Some snow in the Irish mountains, I knew that winter wasn't over yet back in January.

After quite an adventure where the roads were snowbound today, having to reverse down a mountain side as progress was non-grippy, slippy and, in the end, impossible.

In fact the car ahead of me had already run into troubles on the steep incline, there were patches of compacted snow and ice across the road, particularly where sunlight hadn't reached over the past few days, after all I was climbing up the northern slopes of the mountains.

Situated in the corner of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland's largest county, the remains of Harry Avery's castle sit atop a hill on the edge of a valley.

The twin structures projecting up here were actually an unusual tower house rather than an outer defensive gatehouse.

Belonging to a 14th century Irish chieftain it was destroyed in the early 17th century by English forces who took stone from the site.

This scene reminded me of another castle, more famous, from my own County Antrim which I also photographed with a cow in front: https://panoramicireland.com/photo-tours-blog/cow-in-front-of-dunluce-castle-causeway-coast-antrim-northern-ireland

Happy Christmas from Ireland.

It's almost the end of 2019, the decade and while there is no snow for Christmas in Ireland, here is a Christmassy / winter scene from Ireland of stone circles and snow at sunset.

Enjoy the rest of the 2019 and Happy New Year!

If you are travelling to Ireland in 2020 join a photography tour in Dublin, Wicklow, Antrim, Connemara or elsewhere. Contact me to find out more.

We've had snow so far this winter in Ireland, here's a post from earlier this month at the start of December 2019 of snow in the Irish mountains.

But it looks like it will be a snow-free Christmas on the Emerald Isle.

So, here's an image from this week, a few days before Christmas from the west of Ireland.

This weekend's journey through the Irish countryside, snow in the mountains of Ireland above lush, sunlit green fields.

I travelled through the narrow, twisty mountain roads to find a colourful scene with green fields and warm sunlight under blue sky and a healthy dusting of snow.

This scene reminded me of another image from a few years ago, again of green fields with snowy mountains above - here.

Landscape photography is a fine pursuit; much like the angler will appreciate the solitude, or camaraderie, to be found on a riverbank or lakeside so too the landscape photographer enjoys an evening out on the coast surrounded by nature.

Here is no exception, the famous basalt columns of Northern Ireland's world-famous World Heritage Site Giant's Causeway had done their work for the day and the last feet had been lifted off these natural regular-sided stepping stones.

A woodland river flowing and swirling through the rocks under the tree canopy high above.

It just takes time, time for the action of the flowing water to finally erode the obstacles in its way, slowly carving a fine channel through even a tough, durable rock such as granite.

Beech trees fagus sylvatica are one of the finest trees to find in an Irish woodland.

This non-native species was introduced at some point in history, many centuries ago at least, and has become so widespread that it would appear to be a native Irish tree.

A lot has been written about scenic drives in Ireland, there is the Wild Atlantic Way as well as the Causeway Coastal Route to name two routes but the whole country is scenic.

For instance, County Kerry's Dingle Peninsula is a scenic drive worth making, read more here.

Autumn colour from the leafy woodland path in Ireland. 

Each year the Irish countryside brightens with the colour from deciduous leaves turning as seen here. 

It's a time to enjoy photography, autumn is a photographer's favourite - is it yours?