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.

Inch Beach is beloved of anyone who's holidayed there - and indeed many families return year after year.
I've long wanted a photograph of it, but it had always eluded me until this one. I chose an elevated viewpoint so you can see the shape of the beach itself and the matching shapes of the waves as they advance in from Dingle Bay.
In a large print, you can see individual surfers in the water, as well as people enjoying their time on the beach on this early Spring day.

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.

This is an iconic location, the view down the slip road to the harbour at Dunquin (Dún Chaoin), at the tip of the Dingle peninsula. From here you can catch the boat to the Blasket Islands.
Made on a stormy afternoon using a long exposure, the waves have turned to mist, swirling around the rocks just offshore.

The Conor Pass is the highest mountain pass in Ireland and offers the most dramatic way to enter the western part of the Dingle peninsula.
On the eastern side, an incredible narrow and winding road clings to the cliff face making it interesting for the unwary when meeting traffic coming the other way!
Once at the top of the pass, the views are quite literally breathtaking. This image was made as the sun was rising on a Summer's morning. Brandon Mountain (Cnoc Bréanainn) shows off its rugged eastern face across the Owenmore (An Abha Mhór) valley. The lakes visible are, from left to right, An Loch Geal, Loch Uí Fiannachta and Loch Neil Phádraig. Loch Cruite is just visible nestling at the base of the mountain. Brandon Bay can be seen in the right of frame in the distance.
It's from Brandon Creek on the western side of the mountain that St. Brendan is said to have begun his legendary voyage to America around the year 512 AD.

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.

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.

This image of Carrauntoohil (Corrán Tuathail) was made from the Hag's Glen by the banks of the Gaddagh River which flows from Lough Gouragh and Lough Caillí.
The hill rising to the right is Knockbrinnea (Cnoc Broinne), and the promintory jutting from its slope is the Hag's Tooth (Stumpa an tSaimh).
The route through the Hag's Glen is the most popular access route for climbing Carrauntoohil, with several possible routes opening up. The Devil's Ladder is the most heavily used of these, rising from the southern wall of the Glen to the ridge between Carrauntoohil itself and Cnoc na Toinne - just out of frame to the left.

Torc Waterfall is one of the jewels of the Killarney area. A majestic cascade through a leafy valley, it's a place of wonderful calm.
Photographed here on an overcast day, the colours and tones of the scene really shine through.

Slea Head is by far the most iconic of Dingle locations. On the very fringes of our island, it's an incredibly rugged and wild place. Even the roads have difficulty here - a section of the nearby Slea Head drive slipped into the sea some years ago. The new section is a little further inland now!
This image was made shortly after sunset on a stormy December day. The clouds, which had been stubbornly persistent on the horizon, cleared for a few seconds to give a glimpse of the glorious colours behind them, before closing again just as quickly.
From left to right, the islands visible are, Inishvickallaun, Inishnabro and the Great Blasket.

Slea Head is by far the most iconic of Dingle locations. On the very fringes of our island, it's an incredibly rugged and wild place. Even the roads have difficulty here - a section of the nearby Slea Head drive slipped into the sea some years ago. The new section is a little further inland now!
This image was made shortly after sunset on a stormy December day. The clouds, which had been stubbornly persistent on the horizon, cleared for a few seconds to give a glimpse of the glorious colours behind them, before closing again just as quickly.
From left to right, the islands visible are, Inishvickallaun, Inishnabro and the Great Blasket.

Ventry Harbour is a large natural shelter on the south side of the Dingle peninsula. Seen here at dawn from near the summit of Mount Eagle, Dingle Harbour is visible in the distance.
Boats shimmer at anchor in the harbour while the morning mist rises from the farmland in the foreground.

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.

Coumeenole Beach (sometimes also spelled 'Coumeenoole') is one of the most spectacular beaches in Ireland. Scenes from the film Ryan's Daughter were filmed here, and it's a popular spot for surfers.
This image is made looking towards Dunmore Head and the Great Blasket Island as the tide was coming in one stormy morning in late spring.

An Searrach (The Foal) is a sea stack just outside Dingle Harbour. Visible from the Conor Pass, I'd been meaning to find a good vantage point for it since I first saw it some years ago. Just recently while returning from business in Dingle town shortly after sunset, and in miserable weather I found this spot. Made with a long lens over 30 seconds, I believe it captures the mood of the scene very well.

It's true that bad weather often makes for the best photographs. On this cold and blustery day a warm fire and a good book would seem preferable to being out, braving the elements with camera in hand.
However, it was most certainly worth it. These dramatic clouds appearing over Cnoc an Tarbh, Cnoc an Bhráca, Cruach Mhór and the Big Gun dwarf these lofty peaks. The western Reeks are engulfed completely, and Cruach Mhór only appeared sporadically.
Lough Leane is in the foreground.