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‘TO COLLECT PHOTOGRAPHS is to collect the world.’ So said legendary writer Susan Sontag.
Whether it’s a phone snap or a painstakingly set up landscape shot complete with tripods, timers and lens filters, sometimes you come across a view so good you’re compelled to try to capture just a tiny bit of the magic you feel looking at it.
But where in Ireland should you go for unforgettable images that will take your breath away?
For me, it’s the view from Synge’s Chair on Inis Meáin of the coast of Galway. At the edge of the island, overlooking Inis Mór and the Atlantic ocean, is a little seat of sorts, made out of rocks.
Sitting there, you feel as if you’re at the very edge of the world, with the wild Atlantic in front of you and incredible stone wall-dotted fields behind you. Whichever way you turn, there’s the opportunity for a great shot.
I asked six other photographers, all based in Ireland, for the locations they’d recommend for that perfect photo…
1. Red Rock Beach, Howth, Co Dublin: Alex Sheridan
This side of Howth is quieter than the more popular Summit and cliff walk, and boasts a beautiful view of Dublin Bay. It’s the perfect spot to watch the sun set, according to Alex Sheridan, a portrait and lifestyle photographer:
One of my favourite evenings of last summer was spent on the hill beside the beach with my girlfriend, taking photos and watching the sky go from orange to pink to blue over the bay.
For a truly special shot, there’s a little hill you can climb up right beside the beach, which gives you an elevated view. Aim to get there just before sunset and stay until the sun goes down.
2. Barley Cove Beach, Cork: Ruth Connolly
There’s something about introducing somebody to Ireland that makes you appreciate it anew. This is definitely the case for commercial and fine art photographer Ruth Connolly.
“My husband is Turkish American, so since we met in college here in Ireland ten years ago, we’ve travelled every inch of Ireland together. I love introducing him to places I went to as a child, and it helps me see Ireland through new eyes too,” she says.
This shot was taken last summer when we went to West Cork for a few days. On a drive we came along this view of Barley Cove Beach, and I had to pull over to take a picture. It was lovely to see blue skies and people enjoying the beach, one of those truly magic Irish summer days. Very shortly after, I remember we had 99s. It was perfect.
3. Ballydwan Bay on Waterford’s Copper Coast: Al Higgins
A winding stretch of road dotted with small, beautiful, often isolated beaches, Waterford’s Copper Coast is a favourite haunt of Al Higgins, a Dublin-based photographer:
Growing up, we’d always find somewhere knew to explore on weekends. Ballydwan Bay is a favourite – there’s a slip of a road leading to beautiful beach with a ferocious undercurrent. The beach is disconnected from the rest of the world by cliffs stained red with hints of white and green. Early morning here is incredible as the sun begins to illuminate the bay.
4. The view of Dublin Bay from Bull Island: Maggy Morrissey
Accessed by a narrow wooden bridge, Bull Island is a small, dune-covered stretch of land running parallel to the Dublin coast at Clontarf. Irish photographer and artist Maggy Morrissey calls it “a wonderfully calming place, even when the weather is a little bit wild.”
She adds:
I always leave this little oasis feeling refreshed and grounded. There is so much to photograph here, including lighthouses, the iconic Poolbeg chimneys, sailboats, ferries, sea birds and sometimes even kite surfers. You might even see the odd seal if you’re lucky.
Morrissey recommends a morning visit for the best shot. “It’s calmer then, and the view is really special on a soft, foggy morning.” Keep an eye on the tide times as the beach can look quite different at high and low tide.
5. The top of Bray Head, Wicklow: Lili Forberg
There’s nothing like the satisfaction of a beautiful view to reward you after a hearty hike, as fashion and lifestyle photographer Lili Forberg recently discovered:
A view like this is all about the achievement of getting there… it’s just breathtaking. I took this shot on my six-year-old son’s Leon’s first big hike. He was so proud of himself when he reached the top. We were recently there on a cloudy day and it was equally as amazing.
If you have a wide lens, put it to perfect use here to capture the views, and look out for streaks of sun breaking through the cloud – that’s where the magic happens.
6. Mullaghmore, The Burren, County Clare: Ruth Maria Murphy
Caves, cliffs fossils, rock formations and a dizzying array of flora and fauna. Not to mention some of the best waves in the world.
Photographer Ruth Maria Murphy usually shoots interiors, but getting windswept while walking around the beautiful, vast limestone plateau of The Burren is one of her favourite outdoor activities:
My mom is from Ennistymon so I grew up going to this part of Clare, spending summers in Corofin, Fanore, Doolin and Ballyvaughan, all of which are nestled around The Burren. There is a remote spot off the beaten track in front of the majestic Mullaghmore where the low evening winter light creates a beautiful atmosphere.
