Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Glenmore, Waterville, a photography treasure










If you continue the road that follows Lough Currane where the new hotel is just being build you reach the townland of Glenmore. The members of the South Kerry Camera Club visited the area last night on a wonderful warm summer evening. On the way you are passing scenes with mountains and lakes on the left as well as steep rocks and plenty of trees. At some stage you are going to see the parking place for walkers who want to do the Kerry walk. Keep driving for another 1,5km to the very and and turn at the last farm and find a place to park without interfering with the farm gates. There are some wonderful spots to photograph the valley, the trees and the river that runs there. Walking on the road is no problem as you are hardly going to meet any car. Enjoy this peaceful place and look at the sky as you may even see an eagle if lucky.
©Michael Herrmann 2017
MerkenMerken

Monday, July 10, 2017

Baltimore and Skibbereen, County Cork



Beacon Point, Baltimore. Sherkin Island Lighthouse in the background

Baltimore Beacon

Sherkin Island and Cape Clear

Baltimore Cliffs

Beacon Point from the Sherkin Ferry boat

Sherkin Island

Sherkin Island

Mizen Head

Mizen Head cliffs from the bridge 

Old Mizen light signal

Different light signals, the small one top right with stainless steal backdrop is the current working LED  light.

Always close to my heart: the lighthouse keepers window view

Uillinn West Cork Art Centre building

Basement space with art by Matthew Lanyon (painting) and Tony Lattimer (sculpture)

Art by Philip Booth

First floor, Art by Matthew Lanyon and Tony Lattimer

 Tapestrie by Matthew Lanyon

Painting by Matthew Lanyon

Painting by Matthew Lanyon

An Altarpiece for West Penwith, stained glas by Matthew Lanyon

Deelish Garden Centre just outside Skibbereen, http://www.deelish.ie

Only a few of the many flowers that are for sale at Deelish Garden Centre, http://www.deelish.ie
Clerke´s shop that became a stamp picture 2016

Buildings at town center Skibbereen


I spend the first week of July with my wife and two grand sons in Baltimore, County Cork. We have never been in that part of Ireland before. The landscape is mostly smalls hill farms divided by roads, lakes and forests and lovely coastal drives along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Baltimore is a small seaside village with a lively harbour and some good restaurants and pubs. The pizzas are rather good and you enjoy the view over the harbour while you eat and drink. My daily place to check emails and messages since there is wifi outside the bars.
Another highlight is the community swimming pool, complete with sauna and jacuzzi. A real asset for the village that should be more appreciated and used. We went there 5 times during the week, the boys loved it.
Another great place near by is the town of Skibbereen. A buzzing 3200 people town with an fantastic art centre and a great selection of shops, pubs and galeries. The Uillinn Art Centre is a wonderful art space right in the center of Skibbereen with an attached cafe bistro that serves delicious food and really tempting cakes. The art centre was showing an exhibition by three leading artist from Cornwall. The paintings by Matthew Lanyon dominated clearly the show but the sculptures from Philip Booth and Tony Lattimer added another dimension to the exhibition. I liked it so much that I went twice to see it. I was suffering from art fatigue, obviously. Whenever you are in the area, go and have a look inside, please. No regrets promised. My grandchildren liked the elevator too.

Another colourful place is just outside Skibbereen: Deelish Garden Centre: Deelish Garden
You are greeted by a friendly lady there, who likes to laugh as well as my grand sons noticed. The plants and flowers are good as well, we had to little space in the car but brought our shopping safe to Kerry.
Another highlight of the week was the trip to Mizen Head to visit the lighthouse keeper dwellings and the signals. The view from the bridge is amazing and dramatic, even on a dull day. The visitor centre is very well done, very good exhibition and video screenings about the history of the place and the importance of lighthouses in the past and present. Kind of funny when you watch a video on Mizen Head just to see my friend Richard Foran, lighthouse keeper from Valentia Island making an appearance on the big screen. Its a small world.
©Michael Herrmann 2017