Square

I have been coming to this location in Ballydonegan, just outside Allihies for over 20 years although it’s only in the last 10 that I have begun to make images that work for me. It’s a wonderful natural bowl shape of rock, smoothed by the constant waves and a great place to visit any time of the year. I made this image in winter during quite a stormy day and took my chance during a lull in the waves to get just the right balance of waves coming over the edge and staying dry !

When I’m not in Kerry or West Cork.. Connermara is the next place that feels very special and one which I have a real connection to now. On previous visits I noticed these small little structures dotted around the landscape which intrigued me. Too small to be houses, or boat sheds I finally discovered the locals call them ‘ Bothainín ‘. Bothain is Irish for a hut, and adding -ín on to the word usually denotes it as being , little, small or in a name, junior. It turns out they were little huts that bailiffs from the large estates would sit in and guard the running salmon on the rivers from local poachers. I spent a few days photographing them until finally found this one on the perfect morning with a brooding sky offset by the lovely warm colours of Autumn.

Any return to Castlegregory will always bring me walking along the ‘Back Beach’ at evening time, and I’m rarely disappointed by the dramatic light over the Atlantic. As a child I stood here and marvelled at the idea that the next stop was America.. I still do today.

Coumeenoole is one of my favourite beaches in Kerry but also a hugely popular one for other photographers. I always strive to find something new and different when visiting popular locations and I worked hard to find this composition on the far side of the beach as the tide was coming in rapidly !