken at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 2012
Irish Boglands and Peatlands
Back In 2004 I attended an art exhibition held in our local friary hall. The exhibition titled Currents was being shown in many locations in the republic of Ireland and The North of Ireland during that year. I was taken by many of the artists ( I will come back to some of them in future posts) but for me one stood out above the others, this being Sam Mateer and his paintings of the Irish Bog-lands.
Over the last few years I have visited and photographed these areas of the country and aim to continue doing so.
Since the start of the year I have also been considering returning to some landscape painting and drawing, so what better subject areas can you find that these unique and magical places.
The set of images below are just some of the many photographs I have taken in order to start to get to grips of this project.
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
Fujifilm X100
The weekends fading light
Nikon D700, 50mm f1.4 lens, iso 200
Kilkenny sunset, South Kilkenny
Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Sunday evenings are my most favourite time of the week, the weekends light is fading fast and we have a new week ahead of us, new chances to grow and reach our aims.
Kilkenny landscape photography
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.4 lens
Kilkenny Rapeseed fields
Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
I love this time of year all the fields in County Kilkenny are coming to life. The Rapeseed fields are just the most wonderful site of them all…..
Rapeseed
She buried the thought
seeds of long ago .
Spirit fields then did ignite
with rapeseed light.
By : Saiom Shriver
Nikon D7000, 50mm f1.4 lens
Kilkenny Rapeseed fields
Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Flowers an in depth look.
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens
This afternoon has turned into a wonderful day :), the weather here in Ireland has gone from spring to almost summer like in one week and everything is coming to life. I went out with Molly our Golden retriever after lunch for a walk along the river bank and there are flowers coming out every step you take.
As always I had a camera with me and took lots of images, its always fun with flower beds to play with lens depth of field and the panel of images below shows the effects of Lens apertures f8 upto f1.8 on image depth.
Nikon D200, 50mm f1.8 lens
More images from this walk to follow….
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).
More images…
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May 30, 2013 | Categories: Comment, Landscape | Tags: ghost estates, Ireland, irish economy, Irish photography, Kilkenny, Nigel Borrington | 25 Comments