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.

Slievenamon, Sliabh na mBan or 'Mountain of the Women'

As I write this Storm Fionn is hitting Ireland and bringing with it snow, heavy winds and high seas.

It's rather fitting then that last week I climbed a mountain in County Tipperary called Slievenamon, whose Irish name means Mountain of the Women.

This 721m high mountain sits at the end of a long ridge stretching across the south east of Ireland.

It was an important mountain in Irish mythology having been the place chosen by an important mythological figure, often described as a giant, Finn or Fionn MacCumhaill as the site of a race - the winner would be the first woman to ascend Slievenamon who would win Fionn's hand in marriage.

Finn, as you might already know, is the hero/god/giant who created the Giant's Causeway, Lough Neagh and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea according to legend. 

So check out the video of my short ascent of Slievenamon from the green Suir Valley to the white, icy wonderland on top with stunning views of the Munster Vales and the counties of this part of Ireland situated along the driving route known as Ireland's Ancient East, like the present Storm Fionn it was blowing a gale at 721m above sea level.

The video is hosted on YouTube but you can watch it here on this page by playing it.

Slievenamon - above the snow line in winter

Braving the elements on a cold winter's day we climbed up Slievenamon, a 720m-high mountain in Ireland's Ancient East and part of the scenic Munster Vales region.

Starting along the scenic lanes we walked through green fields past pine forest with views along the Suir Valley towards the Knockmealdown, Comeragh and Galtee Mountains.

At the top it was a white and blue sky winter wonderland with iced snow coating everything, it was cold and the strong north easterly wind made it feel even colder.

Here is an image from the top of the sun and that wintry scene.

More to come on this adventure, why not join me on my next outing to learn how to photograph Irish landscapes.

For more on photography tours and workshops in Ireland contact me.

Another of my favourite images from 2017 came again from Ireland's midland region just like this one here.

Again, after a long day of photographing landscapes we found ourselves in not an ideal position for photographing the sunset, not being the chief objective of our photography workshop.

Here we found this lane that seemed to invite us across its water-filled potholes towards the colour of the evening's setting sun.

The wind was blowing, the usual, bright orange colour filled the horizon and above the blue hour was beginning to start.

This was one of my favourite unexpected scenes of the year.

It is very representative of Ireland, not the famous scenes from our beautiful coastline but the hidden Ireland that I like to find for you on my photography workshops and tours.

To join me on a personalised tour in Ireland, to find scenes like these, contact me using the main menu or use the email address at the top of the page.

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.