Some say it was a giant, Finn McCool or Fionn mac Cumhaill who built the causeway known as the Giant's Causeway. Finn was an Irish giant who, according to one version of the myth, was having a fight with his rival in Scotland called Benandonner.

Finn built the causeway, using rocks as stepping stones across the Irish Sea to Scotland so they could fight but when Finn realised he couldn't fight Benandonner and win, on account of the Scot's size, his wife suggested that Finn hide in the baby's cot. When Benandonner arrived looking for Finn he looked into the baby's cot and upon seeing the size of the baby, returned in haste to Scotland tearing up the causeway as he went.

The story explains why the same basalt columns are found in Scotland, on the island of Staffa particularly in a place known as Fingal's Cave - another name for Finn.

In reality the Giant's Causeway was formed some 50 to 60 million years ago when the chalk rocks of this part of Antrim were overlaid with basalt from massive volcanic activity.

Spring is here and the colour that we see throughout the countryside is quite amazing.

In particular in urban settings cherry trees are one of the most impressive displays of colour that this time of year has to offer.

Here is one of my favourite images from recent years, taken in Dublin's Herbert Park, an avenue of bright pink blossom sits low over a path and park benches.

Pine Island is one of the western region of Connemara's key attractions for landscape photography and one that I return to often. Next visit, April 2023.

The trees here are Scots Pine, a native evergreen tree that tends to grow tall and slender, it has red coloured wood and tends to add a lot of interest to landscape images of the west of Ireland.

Here we have a long exposure scene with reflection and some wind on Lough Derryclare's surface.

Situated at the northern tip of the Fanad peninsula in northern Donegal, Ireland's most northerly county, Fanad Lighthouse is undoubtedly one of the most scenic in Europe.

The stormy, but as seen here calm, waters of the Atlantic stretch thousands of miles beyond the horizon and distant mountains are visible in many directions.

This lighthouse is photographed more often than most others in Ireland and is a perfect location in a part of Ireland full of interest for landscape photography.

As I write this I'm sitting in front of a warm fire with a cup of tea ready to do its job of warming me up from the inside.

A near perfect reflection on the lake, snow covering the rugged, well-weathered peaks of the volcanic landscape of Slieve Gullion in South Armagh and sunrays all combine to give a sense of the beauty of this part of Ireland.

A recent photography tour in the west of Ireland encompassed several sunrises but of these this was the most impressive.

I have written about Northern Ireland's locations associated with Saint Patrick in this post and since it is Ireland's national saint's day once again, that's the 17th March for those of you who don't know, why not show off some more locations with links to the snake-banishing, shamrock-wielding Welshman who became a hit in his adopted country Ireland.

And where better to include, other than the spectacular Croagh Patrick mentioned here, Dublin's Saint Patrick's cathedral, a well in Tipperary, and Cashel also known as Patrick's Rock in Irish.

The west of Ireland - it has great people, great food, great entertainment and great scenery and that all makes for the perfect location for photography.

Wicklow in the morning, this is without doubt one of my favourite images.

Working on assignment for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel magazine I had the task to capture representative scenes of Ireland - landscapes, green, classic Dublin buildings.

On a rare quiet day taking a break from leading photography tours in Ireland I headed to one of Ireland's most famous landmarks - the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary.

It was a cold and rainy March afternoon as rain spread across the plain obscuring the distant mountains before clearing long enough to enjoy the view again.