Red Sails in the Sunset, the famous song penned by Irishman Jimmy Kennedy in 1935 has been recorded by dozens of artists in its 89-year history including Bing Crosby, Vera Lynn, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Earl Grant, Fats Domino, Connie Francis, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Frank Patterson, Engelbert Humperdinck and most recently by Van Morrison. 

That's an impressive list of musicians, and to top it off even The Beatles covered Red Sails in the Sunset.

Kennedy came from County Tyrone but lived for some time in Portstewart, County Derry and there he is said to have watched a ship with red sails called Kitty of Coleraine, itself named after an old song by Edward Lysaght, composed in the 18th century. There was also a steamship with the same name that made journeys from Coleraine upstream on the River Bann to Toome on the edge of Lough Neagh but this was not a vessel with sails. Interestingly, Bing Crosby also performed Kitty of Coleraine on film in 1949's Top O' the Morning.

The lyrics go:

Red sails in the sunset way out on the sea

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

He sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue

Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you

Swift wings you must borrow, make straight for the shore

We marry tomorrow and he goes sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset way out on the sea

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Swift wings you must borrow, make straight for the shore

We marry tomorrow and he goes sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset way out on the sea

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

But Kennedy didn't just write this one well-known song, he also penned The Isle of Capri covered by Gracie Fields, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine, Fats Domino and Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney; South of the Border first recorded by Gene Autry and later covered by Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Patsy Cline, Mel Tormé, The Shadows, Dean Martin, Fats Domino, Herb Alpert, Bing Crosby (lol), Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson and Chris Isaak; Istanbul (Not Constantinople) covered by Frankie Vaughan, Bing Crosby (as if you had to ask), Bette Midler and perhaps most famously by They Might Be Giants; Teddy Bears' Picnic covered by, you guessed it, Bing Crosby again and so many others; and that Hokey Cokey (widely disputed), please don't!

Of course there are many that I haven't mentioned, including Harbour Lights, first recorded by Frances Langford and later covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck, Willie Nelson and Vera Lynn. What, no Bing Crosby for this one? Of course, Bing Crosby recorded Harbour Lights in 1950 reaching #10 on Billboard.

Jimmy Kennedy certainly has an impressive catalogue. Here, in this post are some images inspired by his songs.

There are some red sails from Ireland and Scotland, the Isle of Capri and lovely Harbour Lights from County Down.

Morning sunlight somewhere behind the clouds in the west of Ireland. Before the heat of the day, low cloud and fog sit in the valley in front of the heather-clad mountains.

Photography in Ireland is always a mystery, the weather forecast may say good weather or bad weather but the day, and a journey through the countryside, often reveals a difference.

I'm rarely disappointed though. 

Here, on a photography workshop in the west, JK from Virginia in the USA wanted to spend time photographing typical (but not boring) Irish scenes so we headed for somewhere that I knew would have good visuals like this for the first location.

Thick cloud blanketed the rest of the landscape but here we had a view beyond, to the mountains and, in the foreground, sheep dotting the hillside.

A good start to the day despite a negative weather forecast.

From here we headed on to photograph coastal scenes as the low cloud lifted from the western countryside.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph - improve your photography, in the west of Ireland, in Dublin or somewhere else in the Irish countryside throughout 2024 and 2025.

A bright sunset behind deep cloud over the Atlantic fades to blue as night sets in on Ireland's west coast, the Wild Atlantic Way.

And it was a wild night on the Atlantic with the wind blowing, clouds forming and the cold spread of night after a long day of photography of Ireland's wild landscapes.

This was not a disappointing scene, rather one of joy and delight as the texture and colour of the Irish sky at blue hour made for fine scenes to finish a day of photography.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with a Panoramic Ireland Photography Workshop / Tour in 2024 or 2025.

There was Murder on the Dancefloor as English pop sensation Sophie Ellis-Bextor took to the main stage at Electric Picnic 2024 for her picnic debut in Stradbally.

And what a way to get the Electric Picnic party started, Ellis-Bextor rarely stood still during her energetic performance dressed in silver sequins and tassels.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor heads to North America for a tour in the USA and Canada in early September.

Electric Picnic moved to a mid-August slot in 2024, away from it's usual early September placement. Friday saw American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan take to the Main Stage to headline the opening night.

The Grammy-nominated artist performed to a rapturous crowd in Ireland's County Laois, so much so that he took a pit walk at the start of his set.

A set that included Dial Drunk, New Perspective, Northern Attitude and finishing with Stick Season.

Kahan is continuing to tour with upcoming concerts in Berlin on August 27th before heading back to the USA and Canada.

