Since I have been recovering from cancer this year, I haven't made as many forays into the countryside as usual.

Still, there have been exceptions such as this colourful foray into the Tipperary countryside and this rainy day adventure to a lime kiln.

On a recent roadtrip through the Irish countryside, I found a fine field of rapeseed, also known as canola - one of the most widely grown plants used for cooking oils derived from its seed.

With a fine blue spring sky overhead and a bright wide field of golden flowers the colours reminded of the traditional colours of County Tipperary, one of Ireland's most scenic counties; and how appropriate because I was in County Tipperary at the time. The county's sports teams often play with blue and gold striped jerseys, particularly the Tipperary GAA team.

It was also one of the first days that I have been exploring with my camera since starting chemotherapy.

It's no secret that Ireland is a scenic place, very often visitors are drawn to the big open landscapes, the famous places such as the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle or the Giant's Causeway.

But there are many fine places to be found in other parts of the Emerald Isle.

On my travels around the back roads of Ireland, I was looking for an old graveyard beside a river.

Dublin Bay is a UNESCO Biosphere - a protected area designated important for wildlife.

Since 1981 the beach and dunes, pictured here, at Bull Island in Dublin Bay have been a Biosphere, in 2015 the whole bay was brought into that designation including the Baily Lighthouse on Howth Head.