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.

What on earth could link swimming at the Forty Foot in Dublin and Electric Picnic's Comedy Arena 2024? That would be Ardal O'Hanlon, one of Ireland's best known and surely most loved comedians.

Ireland's largest and most loved festival, Electric Picnic is back again August 16th - 18th 2024 and starring on stage is the incomparable Ardal O'Hanlon. 

Now, what links him to the iconic swimming spot in Dublin Bay, the Forty Foot you ask?

Well, a few years ago the very man set off to find out why the Irish have such a propensity for cursing and made a TV show about it called Holy F***. In one of the segments O'Hanlon investigates how cursing can help with such things as exposure to cold water - like when you jump into the seas around Ireland.

And the show, produced by Loosehorse, used some of my imagery, see credits below.

This same show saw Ardal O'Hanlon interviewing the renowned fan of profanities, Bob Geldof who I photographed at Electric Picnic in 2015.

So, if you're headed to Electric Picnic 2024 then why not stop by the Comedy Arena for a rib-tickling break from your music weekend.

Here is the current line-up for the Comedy Arena at Electric Picnic 2024 including headliners Russell Howard and Katherine Ryan.

Here, Simon Amstell from his appearance in 2014.

The Irish summer is a strange thing, one day can be hot and sunny and then the next day is cloudy, cold and raining.

And of course we can get all of that in one day too. 

Here, a lush scene of Irish farmland ringed by mountains, a river runs through it. All under a cloudy sky.

It's a patchwork of 1,000 fields, trees line the river and tree-filled hedges mark the boundary between fields all helped by the long daylight hours in summer, plenty of rain and gentle heat.

May 2024 saw some of the finest displays of the aurora borealis or Northern Lights over Ireland and lower latitudes ever witnessed.

After a long and busy day photographing in Dublin, word was coming in from all sources of an amazing light show and even in the city I could see and photograph the stronger portions of the celestial display.

But it wasn't until I headed far from the city, into the Irish countryside that I was able to truly enjoy and photograph the unpredictable lightshow.

Still I didn't manage to make to some of my favourite locations over on the west coast of Ireland where the night sky is darker, thus more suited to astrophotography and night sky events.

It doesn't take much to see the difference, in Dublin and other large conurbations only the brightest stars are visible, in the countryside the sky can be so dark that it seems like you are staring into, literally, the vast reaches of the Milky Way and beyond.

I was reading recently of a ranking that lists the best locations for astrophotography in Europe and, interestingly, eight out the top ten sites were in Ireland!

Travel booking site, Omio analysed over 1,400 locations in Europe using factors such as clear views to the southern horizon, light pollution and the Bortle Scale that measures the astronomical observability of celestial objects.

Ballinskelligs in County Kerry ranks at number one, followed by Ashleam in County Mayo.

So what are you waiting for, now is the time to get to Ireland, use Omio to book your travel here and why not book a photography workshop with Panoramic Ireland when you're in Ireland.

The gable end of 12 Montague Street, Dublin as it faces onto Montague Lane is temporarily home to an artwork by Joe Caslin which aims to highlight the work of charity Samaritans.

The street artist, who is also a teacher, uses pencil drawings to highlight societal issues in contemporary Ireland, has unveiled his latest artwork in Dublin to bring attention to Dubliners of the work carried out by Samaritans.

Utilising the concept of the 15th century Japanese technique of Kintsugi in which broken pottery is repaired using powdered gold, Caslin's artwork of a male figure with the Kintsugi gold holding his face together suggests the idea that people may appear whole now but might have been broken before.

Samaritans do amazing work for those who need help, operating a 24 hour helpline for free via this number: 116 123 from anywhere in Ireland - from Antrim to Wexford and it's free to call.

A few years ago I posted about the fine views on a sunny day from Antrim to the Scottish islands of Islay and Jura, as well as the Mull of Kintyre (out of sight on this particular post).

Recently, Michael Cory contacted me about the post and the image, to use it in his fortcoming talk on mapping.

He is giving a talk on the Ordnance Survey and its early 19th century baseline established on the shores of Lough Foyle which formed the basis for all measurements between places in Ireland, Britain and further afield for the best part of two centuries.

Above here, an intense double rainbow looking across Benone towards Magilligan and beyond, Inishowen in Donegal.

Michael is a land surveyor who has mapped many portions of the world's more exotic corners, his talk is in Dublin on the 13th of June 2024 at 18:30 in Phoenix Park entitled From Limelight to Satellite: The Importance of the Lough Foyle Baseline.

To reserve a free spot, attending what is sure to be an informative, enjoyable talk have a look at the eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-limelight-to-satellite-the-importance-of-the-lough-foyle-baseline-tickets-907599413277?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Dublin is a good place for street photography, full of character in its people and its buildings. Often in the streetscape itself although some difficulty exists throughout much of the city centre with visual intrusions.

This scene is a good example, a classic image of a cobbled street filled with old buildings and the famous Guinness gatebeing passed by two locals wearing dark clothes who themselves look a little like a pint of Guinness on legs.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph street photography, landscapes, seascapes and more in Dublin and throughout Ireland.

On Monday 25th of November join me for a special price of only €135 for an afternoon of street photography in Dublin, usual price €215.

Ireland will miss having the world's largest off-track motorsport event visiting in 2025, 2026 and 2027 as deadlines for funding pass.

The governing body for motorsport in the country, Motorsport Ireland, has abandoned its bid to bring the most famous rally event to Ireland again.

The event would have seen Waterford, Limerick and Kerry hosting stages of the international race event, bringing international tourists into the south east and south west of Ireland.

It looks as if despite Ireland's long association with motorsport and rallying that racing will be limited to national and local events such as the Galway International Rally.

This orange gate in rural County Waterford will now have to do with only local racers, of which there are plenty, passing by on the scenic county's back roads.

A shame, as the county was home to one of Ireland's most famous drivers - Craig Breen, who died during the Croatia WRC rally in 2023.

Calling all artists! Dublin Canvas is now open for submissions for 2024. 

This inclusive public art project started in 2015 with aims to make Dublin pretty by painting utility boxes all over the county, from Balbriggan to Killiney.

There are 68 boxes in Dublin City, 23 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and 13 in Fingal. For 2024 no boxes in South Dublin are in the artist call.

Dublin Canvas will supply materials such as paints, brushes and €250 to cover travel expenses and food etc. for the day, or they will pay €300 if you supply your own materials.

The call for artists is now live, and closes on Friday 3rd of May 2024. 

More information can be found at: https://www.dublincanvas.com/paint

Chris Shiflett brought his solo tour opener to Ireland last night, March 20th 2024 in the Green Room at The Academy on Abbey Street in Dublin.

Rumour has it the Foo Fighters guitarist was staying in Room 102 at one of Dublin's many fine hotels.

More dates include March 21st in Belfast then Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

News updates on his website here.