Ardmore Cathedral on a fine sunny winter's day, Ireland.

Ardmore Cathedral is one of Ireland's oldest Christian settlements having been founded in the 5th century by the pre-Patrician Saint Declan. In other words, this was a religious settlement before the arrival of Ireland's most famous Christian figure Saint Patrick.

Situated on a height overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in County Waterford in Ireland's southeast, Ardmore has an amazing collection of ancient monuments including the 12th century 30m high round tower and carvings in the cathedral wall as seen on this image from a bright winter's day in Ireland. The Romanesque carvings as seen here are quite unusual in Ireland.

Read more about Irish round towers here.

I moved on to photograph the coast, Ireland is perfect for landscape photography in the winter.

So if you are looking for something to do in Ireland in winter join Panoramic Ireland, that's me, on a photography tour in Ireland to learn how to photograph places like Saint Declan's monastery here at Ardmore.

The Irish name for a round tower Cloigtheach  literally means bell house and they indeed functioned as bell towers, it's a logical construction with the high tower being visible from miles around, as a way-point guide for pilgrims and other travellers. Also sound travels further from a height and therefore the monastery - round towers are almost always associated with important churches and monasteries - would have been heard from quite a distance too, especially inside valleys where the sound of ringing bells coming from above the tree canopy would have been impressive.

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.