Winter isn't over just yet, despite the traditional start of spring in Ireland being 1st February - the feast day of Saint Brigid, the whole of Ireland is now covered in snow on March 1st and today March 2nd caused by the so-called Storm Emma and 'Beast from the East'.

This image is from Armagh City, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, being the site of an ancient fort, Navan Fort, and the place where Saint Patrick established his principal church in Ireland in 444 AD.

The snowdrop is one of the most precious of any flower to grow in Ireland. It is one of the first signs of new life awakening before the winter has even finished.

With its delicate white flowers hanging on the end of pure green stems, often growing in clumps both in the wild and in gardens throughout the country, the snowdrop signals the start of longer days and the beginning of a new year, a new cycle of life.

Winter can often be described as a season without colour and lacking in sunshine, but it isn't usually the case at all in Ireland.

Recent weeks have seen plenty of sunshine and snow in the mountains, see some of my last posts for these here.

At the end of that beautiful hike in the mountains, after the day looked to have finished early with a snow-storm darkening the sky, this is the reward of a bright and colourful sunset.

Looking out from the snow-filled mountainside towards the sun as it passed across the horizon, there was the sound of silence save for the sound of our shutters, a gentle breeze and the call of some crows.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, for a private photography landscape tour in the magic of Ireland's mountains, snow or no snow and suitable for all levels. Honestly, if I can climb it then so can you.

Find out more and feel free to ask me any questions.

See more like this: Path to the Sun, Ireland in Wnter

The snow appears to be gone for the moment but while it lasted the landscapes of Ireland's mountains were transformed.

No doubt we will see more before the summer arrives.

To join me on a photographic expedition into the mountains, contact me here.

See more of the journey into the mountains on this YouTube video.

I often get asked if it snow in Ireland or does the sun shine in winter in Ireland.

And on certain days it is possible to say yes to both.

This week has seen plenty of snow here in Ireland, and it has also seen lots of blue sky and sunshine - with all three on the same day so I can answer yes to both of the typical questions. Yes, it does snow in Ireland and yes, the sun does shine in winter.

Here, a scene from the mountains of Ireland from a photography expedition above the snowline into the white world of winter.

To join me on a photography expedition in the mountains in any season contact me using the contact page.

Recent cold weather has brought clear conditions with bright blue skies and frosty mornings.

The hedgerows take on another form when frost covered and the mountains beckon, their ice-covered summits set against the bright blue sky can be almost blinding.

This is of course perfect for the landscape photographer in winter.

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.

I'm currently working on my favourite images from the year 2017. This year has seen a lot of variety in my photographic subjects, from images of fine dining to music festivals, landscapes and animals. A little of everything that makes Ireland what it is.

This image is from January, the opposite end of the year from now - December, yet it looks like it could be from high summer.

These interesting ferns, seen here growing from a wall, are very common in Ireland and often grow in limestone rich rocks. Underneath, a carpet of mosses add a real soft feel to the hard man-made wall that divides private from public property; nature as we know respects little that humans put in its way.

The green fields of Ireland, looking lush green on a December day with snow-covered mountains.

Ireland doesn't receive a lot of snow, given that Dublin lies on the same latitude as Edmonton in Canada and northern Donegal is almost parallel with Moscow.