For the second time in five years, the famous shipyard that built RMS Titanic, Harland & Wolff is to enter administration. That means for now, the famous yellow cranes that are visible from all over Belfast may cease operations although they still intend to trade.

At its peak the shipyard employed 35,000 and during the Second World War, Harland and Wolff built more ships than any other shipyard. Now with an existing order for three Royal Navy warships, it seems likely that a buyer will be found soon enough.

Its two famous cranes, Samson and Goliath, built by German industrial powerhouse Krupp, were installed in 1974 and 1969 respectively. Goliath is the older and smaller of the two, standing at 96 metres, with Samson measuring 10% higher at 106 metres, their yellow paint and iconic H&W lettering dominate the Belfast skyline. Both cranes have a span of 140 metres and they run on tracks, able to move further apart or closer together along the 556 metres of dry dock. Lifting a combined load of 1,700 tonnes and the length of the dry dock makes this shipyard one of the most accommodating in the world.

In the image above, Samson is seen on the left and Goliath on the right, indeed same for the image below where you can see the height differential in the two structures.

Interestingly, Krupp were the largest European company at the start of the 20th century.

Of course, Harland and Wolff is most famous for one ship, Titanic, which left Belfast Lough on the 2nd of April 1912 before beginning its maiden, and sadly its only, voyage from Southampton, Cherbourg and Cobh.

This part of Belfast, Titanic Quarter is home to a fine museum to the most famous ship of the 20th century - https://panoramicireland.com/blog-ireland-guide/belfasts-titanic-quarter-shining-example-of-regeneration

Who knows what the future holds for Belfast's Harland and Wolff, but even if the cranes are quiet for now they will remain an essential and unavoidable focal point in the industrial city's skyline.

It's now mid-September and we are of course past the end of summer in Ireland. 

Here, a scene from a summer journey along one of Ireland's least visited counties, County Cavan, home to scenic roads like this. 

I couldn't travel fast on this road (why would anyone want to?) but it made the journey to my destination much more interesting and enjoyable.

And my journey was indeed slow, not just because of the road but also the need to stop frequently to photograph.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph in places like this throughout Ireland.

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.