The Black Valley is not a million miles from the bustling town of Killarney. However, due to the geography of the area, it's one of the more remote parts of Ireland, surrounded by craggy mountains on all sides.
This house is located at the very heart of the valley and couldn't present a more Irish scene if it tried. A classic view of the valley, it epitomises wild Ireland for me.

Skellig Michael is one of my favourite locations anywhere in the world. It has long been my desire to photograph the 6th century monastery here in good light, and in mid-2012 I was given the opportunity to do just that. Access to the island is restricted with tourists only permitted between the hours of 10am and 4pm - which is unfortunately when the light is at its worst during the summer months.
On this occasion I was able to overnight on the island and was granted a spectacular sunrise, which you see here.
The 'beehive' huts here are drystone construction and have stood in more or less this condition since the monastery was abandoned in the 13th century. Even the ground on which they are built is remarkable, as it's a man-made terrace produced by building up hundreds of tons of rock held in by a series of retaining walls. The monks had no choice in this, as there is virtually no naturally occurring flat space on the island.

The Small Oratory on Skellig emits a welcoming glow under the stars with the Kerry coast and Small Skellig in the background.

The pre-dawn light illuminates the lower monk's garden on Skellig Michael. The Small Skellig and the mountains of Kerry lie in the background.

Donkeys are the only full-time residents of the Great Blasket Island now. This pair formed the welcoming committee on a particularly fine summer's day. One of the island's ruined cottages forms the background.

Ross Castle is one of Killarney's most popular tourist attractions. Probably built around the 15th century, it was restored in 1979 and is open to the public.
Seen here from Rien Pier by the Workmen's Rowing Club boathouse on a fine summer's morning, it's easy to see why it's such a popular place to visit.

The historic clifftop fort of Dun Aengus on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands at sunset.

Ross Castle is one of Killarney's most popular tourist attractions. Probably built around the 15th century, it was restored in 1979 and is open to the public.
Seen here from Rien Pier by the Workmen's Rowing Club boathouse on a fine summer's morning, it's easy to see why it's such a popular place to visit.

The Plassey is a cargo vessel that came aground in 1960 on the Carraig na Finnise reef off the east cost of Inis Oirr, the smallest and most easterly of the Aran Islands. All hands were rescued by the islanders in difficult conditions by firing grapnels to the ship and roping the crew to shore.
The ship was since driven ashore onto the island proper, and has been moved higher up the beach by subsequent violent storms. It sits well above the high tide mark, which speaks volumes of the power of the storms necessary to shift it. It's remarkable after the battering it's had over the years that the ship is still intact and upright.
From my conversations with the islanders, they believe that the next big sea to hit it (the last was sometime in the mid-90s) will destroy it, as it's in an advanced state of decay now. This will be a shame, as right now it's a big tourist draw for the island. I was told by one man, tongue in cheek, that they're looking for a replacement.
This image was made on a rather beautiful dawn, looking south towards the lighthouse.

The winter stars rise above the monastery of Skellig Michael on a calm night.

The monastery on Skellig Michael dates from the 6th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perched on a man-made terrace 600 feet above the Atlantic, it's possibly my favourite place in the world. This photograph was made looking into the rising sun - a rare privilege!

A ruined cottage on the uplands of the Burren as a rain shower passes by.

The Old Weir Bridge in the Killarney National Park is the gateway to the Meeting of the Waters where the Upper Lake (via the Long Range river), Muckross Lake and Lough Leane converge.
This image was made shortly after sunset as the light was fading from the sky.

The Black Valley is not a million miles from the bustling town of Killarney. However, due to the geography of the area, it's one of the more remote parts of Ireland, surrounded by craggy mountains on all sides.
This house is located at the very heart of the valley and couldn't present a more Irish scene if it tried. A classic view of the valley, it epitomises wild Ireland for me.

The Rock of Cashel is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture to be found in Ireland. Set on a limestone outcrop, it was originally the seat of the high kings of Munster, and was donated to the Church in the 12th century. The scaffolding visible in the photograph is from a long-term conservation project to protect and preserve the elaborate wall paintings in Cormac's Chapel. It has been present since 2009.

The Great Blasket Island is the largest island in the Blasket group off the coast of Dingle. Evacuated in the 1950s after the population had dwindled to a level too small to be self-supporting, this image looks back over one of the ruined houses back towards the mainland.
Slea Head is the point on the right, and Sybil Head the point on the left. Beginish island is visible to the left of frame. The Macgillycuddy's Reeks are visible on the extreme right of frame, in the distance.