Photos of Ireland from a travelling camera.

Photos of the bogs around Kildare Town

2008-07-25T21:36:00.009+01:00

I got the job of driving this hopper turf machine for a couple of days and you can see by the lack of straight lines in the next photo that I need more practice.

These are rushes growing in a stream about a meter deep and in the center of the picture you can just see a huge daddy or mammy spider guarding what look like webs but, in fact, they are 'nests' of baby spiders.
Because the huge spider was located in the middle of the stream, I couldn't get close enough for a decent photo. It measured about 7cm from from tips of front legs to tips of back legs. If anyone can tell me more about this spider I would be grateful.

Here you can see the baby spiders defensively disperse when disturbed.

This is lichen growing among the heather. I think that it is related to Reindeer Lichen.

The white flowers are Common Cottongrass or Bog Cotton.

The above two photos are of nice little bog lakes.

Silver Birch can be found all over Ireland's bogs.

The plant in foreground is called Meadowsweet.

A little Same tractor with the huge wheels off a combine harvester.

The Old Bog Road...partly paved.

Children, insects, animals and more.

2008-07-19T06:50:00.009+01:00

I really did see a puddycat.

From a pub toilet in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow.

A field of Irish corn...in this case wheat.

By the Grand Canal near Athy.

Flies around the proverbial cowshite.

Just a ripe raspberry.

Daragh, terrified of a fledgling crow.

From the Moat of Ardscull near Athy.

Twice I saved this Cock Chafer from a cat but, he lost a leg.

Man-hole cover along the Grand Canal. There are many of these.

Old Radar Training dome in the old McGee Military Barracks in Kildare.

The last three are of Emily and Tom.

West Wicklow...13 July '08 (Part 1)

2008-07-15T12:30:00.007+01:00

Sunday 13 July '08 was one of the few really good days of this summer and I took the opportunity to drive around West Wicklow where I took the photos on this page.

The two photos above are from the side of a hill near Donard. You can clearly see the remains of stone-walled old roads where, long ago, you could hear the rattle of horse's and donkey's carts as they passed by with farm produce or, perhaps, taking an emigrant to the main road (N81) to catch the bus on their way to Britain or America never to return.
These old roads and the remains of some stone dwellings are now smothered by mature Pine trees planted by Coillte ...the national agency for forestry.
Looking at the old ruins reminded me of the song 'Among the Wicklow Hills' the lyrics of which are below.

I just received a letter from my home in Ire-land.
The scribble so familiar...t'was my mother's feeble hand.
A house that rang with music and with laughter now is still.
Dear Danny it's so lonely now among the Wicklow hills.

(Chorus)
As I gaze across the mountains I relive a moment's joy.
The same old Wicklow mountains where you rambled as a boy.
Your photo as a child...that picture's by my bedside still.
And, each night I pray that you'll come back home among the Wicklow hills.

Do you remember long ago when in Summer you would stroll...
Down where the crystal mountain streams to the Slaney's water roll.
Do you recall the young companion who talks about you still.
And you know who she's waiting for among the Wicklow hills.

(Chorus)
As I gaze across the mountains I relive a moment's joy.
The same old Wicklow mountains where you rambled as a boy.
Your photo as a child...that picture's by my bedside still.
And, each night I pray that you'll come back home among the Wicklow hills.

And here you can see Larry Cunningham sing it:

The butt of a huge tree at Castleruddery Circle.

This is just some of the stones in the Stone Circle at Castleruddery.

These are the tracks of where some sort of motorbike 'sport' was taking place. In my opinion, this tranquil area should be off-limits to this type of very noisy activity.

The last six photos are from the Coillte forestry near Donard, County Wicklow.

West Wicklow...13 July '08 (Part 2)

2008-07-15T12:16:00.007+01:00

Some friendly horses near Hollywood, Co. Wicklow.

And this is 'down-town' Hollywood...all of it!