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Dinosaurs voting for extinction.
@theseadoc thinking they are going back to the glory days of the empire.
@Brian Madden: jesus, grown adults calling themselves the star chamber, the UK is electing some beauties these days.
@Rayzor: This is not a lie, 100% true. They call themselves individually amongst themselves the ‘Star Wizards’, I wish I was joking but I am not.
@Gary Garden: Sure it’s hard to believe that Mark Francois is actually a real person and not a Harry Enfield character.
@Rayzor: Very true haha
On a general note the Conservative party particularly their cabinet and the right wing are really pitiful, a combination of air heads masquerading as ministers and then the old empire enthusiasts. Go Global Britain lol it’s such a comedy show.
@Gary Garden: can’t be doing to bad if they’re the 5th richest country in the whole entire world
@Michael Patrick: Hello Westy, they wont be in top 10 soon.
@Gary Garden: They have the 5th biggest economy but on a per capita basis they are miles down the table, 26th on GDP(PPP) and 20th GDP(nominal). Ireland is within the top 4 of both. They also have the wealthiest part of Northern europe in London but also 9 of the 10 most impoverished parts.
@Rayzor: Hi Rayzor, I lived and worked in the UK for over 6 years. I know where the wealth and poverty is quite well. This is Brexit and the only outcome is the rich will get richer and I dont need to say the rest. The average Brit is über gullible and just need to hear a posh and plump voice to believe they are as a country going in the right direction. They are in for a rude awakening now. No voice on the big table, US under Biden isnt going to prioritise the ‘special relationship’ BS which is just Anglo Saxon nostalgia by the way. They are now a minnow, they wonr even draw in FDI as they dont have EU labour market access. Its beyond mindblowingly stupid what they’ve dont.
@Gary Garden: hello spa who you calling westy
I think the differences between Theresa’s proposals and what has now been agreed are very small. The old Tory empire worshippers have now seen a little of what they could have expected if they had achieved the hard Brexit they so craved. The motorways to the ports blocked and no one in the EU too worried about their great friends in UK and best of all Donald dumped from power and replaced by a politician who knows that world prosperity is built on cooperation and not isolation. Good man Joe B.
@JG: where can I find an honest comparison between the Teresa deal and the current deal?
So let me get this straight – the ERG (who wanted Brexit so the UK could “reclaim its sovereignty from the EU”), are now saying that the Brexit deal is good because it “preserves the UK’s sovereignty”.
Last time I checked, “preserves” means to maintain something in its current or original state – in other words, preserving UK sovereignty is keeping what’s already in place….
@Brian: Preserve can refer to the future too
@Thomas O’ Donnell: preserve can be jam
I don’t know which is worse. Being a Brexiteer or a member of the Republican Party in the USA.
@Tim Quigley: you don’t know much.
It’s their decision and they have followed through. We’ll only know if it’s a good or Abad thing in years to come. But good luck to them.
@Sean Oige: Yes, they might need a bit of luck.
Dup party unmangling itself from the front wheel of the bus after it getting chucked under it.a party that wanted brexit now votes against brexit,haha
@reginald: mistake they made was not backing May’s deal. If they had they be no border north/south or east/west. Current deal has certainly weakened the Union.
The concept of sovereignty and the reality of the Fishing aspect of the Brexit deal are mutually exclusive and it would be disingenuous to claim otherwise. Scottish fishermen are rightly concerned at the very suggestion of having taken back “sovereignty “ given that the status quo ante shall pertain for 5.5 long years and even then the EU has an option to resile from the whole Agreement should a negotiated access to UK waters not be agreed. Even if a further Agreement can be negotiated it’s terms will be slanted in favour of the French fleet under pain of the sort of disruption witnessed at Dover in the past few days. Better to have forced Macron’s hand but when the Brits witnessed the chais at Dover the writing was on the wall. Fishing was a zero sum game in terms of hard economics
Those knobs would vote for anything
That black microphone really looks like a horn
oh course they are happy – the right of the UK to control it’s financial services and retain their tax havens was a priority to the offshore wealthy I understand. That it seems was worth it over an EU – UK financial services agreement.
Actually, not the worst outcome for Ireland by any means.. sorry about the fish – but this makes interesting reading https://ec.europa.eu/ireland/news/key-eu-policy-areas/fisheries_en
Them knobs would vote for anything.
Its pretty ironic that one of the stated reasons for the ERG supporting this deal is, that they don’t see it as binding, to the extent that they can choose to renege on it as soon as it pleases a “robust government” to do so and then trade under WTO rules and tariffs.
have your say