Wexford has just had the Fleadh but the Irish town is not finished with summer as another fine outdoor event, Wexford Walled Town Day, is taking place this weekend at Westgate Park, Abbey Street in Wexford Town.

Wexford Walled Town Day is part of Heritage Week and the medieval walled town will be filled with history walks and talks from Wex Walks, traditional music by Craobh Loch Garman Comhaltas, face painting, falconry and owls display from the Irish National Heritage Park, and jewellery making using traditional, medieval techniques by Irish goldsmith Christina Keogh, pictured above.

Come along and discover what medieval life was like in Ireland hundreds of years ago with interactive fun for all ages on Saturday 17th of August from 12:00 to 17:00. You might spot medieval drummers walking around Wexford too.

There’s nothing better than a music festival, and in Ireland there is nothing better than the largest festival of them all – Electric Picnic.

Now in its 19th edition, the Electric Picnic has grown and sees the world’s largest headliners (Kylie, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Hozier etc. throughout the years) and some of the most famous artists to ever record music including Debbie Harry, The Stranglers, Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers etc… with its largest ever capacity of 75,000 attendees in 2024.

If the music alone isn’t enough to satisfy your interests then you won’t be disappointed because Electric Picnic is also Ireland’s largest arts festival with more then enough to entertain throughout the weekend.

Now, while most visitors to EP will undoubtedly be enjoying themselves with more than just one pint, vodka etc… here are some things to do in 2024 that don’t involve alcohol.

Sit and enjoy some gospel and choir music in the afternoon sunshine while everyone else is nursing hangover headaches and crawling out of their tents. Previous artists here include the Trinity Orchestra and Irish Women in Harmony.

Ferris Wheel and funfair – what more can you say, the flavour of a visit to a traditional Irish seaside town in summer comes to the Main Arena at Electric Picnic. A Ferris Wheel, merry-go-rounds, spinny things and the smell of popcorn and candy floss.

In the depths of the Irish countryside, the sun rises slowly illuminating the rugged, mountainous countryside.

Clouds lift off the valley floor, wisping along the steep slope of the mountains as the early morning sunlight highlight the quartzite rocks.

Such scenes make some of my favourite landscape photography images. Empty of people, early in the day or late in the evening and dramatic lighting.

To photograph scenes like these, why not join me on a day photographing the landscapes of the west of Ireland in 2024 and 2025?

To find out more please feel free to contact me.

What on earth could link swimming at the Forty Foot in Dublin and Electric Picnic's Comedy Arena 2024? That would be Ardal O'Hanlon, one of Ireland's best known and surely most loved comedians.

Ireland's largest and most loved festival, Electric Picnic is back again August 16th - 18th 2024 and starring on stage is the incomparable Ardal O'Hanlon. 

Now, what links him to the iconic swimming spot in Dublin Bay, the Forty Foot you ask?

Well, a few years ago the very man set off to find out why the Irish have such a propensity for cursing and made a TV show about it called Holy F***. In one of the segments O'Hanlon investigates how cursing can help with such things as exposure to cold water - like when you jump into the seas around Ireland.

And the show, produced by Loosehorse, used some of my imagery, see credits below.

This same show saw Ardal O'Hanlon interviewing the renowned fan of profanities, Bob Geldof who I photographed at Electric Picnic in 2015.

So, if you're headed to Electric Picnic 2024 then why not stop by the Comedy Arena for a rib-tickling break from your music weekend.

Here is the current line-up for the Comedy Arena at Electric Picnic 2024 including headliners Russell Howard and Katherine Ryan.

Here, Simon Amstell from his appearance in 2014.

Armagh have just won the All-Ireland football championship, July 2024, beating Galway by one point in a tense final.

The small county, famous for its association with the world's most famous saint, Saint Patrick, is also home to some fine landscapes, architecture and natural beauty.

From apple orchards to ring dyke volcanic complexes Armagh has only previously won the All-Ireland once, in 2002.

82,300 people packed out Croke Park in Dublin for the final between Armagh and Galway but millions watched from home and in pubs across Ireland. Even the BBC broadcast the match live in Britain through its iPlayer.

Gaelic football is a little bit like a mixture of soccer and rugby but predates both by centuries with the earliest surviving record going back to 1670. The modern game was developed by Maurice Davin for the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) in 1885.

And of course I now have to mention Daniel Wiffen's gold medal and new Olympic record at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the 800 metres freestyle swimming as well as his bronze in the 1,500 metres.

Armagh / Ard Mhacha is a county that Panoramic Ireland knows well, so here are some visual reasons to Love Armagh.

Have a look through the gallery, see if you can spot somewhere you recognise and let us know if you think we should add more of Armagh's finest locations.

Or why not join us for a photography tour or workshop in the Orchard County in 2024 and 2025.