The Sugar Loaf Mountain, Co. Wicklow

 On the same trip to Powerscourt I took this image of the Little Sugar Loaf (on left) and the Great Sugar Loaf (on the right). I was very happy about being there at the right time to catch the sunset light. Especially when I have planned that. Practice only makes it better.

Fancy some golf?

I'm not playing golf, but if I would it would be hard to concentrate in such a nice setting. The Golf course at Powerscourt Demesne, the Estate House and The Great Sugar Loaf mountain in the background.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.


- Irish Blessing -

T minus 1

St. Patrick -- one of the few saints whose feast day presents the opportunity to get determinedly whacked and make a fool of oneself all under the guise of acting Irish.

- Charles M. Madigan -

T minus 2 more images

May the Good Lord take a liking to you... but not too soon!


- Irish blessing -


Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover? You don't want to press your luck.


- Daryl Stout -

T minus 3

There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.

An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass to keep from falling off the earth.

- Irish Saying -

T minus 4 pints of beer

Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer – and another one!

- St. Patrick's Day Toast -

I have to agree, who doesn't want at least one of the above? Well, let's be honest, the easiest to achieve is the last wish, but if you're anywhere close to the west of Ireland I assure you the beer tastes different, meaning good different. And you wont stop at two...

T minus 5 funny Irish toasts

It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there's no money!
May you die in bed at ninety-five, shot by a jealous husband (or wife).

- Irish toasts -

There is a lot to say about Trinity College, about its history, it's architecture, stats and figures. But I'm not the best when it comes to tell you things about it, there are many others more adequate to do it. I am just out there to see it in my own way.

T minus 6 Irish blessings

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

- Irish saying -

In the above image I photographed Sean's Bar without knowing the stories behind its history. If I knew better about it probably the telegraph pole wouldn't be right in front of it. The information related to this pub says it is the oldest in Ireland, other stories say the opposite. I don't want to debate about this, I just loved the look and the atmosphere on this street in the town of Athlone, on the Shannon River.

T minus 7 Irish quotes

Saint Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland
Here's a drinkee to his health!


But not too many drinkees
Lest we lose ourselves and then...
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see them snakes again!


- unknown author -

I live in a beautiful town. I don't say this too often and for sure, I don't go out to meet him very often. The spring has finally arrived and I resumed my photo trips. There is one week left to St. Patrick's Day and I have noticed the airport is busy already, not to mention the streets, or pubs. I hope the weather will stay positive. Over the next seven days I will run a daily topic dedicated to the event taken place on the 17th March of every year.

Unusual point of view - lens distorsions

Portobello College

The Playwright Inn

From the goody bag I bring you...

Slea Head from the coast road

The Blaskets as seen from Coumeenoole Beach

I have these images put together since I've started this blog. I never new how should I present them. I have an issue with the image crop, and in the beginning I use to pan around with the camera until I ran out of space on the storage card. Today I present you these panoramas as they were taken back in May 2008 and close to what I had in mind back then.