Ireland has, in the last few years, been decimated by the closure of rural Post Offices and Hollywood is no exception.

Hollywood National School.

A lovely quiet little road in a deep valley near Donard.

The old Court House in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow.

Another scene from Dunlavin.

The parish church in Dunlavin.

Rusty gates at the entrance to some fields near Dunlavin.

Photos of Altamont Gardens near Tullow, Co. Carlow

2008-07-11T13:28:00.006+01:00

Photos taken in May 2008

Photos of Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens

2008-07-05T21:18:00.007+01:00

The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens are located just outside Kildare Town and attract thousands of tourists every year. The Stud is a part of the Irish racehorse breeding industry and is only a stone's throw from the Curragh Racecourse.

That's little Tom, my grandson, in the Irish National Stud.

And when he was younger.

Future Derby winner?

It's amazing the things that some people don't know.

Swans in a pond in the Japanese Gardens.

The above pictures are from the new section of the Japanese Gardens.

Photos of Ducket's Grove, Co. Carlow...May 2008

2008-06-03T16:15:00.006+01:00

Ducket's Grove - sometimes with a double T - is located about 5 minutes drive from Castledermot on the road to Tullow and is one of the most spectacular sights in the area. Most of the building work was done around 1830 and in 1933 it was raised by fire. It was originally the center of an estate comprising 12,000 acres.
You can get much more information from the following links:
Ask About Ireland
Carlow Floral Festival
The Carlow Nationalist
Carlow Museum

Photos from Baltinglass and Rathvilly

2008-05-21T09:51:00.009+01:00

(Taken May 2008)

This statue in Baltinglass has a connection with Mutiny on the Bounty.
In 1798 Michael Dwyer and his gang were giving the British Army a great deal of trouble in the Wicklow area resulting in a skirmish in the Glen of Imaal where Sam McAllister was killed. Dwyer was eventually captured and transported to New South Wales in 1806 where the Governer was none other than William Bligh...The Captain of the famous Bounty.

Baltinglass Abbey and church beside the River Slaney

This is an old railway bridge in Rathvilly from the days of steam power. The line ran from Naas through Dunlavin, Colbinstown, Grangecon, Baltinglass, Rathvilly and on to Tullow. I remember the steam trains in the station at Baltinglass in the late 50's...where the cattle mart is now located. Even though there is now very little evidence of the line's existance, nearly all the old bridges survive.

Old millwheel in Rathvilly beside the River Slaney. It wouldn't cost a lot to 'throw' a few timbers onto it, even if they were only imitation.
Some commentaries put Rathvilly, which won the Tidy Towns Award three times, on the River Barrow...I don't think so!

The River Slaney flowing through Rathvilly

A nice little terrace of houses in Rathvilly

Photos of Ireland (Part 8)

2008-05-12T19:16:00.006+01:00

The first really fine day of the year and everybody heads to Kildare Village shopping center. Jaysus, it's great to get in outa the sun!

An old yew (female sheep) takes a break from grazing at the butt of a giant Beech Tree in the 'Fox Cover' on the Curragh, Co. Kildare.

Another one takes a rest under an unusually large Whitethorn (Sceach) Tree in the same area.

A nice entrance to a stable yard on the edge of the Curragh.

'How I cheated the butcher'...Curragh Plains.

From an ancient graveyard...Portlaois Town.

Cattle grazing beside M7 Motorway in the Irish National Stud, Kildare Town.

And...A few days later, the Hawthorn/Whitethorn/Sceach blooms.

Derelict house on The Heath, Co. Laois.

Old digger near Ballybrittas, Co. Laois.

Mare and foal...Irish National Stud, Kildare Town.

Photos of Ireland (Part 6)

2008-05-09T22:55:00.006+01:00

Reflections in the Grand Canal, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.

Birds of prey, Emo, Co. Laois.

Horses 'wintering' at Monasterevin, Co. Kildare.

