It's true, the sun does shine in Ireland, unfortunately it is not always that way when planning a day of photography.

Summer in Ireland. It wasn't really tangible in 2015.

Most places in Ireland recorded a wetter, duller and colder summer (June, July and August) than usual.

This evening's image shows the level of water in the lake during a colourful and characterful sunset in the west of Ireland. Rainy at sunset, unlike this last sunset but with the same colours.

The summer is well and truly underway here in Ireland, only no-one told the weather. Cold, wet and lacking in sunshine, with high winds all making it seem autumnal more than summery.

July is nearly over and it's still possible to smell peat fires burning in the villages and towns of rural Ireland, people carry jackets, gloves and hats; sandals have been relegated to the foreign holiday packing list.

Yet there is something happening very soon that will lift the spirits of at least 40,000 of the country's residents; Electric Picnic - a three day festival of music and arts is taking place as usual this year at Stradbally in Co. Laois from 4th - 6th September. The end of the summer and the end of the festival season.

Poulnabrone on a moody day

Poulnabrone probably needs no introduction to most who have visited or intend to visit Ireland, it has long been a principal tourist attraction and is located in the UNESCO Geopark that encompasses the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in County Clare.

Last time I visited this iconic location in the Burren in County Clare the sky was bright and colourful with white clouds tinged pink from the late evening sun.

Hook Lighthouse, Hook Head, County Wexford

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse in the world. The current tower dates from the early 1200s, it was built to safeguard the entrance to Waterford Harbour and provide assistance to ships heading for the newly established port of New Ross on the River Barrow.

March 20th 2015 #eclipse2015

Much patience was needed to get a view of the near-total solar eclipse visible over Ireland today.

I had already planned my location and was ready to go with equipment prepared, camera batteries charged, memory card formatted and the correct lenses and filters. I also had a plan of what style of shot I wanted to get.

Panoramic Ireland - Photography Classes in Ireland

This year I am running several photography classes around the coast of Ireland, from Antrim to Dingle these classes are suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced and all you need is a camera. It doesn't matter what type of camera you have, there is no snobbery here.

I recently wrote and photographed an article about the street art or graffiti art of Dublin for top US website Untapped Cities

The city is being transformed day by day by the work of various artists, often collaborating with businesses, city authorities and residents groups to brighten walls, shutters and enliven whole quarters of the city. 

From derelict districts to upmarket boutique shops wanting an extra presence on the streetscape out of hours, artists are creating something big in Dublin.

Dublin's parks are getting more colourful by the day, the cold weather has arrived and it does feel like the summer is really over.

Connemara

Researching locations for a photography workshop can be very rewarding, especially if the location is in the west of Ireland. Here in Connemara there is notonly a land of bog, mountain and sky but also a land of machair, ponies, and the sea, or, in this case, the Atlantic Ocean.