Aerials

Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl) is one of the jewels of Ireland's landscape and heritage. Seen here from a helicopter, the Small Skellig and Lemon Rock are also visible. Puffin Island, Valentia and Portmagee are all visible in the distance.
A double-pyramid of rock soaring up from the surface of the Atlantic, it houses two lighthouses (one decommissioned), a 6th century monastery and a hermitage from the same era.

Rossbeigh Beach on a fine spring day

A panoramic view of the Maharees with Brandon Mountain in the early morning haze in the background. 

The Ring of Kerry, despite its reputation for amazing scenery, actually bypasses many of the real gems of the Kerry landscape. However, Derrynane is an exception. It’s most dramatically seen when coming from the north where the bay is revealed all at once, a playground of sheltered coves and islets, and of course, its famous beach.
Hard against the mountains of southwest Kerry, it’s a place that rewards exploration. For this photograph, I wanted to capture a less obvious viewpoint, and found the meandering stream through the beach a compelling subject.

The first rays of sunlight glance the top of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks with Lough Leane in the foreground. Inishfallen island with its monastery is the the left of the frame.

The classic aerial shot of the island showing the active lighthouse (bottom right) and the decommissioned one (top left), along with the hermitage (on the larger peak) and the monastery (on the lower peak).

Another beloved location for holidaymakers and surfers is the Maharees, a 5 kilometre long peninsula off the north coast of the Dingle peninsula. It’s actually a tombolo, a landform that occurs when an island or islands becomes attached to the shore by a spit of sand.

The Long Range can be described as either a wide river or a skinny lake, and it connects Muckross Lake and Lough Leane with the Upper Lake in Killarney. Flowing between the Eagle's Nest mountain and the Ring of Kerry road, it's a fine sight at any time.
This image, made from a helicopter on a fine summer's day, shows its meandering course westwards to the Upper Lake, nestled among the mountains.

Rossbeigh is a partner to Inch. It emerges from the Iveragh peninsula and, while thinner and shorter than its cousin, it’s no less beautiful.
During the storms of 2013-2014, the facilities at the base of the spit were extensively damaged, and the shape of the peninsula was somewhat altered.

The Small Skellig is not often photographed other than from Skellig Michael. However, it's a worthy subject in its own right. Home to thousands of pairs of gannets, it looks dusted in snow as the sun sets behind it.

Valentia is a large island just off the north coast of the Iveragh peninsula. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, it's a lovely place to visit and has some stunning scenery. This image was made while returning from the abortive attempt to land on Inishteareaght and shows the north coast of the island being battered by a storm.
It's a rare privilege to see this kind of weather in action from the air, so I'm pleased to be able to share it with you.

Bray Head looms at the viewer on a beautiful spring evening. The cloudless sky contrasts with the surf pounding against the base of the cliffs.

The westernmost point of Ireland on a blustery January day.

Inch is perhaps one of the best-loved beaches in Ireland. The sand spit runs across Dingle Bay for nearly 6 kilometres. With Rossbeigh beach coming from the other direction, the bay is nearly closed off. Inch is a renowned spot for sur ng in Ireland, and the dune system has rich flora and fauna.
This image was made at sunrise, from an unusual angle, off the southern end of the peninsula. The dunes are nicely revealed, as is the curve of the beach and the wave patterning in the sand. The tidal flats on the lee side of the spit can also be seen, where plenty of waterfowl can be found.