"Keep an eye out for cars", they said! Road kill, Kildare Town.

A battered old Tom takes it easy.

Garbage dumped in a bog close to the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens, Kildare Town. This type of activity is very common in Ireland...especially in scenic areas.

Grey Abbey graveyard, Kildare Town.

The new Kildare County Council Offices in Naas, Co. Kildare. Looking for information in this building is a complete waste of time.

Photos of Ireland (Part 7)

2008-05-09T22:23:00.006+01:00

Temporary lake after heavy rain, Kildare Town.

Shower of April hailstones, at National Stud, Kildare Town.

Two old houses waiting for the wrecker's ball, Kildare Town.

A lonely mushroom in a field belonging to the Irish National Stud, Kildare Town.

Bullocks beside the M7, Kildare Town.

A copse of Poplars near the Bull Station, Kildare Town.

Old graveyard near National Stud, Kildare Town.

'Considerate parking'...Irish style.

The caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth.

And this is the daddy.

Curragh Plains Co. Kildare (Part One)

2008-04-23T16:47:00.003+01:00

The Curragh Plains is an area of mostly grassland comprising 4,870 acres in Co. Kildare. It runs from the towns of Kilcullen, Newbridge and Kildare with the two small hamlets of Brownstown and Maddenstown on the National Stud southside. Also on this side you have The Curragh Military Camp which was built and used by the British Army in the early part of the last century and is now operated by the Irish Army although nearly all the old buildings are in disrepair...a bleak place. Close to Newbridge is located our famous Curragh Racecourse which takes up most of the area between Newbridge and Kildare Town. Racehorse training is the major industry here. Running through this area also is our main artery to the south, the M7.
The Curragh has, for generations, been a grazing area for local sheep farmers with the result that the animals can be seen all over the Plains.
As well as grass and copses of trees aroung The Camp, the area is noted for the profusion of Furze which is the subject of the photos on these two pages. April is the time when their yellow flowers are at their most vivid

This is the remains of trenches dug by the British Army as they trained for the carnage of WW1.

Curragh Plains Co. Kildare (Part Two)

2008-04-23T16:17:00.003+01:00

Most of these photos are of Furze which had been set on fire by either careless visitors or 'local intellectuals'. Luckily, the Military Fire Station is only a few hundred meters away and are called out regularly during the Summer months. Furze burn readily resulting in great damage in a very short time badly effecting wildlife including the ubiquitous rabbit.

The above two photos are of areas which were dug out by the military as part of the trench practice.

Photos of Ireland (part 1)

2008-04-21T22:34:00.002+01:00

A lonely tree at dusk in a freshly sown cornfield Castledermot, Co. Kildare

Kildare Town seen across a temporary lake in fields attached to the Irish National Stud.

A beautiful day Emo, Co. Laois.

'Air Force One'...Irish Air Corps helicopter Emo Court, Co. Laois.

Getting 'rich' very very slowly Killough Hill Co. Tipperary.

A little tin-roofed house Ballylinan, Co. Laois.

Two photos of a frosty morning near Carlow Town.

Beautiful little park beside the Dinin River Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.

Remains of mining operations near Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.

Fabulous view of Lough Dan deep in the Wicklow mountains.

Play area at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.

Photos of Ireland (Part 2)

2008-04-21T18:57:00.001+01:00

"Another fine mess"...Near Athlone.

Real useful information from Westmeath County Council.

"Intellectualism" at it's best...Moate, Co. Westmeath.

Caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth eating Ragworth near Lough Ree.

Ox-eye daisies beside Lough Ree.

And here's the ox! An Irish cow.

Wicker horse...Emo Court field Co. Laois.

Emo Court House...Emo, Co. Laois.

Relaxing in the sunshine...Emo field day

Who cut the rope? Tug-o-war Emo Court.

Shetland ponies...Emo Court.

Weaving away while the rest check out the 'bathroom'.

Lady Godiva with her clothes on...Emo Court.