Tag Archives: Ireland

Weekly Photo Challenge: Through

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These photos I took at Timoleague Abbey in Ireland are perfect for this week’s theme of “through.” When I approached the abbey from the outside, what impressed me most was how the windows framed the headstones of the graveyard inside the ruin. With many windows and many holes in the ruined walls, Timoleague was a perfect frame for photographing the abbey and the surrounding countryside. If some of these photos look familiar, it’s because I used them previously for the photo theme “windows.”

Dave seen through the frame of Timoleague.

Looking through the window of Timoleague Abbey.

Bay outside of Timoleague Abbey, through a hole in the ruined wall.

My first impression of the abbey: a Celtic Cross viewed through the window from outside.

© Huffygirl 2012

Related link: Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows from the inside out

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows from the inside out

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Timoleague Abbey ruins was a study in windows. The windows are what first caught my eye when we stopped there. I’ve picked some of my favorites for this photo challenge, all looking from the inside out.

A long look through the ruined abbey to the triple lancet window.

Lancet window, Timoleauge Abbey (© Huffygirl 2011)

 Self-made window – looking from the inside out through a hole in the ruins.

Self-made window ( © Huffygirl 2011)

 Another look from the inside out – looking out onto Argideen estuary.

© Huffygirl 2011

© Huffygirl 2011

Weekly Photo Challenge: Hidden

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When we traveled to Ireland a few years ago, my favorite stops were gardens and ruins. I was always looking for the secret part – the out of the way doorway, the back parts of the ruined castles, the secret garden that somehow all the other tourists missed. I guess I’m always hoping to discover something that no one else has seen – the mystery seeker in me. Unfortunately, when I do discover that secret door or gate, it’s almost always locked. Here’s a few of my favorite hidden spots from my Ireland photo diary.

The very back corner of Bunratty Garden (© Huffygirl 2011)

Notice the padlock on the door – foiled! 

Dungeon steps at The Black Abbey? ( © Huffygirl 2011)

See the authentic ancient plastic bottle on the steps? Must have been left from one of the sieges.  I wanted to make this shot look like steps leading down to a dungeon. Unfortunately, there was no dungeon at the Black Abbey. This was a set of steps leading up from the cloisters to one of the side buildings.  Not wanting to be undone, I stood at the top of the steps and shot the picture looking down into the dark cloister, giving the effect of steps going down to a dungeon.

Hidden gate at the Dower House Garden of Kilkenny Castle (© Huffygirl 2011)

This gate was pretty well-hidden, in the far back corner of  the Dower House garden at Kilkenny Castle.  I framed the photo with the foliage, trying to make it look like a gate to a secret garden, rather than the garden maintenance shed that it really was.

© Huffygirl 2011

Weekly Photo Challenge: More Up

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Carrigafoyle Castle Ruin, western side.

After seeing the quay side of Carrigafoyle Castle ruin, I thought readers might like to see the rest of it. This is the front or western side of the castle, battered open in a siege by Sir William Pelham in 1580.  The five-story castle is located between the high and low water marks of the Shannon estuary, making it difficult to get to at times.  It is indeed one of the more impressive ruins I saw in Ireland. 

Carrigafoyle Castle: Note the muddy ground at the castle’s edge, accessible only at low tide.

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 © Huffygirl 2011

Weekly Photo Challenge: Entrance

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 What an entrance! At best husband’s suggestion, I’m dipping into my Ireland photo collection once again for this week’s photo challenge. This is the entrance to Glendalough Monastery, home of St. Kevin of Ireland and his merry band of monks. Well, okay, maybe they weren’t merry, because after all, being a monk is serious business. Why the double gates? Besides the fact that it makes a better picture, and I’m sure St. Kevin was all about the photo ops, the double gates may have been for better security, as back then everyone was always sacking and looting each other. Guess the gates did not help, as the monastery was later destroyed by the English in 1398. Despite the English conquest, many buildings remain and there’s much for visitors of Glendalough to explore. St. Kevin’s mark is evident, as just about everything there is named “St. Kevin’s bed,” or “St. Kevin’s chair” to the point that I wondered why is it we hear so much about St. Patrick, when apparently St. Kevin was quite renowned. Probably because St. Kevin does not have a day dedicated to drinking associated with his name! 🙂

Unidentified grave, traditionally thought to be St. Kevin's

St. Kevin's ducks of course!

Reefert Church ruin; this archway mirrors the monastery entrance

And one more entrance that I’m hoping no one needs to enter soon – an ancient crypt on Valencia Island.

Open ancient crypt, Valencia Island, Ireland

© Huffygirl 2011

WP Weekly Photo Challenge: Answer

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And the answer is...

This week WordPress challenged bloggers to post a photo depicting the theme “old.” This lighthouse looks pretty modern at first glance. But look closely at the windows.  You can see how thick the walls are by the inset of the windows. Older structures tend to have thicker walls than newly built ones. Look at the red railing at the top and the entrance at the bottom – these are modern and were clearly added later. Take a close look at the lighthouse walls. The black and white paint gives the illusion of metallic siding, but if you look closely you can see that the walls are actually masonry or stucco, not metal. 

This is Hook Head Lighthouse off the southern coast of Ireland. It is a Norman-built structure, dating back to 1172, and is believed to be the oldest working lighthouse in Europe. Sometimes what is old can be made to appear new.

No takers on this challenge.

© Huffygirl