Irish Pagoda?

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

Divine Madness

The painter Francis Bacon's studio,
now housed at the Hugh Lane Gallery
in Dublin.
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

Teaching a Dog to Swim...

...when she doesn't really want to learn.
PS She ended up hiding behind my legs!
Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial

Tree from the Dawn of Time

Almost 5,000 years ago, this scots pine was part of a mighty forest in Stone Age Ireland. Then it tumbled over and was preserved to this day by the local peat bog. I love its swirling ripples. They make you want to stroke it, which of course I did.
Photo: Profoundly Superficial

Floating World

Seaweed in Killary Fjord in beautiful Connemara.

Photo: Profoundly Superficial

On Looking and Landscapes

Monique Besten, our most recent guest, writes about her visit to Polranny in her blog:"The Giant* and I went on a trip along the Atlantic Ocean today. We did well together, steep hills, amazing cliffs, sheep staring at us wherever we went. The sheep reminded me of something I read just before I went to sleep last night: 'The eyes of an animal when they consider a man are attentive and wary. The same animal may well look at other species in the same way. He does not reserve a special look for man. But by no other species except man will the animal’s look be recognised as familiar. Other animals are held by the look. Man becomes aware of himself returning the look.' John Berger, About Looking (p. 4/5)."

* Giant = the brand of her bike

Photo: Monique

Over Hill and Dale

The Irish landscape is always changing and always unpredictable. So you will just have to climb to the top of the next hill to see what you will see.

Photo: Hank and Josée

Palm Trees in Ireland?

No this is not Spain. It's County Sligo in August!

Photo: Profoundly Superficial

Cliché

A recurrent moment in driving through Ireland involves a rainy view of a graveyard.

Photo: Annie

A Prayer for Sr. Natalie

A thoughtful reminder at Ballintubber Abey. I wonder who she was...?
Photo: Annie

Sad Saint

This tearful saint adorns a lichen-covered gravestone in Burrishoole Friary, located near the waters of Clew Bay.
Photo: Annie

It's Always Good to have a Spare One

Spotted parked outside the very beautiful Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo.
Photo: Annie

Mulranny Beach at Its Best

Sunshine, clear blue skies and candy floss clouds.
Photo: annie

Where's the Rest of Him?

... spotted in nearby Clew Bay.
Photo: Annie

Land of the Giants

This may look like some slightly weather-beaten sculpture installation; in fact it's part of the extraordinary rock formations of the Giants Causeway in Country Antrim. The official explanation has something to do with volcanic activity during the Paleogene period. But personally I prefer the stuff of legends and that Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner.
Photo: Annie

Lissadell House and Countess Markiewicz

Lissadell House in County Sligo was the childhood home of Countess Markiewicz, who became a Sinn Féin revolutionary nationalist and the first woman to be elected to the British House of Commons. Following her involvement in the 1916 Easter Uprising, she was sentenced to death but eventually served just one year in prison. Countess Markiewicz also fought actively for the Republican cause during the Irish Civil War and helped to defend Moran's Hotel in Dublin.

As the dramatist Séan O'Casey said of her: "One thing she had in abundance—-physical courage; with that she was clothed as with a garment".
Top photo: Annie

Drumcliffe

This magnificent swan graces the door of the church in Drumcliffe where the poet WB Yeats lies buried.

The rather Zen-like epitaph on his gravestone is taken from the last lines of "Under Ben Bulben", one of his final poems:
Cast a cold eye
On life, on death.
Horseman, pass by

Photo: Annie

Votive Offerings

Objects tied to a tree at Tobernalt Holy Well in Carraroe in County Sligo. The Well was also worshipped in pre-Christian times.
Photo: Annie

Just Stop and Admire the View

Climbing the Slievemore on Achill Island can be an arduous experience. The good thing is that the view becomes more magnificent with each step you take!
Photo: Annie

Stick to the Straight and Narrow!

An interesting bridge construction in North Mayo. While the wall on the one side is nicely reassuring, its absence on the other promises an iminent dunking!
Photo: Annie