I don’t think County Antrim’s Dark Hedges need much of an introduction. The visually stunning avenue of beech trees have arguably become one of the most famous stretches of road in the world.

Certainly, it must be Ireland’s most photographed road.

Having appeared for a few brief seconds in HBO’s Game of Thrones the once unknown row of 300 year old beeches are now often overrun by tourists, many thousands arriving throughout a typical day en route to the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle or covering a dedicated Game of Thrones tour.

The tree tunnel is surely a photographer’s dream with its intertwining overhead branches and large tree trunks of silvery bark that take on the colour of the weather and lighting.

Originally there were around 150 beech trees planted along what was the avenue to Gracehill House at the end of the 18th century, built by the Stuart family - now almost 250 years old there are only 86 mature beech trees left.

And as of next week, there may be 11 fewer; after examination more of the Dark Hedges will be cut and significantly or taken to the stump leaving at least 75 healthy trees. Six are to be removed for definite.

This work is being carried out because of the age and neglect of this man-made natural wonder over recent decades, with lofty boughs breaking and posing potential risk to the visitors underneath.

So, will the Dark Hedges still be worth visiting in 2024? Yes I do think so, if you can get here without the crowds then yes. The location has lost a lot of its charm, having gone from grassy and shrubby verges to muddy and unsightly but for the photographer there are still elements worth photographing here.

And it will be a long time yet before all of the trees reach end of life. Of course the new trees being planted will take a longer time again to develop into what has been a quiet tourism site for decades.

{

Join Panoramic Ireland in 2024 to photograph the Dark Hedges, the Antrim Coast and all of its beauty spots.

Dublin's Portobello is a large block of the south inner city stretching from the Grand Canal in the south to Kevin Street at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in the north and from Clanbrassil Street in the west to the eastern boundary at Wexford/Camden/Richmond Streets.

Comprising the leafy canal, leafy parks and leafy avenues this is one of Dublin's most desirable neighbourhoods.

Portobello lies within easy walking distance of the city centre, the Luas runs close by at Charlemont and buses head in and out along the south circular road.

Griffith College sits close by and anyone familar with the area will know of the area's regeneration over recent years.

Parts of Portobello have seen new developments, particularly in the east close to Richmond Street.

Portobello is definitely a sought after place to live.

Here's a fine property that I recently had the privilege of viewing, up for sale currently - but I'm sure not for long.

The beautifully proportioned front room is a perfect cube, looking out onto a quiet residential street with plenty of parking for residents.

This three bedroom, three bath villa-style house is on the market for €775,000 with Owen Reilly, find out more here: https://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/25-ovoca-road-portobello-dublin/4735851

Located just steps away from renowned eatery Bibi's, 25 Ovoca Road is a perfect location for those who want to be close to the action but live in a quiet, residential area.

Close by is Synge Street, one of the leafiest of Dublin's inner city. It featured in the Irish film Sing Street and was the home of many notable Irish people including George Bernard Shaw and tv presenter Eamonn Andrews. Also, the lesser known William Mulholland who as a civil engineer brought water to Los Angeles allowing the city to expand and develop.

Other notable residents include Mary Black and Frances Black, two of Ireland's most famous musicians; one of the world's most famous fictional characters - Leopold Bloom; artist Harry Kernoff; John Mitchel; Harry Boland and Jack Butler Yeats. Not so long ago you would have been a near neighbour of one of Ireland's most famous artists Louis Le Brocquy who lived at No. 28 Ovoca Road.

So it can be said that Portobello has always been a desirable place to live, perhaps no more so than today with its mix of traditional and modern.

Right on Leonard's Corner at the south west corner of Portobello and not more than a few minutes walk away is one of Dublin's most exciting restaurants, Bastible.

The 1-star Michelin restaurant offers seasonal dishes throughout the year and was featured by the New York Times as a standout attraction in the district.

Of course nearby Camden Street and Richmond Street have plenty of restaurants, pubs and shops to keep everyone occupied and the closer Leonard's Corner and Clanbrassil Street is filled with eateries of every persuasion from the fine pizzas in Gaillot et Gray to Bistro Takeaway for traditional Irish chips.

Right beside artisan tea and coffee place Wall & Keogh sits the brilliant Picado, Ireland's finest Mexican pantry run by Lily Ramirez-Foran and her Irish husband Alan. They run cooking classes and supper clubs (including for vegetarians) as well as stocking all of those hard to find Mexican cooking ingredients.

Portobello Harbour was opened in 1801 and acted as a proper harbour on the canal system including for customs and distribution.

Portobello is without doubt a fine place to live Ovoca Road is one of the finest parts of the quarter.

It's a short walk to the city centre, to Saint Patrick's Cathedral park and the quiet Iveagh Gardens with its well-known waterfall.

And for some of the best bread in Dublin, try Portobello's Bretzel Bakery.

I did say that Ireland is a scenic place in October in a recent post here and I did promise more from the October archives as well as current images from October 2023 as I travel throughout Ireland.

Here, a small woodland in rain and mist with autumnal foliage in a scene that could be from any era of photography.

The challenge on this morning was to keep the camera dry, but amazingly the afternoon turned to bright sunshine and all with a warm breeze.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to find scenes like these in different parts of Ireland from Antrim, to Cork, to Dublin to Galway.

It's well and truly that time of year again, Autumn is here in Ireland with clear blue skies and changing leaf colours.

That of course means colour, lots of it, as seen in this image.

A lone sycamore tree stands guard over the small stream as it flows through an empty landscape under a bright and colourful sky with white clouds and sheep grazing on grass nearby.

Of course we have heard a lot recently about a more famous lone sycamore, the one cut down at Sycamore Gap along Hadrian's Wall in England.

We enjoyed bright sunshine at the end of September here in Ireland's uplands as sheep grazed all around. 

Traditionally the start of August marks the begining of autumn in Ireland, meteorologically though September begins the season.

I have written before that October is one of my favourite months in Ireland and is definitely a time you should consider visiting the Emerald Isle.

Join Panoramic Ireland to photograph Ireland at its best in October, May and the rest of the year.

If you can't travel to Ireland, consider helping to keep Panoramic Ireland going by donating to cover the costs of maintaining the site and travelling through Ireland.

{