zaterdag 28 december 2013

Moore Hall


















The home of the writer George Moore. Torched by the IRA in 1923
and now thick with ghosts.

Photo: © Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 21 december 2013

Irish Water Dragon























Photo: ©Annie, Mulranny Beach

zaterdag 14 december 2013

Giant Cat























From her tower high above the primeval forest,
Pirate Annie spotted a giant cat...

Photo: ©Annie

zaterdag 7 december 2013

Achill Sound, Centre of the Universe























A rainy afternoon in nearby Achill Sound. Waiting for Pirate 
Bert to do the shopping. 
Photo: Annie Wright

zaterdag 30 november 2013

Badass Bears























Badass bears Rory and Alfie... the morning after the
night when they invented the Guinskey, an Irish cocktail 
comprising equal parts Guinness and whiskey. To be 
served in pint glasses...
Photo: Annie Wright

zaterdag 23 november 2013

Fearless!


















Polranny Pirates' guests Sammy and Daan searching for the Pirates' 
Cave... which they found!!!
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

zaterdag 9 november 2013

Natural Sculpture


















Landscape made by sea and wind.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography, the Golden Strand

zaterdag 2 november 2013

Pirates' Favourite Fodder


















Guess what the Pirates eat when visiting the nearby town of Westport?
 Totally delish and tastefully presented in this perky cardboard box.
Photo: Annie

zaterdag 26 oktober 2013

Kryptonite Wellies























Here is Pirate Annie standing in a peat bog stream
the colour of Lucozade in her wellies made of kryptonite!!
Photo: Annie, Golden Strand

zaterdag 19 oktober 2013

Old Geezer


















Old geezer complaining about the weather, the price of cat food 
and his rusty car that's about to give up the ghost!
Photo: Annie Wright

zaterdag 12 oktober 2013

zaterdag 5 oktober 2013

The Meeting of Old and New

A vapour trail cutting a line across a watery sky high above the ruins of an ancient cottage.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial, the Deserted Village. Click to enlarge

zaterdag 28 september 2013

Lough Cara
















Beauty, colour and tranquility at Lough Cara.

Photo: ©Annie Wright

zaterdag 21 september 2013

Part of the Library























It's not for nothing that the Pirates' residence
 is known as the House of a Thousand Books.

Photo: ©Annie Wright

zaterdag 14 september 2013

Keem Beach Immortalised...


















... in a beautiful watercolour by Pirate guest Ank van Engelen, who
 kindly donated it to the house. It will be treasured!
Photo: Annie

zaterdag 7 september 2013

Rainy Friday Night...























... in the Folly... the Pirates' smaller property.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

zaterdag 31 augustus 2013

Go to Ireland and Make New Friends

















Pirate friend Saskia van der Wal getting to know the locals.

zaterdag 24 augustus 2013

Treasure!


Fossilised coral dating from the mists of time
when Ireland was a tropical swamp. Found by Pirate
Annie.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 17 augustus 2013

Rainbows...


...suddenly they appear and then they're gone again.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 10 augustus 2013

Agnes Dei


Agnes is our secret house god. Her job is
to ensure that the roof doesn't blow off during
the winter storms. So far she's succeeded.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 3 augustus 2013

Pure Magic


Pure Magic is a kite surfers' centre near Keel.
Great coffee, delicious home-made bread.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 27 juli 2013

Souvenir Hunting


Sweeney's at nearby Achill Sound has a wide range
of presents for the folks back home. There are
plenty of books on sale including the mummy porn
best-seller "Fifty Shades of Grey", which is
extremely popular in Ireland right now. For those
of a more sombre nature, there are also graveside
memorials such as this colourful tableau with
stigmata saint Padre Pio. Even the animals have
their own tributes including "Beloved Cat. You've
made our home special".

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 20 juli 2013

Secret Treasure


Collection of shells (etc.) in the television room
at the house in Polranny.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 13 juli 2013

OWLs Meet Irish President!


















