Gorse

The flowers are pretty but the thorns are fearsome, gorse is plentiful on the boglands surrounding the house. You can hear its seed pods popping in the summer.

Photo: Riny

Local Tourist Attraction: Achill Henge

Achill Henge, which is based on Stonehenge in England, was built in just two nights by local businessman Joe McNamara. The reason is vague. As one local pub put it: "Nobody knows."

Whatever the truth, it attracts a steady stream of visitors and is well worth seeing.

This atmospheric photo was taken by recent Pirate guest Jet Manrho.

Lost in Thought

Pirate Peti on Keel Beach.

Photo: Riny

New DVDs...

... to be added to the considerable collection in the
back bedroom/private cinema.

Photo: Riny

Santa's Little Helper?

No, it's one of the workmen kindly fixing the chimney of
the house.

Photo: Riny

Watery World...

... at the magical Achill Secret Garden, which belongs
to our friends Willem and Doutsje.

Photo: Riny

Shiny and new

The Pirates have acquired a shiny, new garage so that the
car will be well protected against the winter snows.

Photo: Riny

Fixing the roof

New beams have been added to the Folly as part of
the recent renovation work. All we need now is a
roof and few other bits and pieces so that our visitors
can use this space to create, dream and find inspiration!
Photo: Bertje

Addictive Walking

Walking in Ireland is addictive because you always have to
discover the wonders lurking just around the corner, and the
next one, and the next one...

Photo: Profoundly Superficial

Rock Pool

All that separates this Connemara rock pool from the Atlantic Ocean is the boulder it's embedded in. Right now it's peaceful so that the rock can develop a stylish green frame. But that will change with the winter storms.

Photo: Bertje Hogervorst

Full Steam Ahead with the Folly

The beams are already in place on the Folly, the
smaller of our two buildings. All that is needed now
is the roof.

Photo: Bertje

Stowing the Treasure

The house and the Folly are undergoing major renovations. That means that many special treasures are being carefully stowed away, like these rocks filled with prehistoric fossils.

Photo: Bertje Hogervorst

Radical Renovations

STOP PRESS: Right now the Folly is surrounded by a barricade
of scaffolding in preparation for a brand new roof! To be continued...

Photo: Bertje

The Neighbours...

... are always happy to pass the time of day with you!

Photo: Riny

Accidents Will Happen...

... but fortunately not very often! Photo: Riny

In the Eye of the Storm

It makes you feel very, very small...

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Built by Bunny

A rabbit palace in the dunes of the Currane peninsula.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Sometimes...

... it's hard to tell sea from sky.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Even Teddy Bears Love Life in Ireland...

... although they do tend to drink too much whiskey!

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Stormy Weather

Experiencing a good storm is one the greatest pleasures of life in Ireland.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Inspiration

In Ireland, there are creative opportunities wherever you go!

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Chance

Chance, the much-loved dog of Pirate friends Joan and Noel Scanlon, doesn't like having his photo taken. But he was kind enough to make an exception for this photographer.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Whither?

This long and winding road leads to sun dappled woods and hidden bays. An adventure every time.

Photo: ©Profoundly Superficial Photography

Tree of Life

A tree next to a holy well in Sligo.

Photo: Profoundly Superficial Photography

Abstract with Running Dog

As the land merges with the sea and then the sky, every visit to the beach is a zen-like experience of visual abstraction.

Photo: Riny

Punk Sheep

With its clashing fluorescent colours, this sheep is a natural punk.

Photo: Riny

The Greenway

The Greenway is a scenic route that takes you almost all the way from Westport to Achill Island. You can walk or cycle, and there are plenty of places to rest such as this one which combines art with a first-rate photo opportunity!

Photo: José

Humpback whale off Achill Island

On Sat 11th Feb Michael Patten and friends went surfing off Keel beach, Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Out beyond the surf towards the Bill Rock, they observed a large whale surface on at least 4 occasions, that was in the 30-60ft length bracket; clearly too large for a minke whale. Its surface behaviour suggests a species that was creating a lot of disturbance and then several of the surfers saw it clearly lift its tail fluke vertically out of the water, before diving. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, after discussing the encounter with Mark during validation are confident that this is a humpback whale.

Photo and text: the Mayo News

Gale Force Ten

Stormy waves of grass cover this ancient graveyard at the Mullet.

Photo: Willem van Goor

The Road to the Bay

Behind the house there's the road to the bay. If you look carefully the sea, you may find oysters.

Photo: Riny

Looking Forward to the Spring

This is the moment we're looking for: when the frost recede and the first shoots come out of the ground.

Photo: Riny

The Advantage of an Irish Winter...

... is that although you may be freezing, the landscape is unbelievably beautiful!

Photo: Riny

The Intrepid Traveller...

... striding across a snowy, Mayo landscape.

Photo: Hank

Ruined Houses

In Mayo, there are ruined houses everywhere that slowly subside into the landscape.

Photo: Riny

Christmas Storm

After too much Christmas dinner, a much needed breath of fresh air on Keel beach.

Photo: Peti