Today, 17th March, is the feast day of Ireland's patron saint (one of three actually) Saint Patrick and it has been marked with a doodle on Google's search pages of Ireland's Cliffs of Moher.

I know that the Cliffs of Moher are one of the most famous and iconic places in Ireland but I do find it interesting that Saint Patrick never visited the cliffs, nor did he actually visit County Clare.

According to local tradition in County Clare, Saint Patrick blessed the county from across the River Shannon before heading to the north of Ireland.

It's just an observation and I have added my own sunset image from the Cliffs of Moher above.

Although Saint Patrick's Day has been all but cancelled this year, 2020 due to what we all know now as COVID-19 or the coronavirus, it is still possible to see and enjoy the sights of Ireland.

Today I visited Saint Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastic capital.

It's a fine structure, rising high on one of Armagh's seven hills and visible from the countryside all around the small city with its 64m high spires projecting off the lofty position opposite Saint Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral.

Begun on Saint Patrick's Day in 1838 after Catholic Emancipation of 1829, the cathedral was designed in the perpendicular gothic style but work stopped after the Famine in 1847.

Away from the crowds, in fact away from everyone the Irish countryside is a perfect destination for landscape and travel photography.

Here a rural road through the green Irish countryside leads us to the mountains just as a little bit of rain starts to fall.

You can see the rain streaking across this dramatic grey sky, but it didn't stay that way for long with sunshine coming out soon after.

Join Panoramic Ireland on a private photography workshop in the Irish countryside away from the crowds.

Places available right now, throughout March, April, May and on - 365 days of the year! 

The Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi said that ‘The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.'

And sitting on the banks of this fine remote Irish mountain stream (small river), I was reminded of these very words as I photographed the scene after a recent photography workshop in Ireland's fine springtime countryside.

For 30 minutes I enjoyed my own solitude, gazing on the fast flow of the fresh water and felt in awe of the scenery just here in front of me.

I'm sure that the river banks must have been full of wildlife but I couldn't hear much over the constant sound of the flowing water.

After finishing today's photography workshop I took a few moments to photograph for myself at a small river and woodland in the Irish countryside.

Here I found a path through the woods, hence the title of this post - a walk in the park with sunshine and shadow.

I was reminded of this quote while admiring the scene in front of me:

“A path is made by walking on it.”

― Chuang Tzu

And what a fine day it has been, perfect for photography with some rainshowers but mostly sunshine and cloud with blue sky.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, for a private photography workshop in Ireland - no crowds, no groups.

On the 7th of March 1848, Ireland's now well-known tricolour flag of green, white and orange was flown for the first time.

It was created by Thomas Francis Meagher, a skilled orator and statesman who later went on to become the first acting governor of Montana.

Often represented as green, white and gold the Irish flag is in fact green, white and orange - in Meagher's own words: "The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the 'Orange' and the 'Green', and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood." 

Youghal, Dungarvan and Wicklow Town have all cancelled their parades for Saint Patrick's Day 2020 due to Coronavirus fears.

And it looks like more Saint Patrick's Day events might be cancelled. Indeed, now Cork City has cancelled their parade along with Dublin.

I'm not an expert in virus epidemiology and I don't have access to all of the information about COVID-19 so I'll leave it up to you to decide if banning or restricting events is a good idea or not.

If you are in Ireland why not still enjoy yourself, if you are looking for things to do to avoid the crowds why not take up a solitary pursuit such as fishing or better still photography.

Join me for a crowd-free private photography workshop in Ireland this year where we will likely only be joined by herds of cows or droves of donkeys or maybe even a pine marten and kits.

For over a decade Panoramic Ireland's photo tours have been providing inspiration, training and enjoyment to photographers beginners and advanced throughout Ireland

Dublin's famous Long Room Library has also been closed as of today, March 10th so why not check it out in Panoramic Ireland's 360-degree panorama here.

Today, the 1st of March marks the start of meteorological spring here in Ireland, it is also Saint David's Day - the patron saint of Wales.

Spring in traditional Irish culture starts on the 1st of February which is Saint Brigid's Day but for weather scientists March, April and May are the spring months.

On the west side of Saint Stephen's Green the visitor to this fine Dublin park will find a grand statue to Lord Ardilaun or Sir Arthur Edward Guinness, great-grandson of the famous brewer and founder of Guinness.

Many users of Dublin's tram, the Luas, will undoubtedly see his sedentary position from just inside the park.

The statue was erected to the businessman, politician and philanthropist in 1892.

The Irish coastline is a spectacular mix of landscapes - from coastal villages to sandy beaches to rocky coast.

Panoramic Ireland's photography workshops have always covered the coast of Ireland and 2020 is no exception, join us on a photography workshop in one of these fine places to photograph blue hour and more:

Copper Coast, Waterford

Galway & Mayo

Clare

Dingle & Co. Kerry

Antrim Coast & Giant's Causeway

Dublin's Coast

Cork

Donegal

Sligo