Last week we mentioned that the Polranny Pirates had hosted a dinner
for the ground-breaking OWLs, the Older Wiser Lesbians. This week,
they've flown the coop and high-tailed it to Aras an Uchtarain, the
official residence of the Irish president, where they met President
Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina. By the look of it, it was great craic!


zaterdag 6 juli 2013

Dinner with OWLs


















The Polranny Pirates were delighted to host a dinner for the OWLs, the
Older Wiser Lesbians, an Irish group that was founded by long-time
Pirate friend Maureen Ahearne. A good time was had by all!

Photo: Peti

zaterdag 29 juni 2013

Marjorie's Memoirs























Pirate friend and local resident Marjorie Wallace-Le
has just published her memoirs and has very kindly
presented us with the first copy! According to the blurb
on the back cover, she is a "renegade Scot who fell
in love with Ireland, when not pursuing a career as
an anaesthetist in South East Asia, and is now content
to gaze out on the bog, if you can see it." Many
congratulations, Marjorie!

zaterdag 22 juni 2013

Pirate Portrait


















A painting of Pirate Bertje by Pirate Peti, which has graced
the Folly for many years now.

Photo: Riny

zaterdag 15 juni 2013

Public Convenience


















Ireland is famous for its double purpose buildings such as bars that also
function as funeral parlours. Here, an elegant public loo in Castlebar
is also displaying an important message.

Photo: Riny. Click to enlarge

zaterdag 8 juni 2013

Paradise


















There are no cats in the garden in Polranny. This means that it's a
paradise for birds, who are even provided with snacks!

Photo: Riny

zaterdag 1 juni 2013

Bird World


















The garden in Polranny is home to countless species of birds like this
feisty robin, which was lovingly photographed by Pirate Riny.

zaterdag 25 mei 2013

Irish Pagoda?


A little piece of Japan in Ireland. Part of
the Powerscourt estate near Dublin.
Photo: ©©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 18 mei 2013

Moore Hall


Overgrown ruins of Moore Hall, a mansion firebombed
in the Irish Civil War. PS Pirates don't believe in
ghosts... except in Ireland... ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 11 mei 2013

The Bridge to the Rainbow's End


If there was a crock of gold there, it evaporated
along with the rainbow about thirty seconds later.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial, Achill Island

zaterdag 4 mei 2013

The Lawn Gets its Trim
















Spring is late this year but finally the lawn has had its first trim of the year.

Photo: Mike

zaterdag 27 april 2013

The Bears of Ireland


In the kitchen, Rory the Bear is waiting patiently for
his full Irish breakfast.

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 20 april 2013

The Classic Irish Landscape...


... with rolling hills, clear lakes and a graveyard from where the dead watch over the living.

Photo: Peti

zaterdag 13 april 2013

Where Europe Ends


The very edge of Europe. Beyond it is water and
another world.
Photo:©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 6 april 2013

The Folly from Above


Lots of work still to be done but we're getting
there. Meanwhile our guests are having a great
time at the House

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 30 maart 2013

Upstairs in the Folly...


... the bookcases for the Library are almost ready!

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 23 maart 2013

The Folly is Under Construction...


... but there's still time for tea!

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 16 maart 2013

Things Are Looking Positively Rosy


... at the back of the House and the Folly.

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 9 maart 2013

Almost Spring


The Folly and the House looking magnificent in the
soft, springtime light.

Photo: Bertje

zaterdag 2 maart 2013

Natural Beauty


An Irish magic carpet of moss, plants and decorative sheep
poo. Quite transporting! Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 23 februari 2013

Beach Combing


Prehistoric axe head. Found by Pirate Annie on Mulranny
beach in August.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 16 februari 2013

Beach Bums


Trudi and Bertje on the Golden Strand, Achill Island.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 9 februari 2013

Picture Postcard


Gay greetings from Ireland!
© Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 2 februari 2013

Lorcan


Lorcan is an Indian eagle owl, who lives with his
mate Aisling at the Raptor Centre in County Sligo.
Well worth a visit!! ©Profoundly Superficial

zaterdag 26 januari 2013

Unexpected Help




Pirate friend Doutsje recently dropped by with (from top to bottom)
Sophie, Cecile and Sabine, who have been helping out at Doutsje and
husband Willem's exquisite Achill Secret Garden. No sooner had
they arrived than the three girls set to work whitewashing the
inside of the Folly. Thank you girls and thank you Doutsje! We really
appreciate it!!