August 23, 2012

Sligo Town

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas have always been a family favorite and there are some absolutely gorgeous ones in Ireland. These in Sligo were exquisite! Sligo, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Sligeach, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/125 second, ISO 200.

Thatched Roof House

Traditional Irish Farmhouse. One of the things that makes Ireland such an endearing place to visit is the mix of centuries old traditional structures with current and modern ones. New isn't always better and the old has served them well for centuries. Sligo, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Sligeach, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/7.1, 1/200 second, ISO 200.

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

Central Cairn

This is the central tomb in a large megalithic cemetery containing at least 59 tombs. Only about 30 are visible today. Carrowmore is one of the four major passage tomb cemeteries in Ireland. It is located at the center of a prehistoric ritual landscape on the Cúil Irra Peninsula in County Sligo. Although early unrecorded antiquarian digs disturbed the Carrowmore tombs, the sites were initially surveyed and numbered by George Petrie in 1837. The "satellite tombs" or dolmens are distributed in a roughly oval shape about 1 km x .6 km, with the largest monument at the highest point at the center, a cairn (now restored) called Listoghil.  Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/6.3, 1/200 second, ISO 200.

Satellite Dolmen Remains

What remains of one of the "satellite" dolmens. The tombs (in their original state) were almost universally "dolmen circles"; small dolmens each enclosed by a boulder ring of 12 to 15 meters. Each monument had a small leveling platform of earth and stone. One of the secrets of the dolmens' longevity was the well executed stone packing set around the base of the upright stones. The combination of 5 of these orthostats and a capstone enclosed a pentagonal burial chamber. The boulder circles contain 30 to 40 boulders, usually of gneiss, the material of choice for the satellite tombs. Sometimes an inner boulder circle is also present. Entrance stones (or passage stones, crude double rows of standing stones) emphasize the direction of the small monuments; they generally face towards the area of the central tomb. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Missing Stones

You don't have to look very hard or very far to find some of the missing stones! Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/6.3, 1/160 second, ISO 200.

Satellite Dolmen

This "satellite" tomb is more intact, with the dolmen in the center of the stone circle. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/500 second, ISO 360.

Irish Horse

I know there is probably nothing that makes it specifically Irish other than location, but. . . . Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/125 second, ISO 280.

Dolmen & Stone Circle

The dolmen circle that is the farthest away from the central tomb. Out in the middle of a farmer's field. There are probably other, but they are degraded to the point they are difficult to recognize. Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Cheathrú Mhór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/500 second, ISO 360.

Drumcliff

Drumcliff Celtic High Cross

On the west face the subjects include the Presentation in the Temple and the Crucifixion. The stonemason seems to have portrayed a camel on the cross which is an unusual feature. The narrow edges are also richly carved with ornament and figure carving. The south side of the shaft features the only icon of the Virgin and Child on an Irish High Cross. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/10, 1/400 second, ISO 200.

Drumcliff Celtic High Cross

The east face bears Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Daniel in the Lions' Den and a Lion in high relief. At the head is possibly Christ in Glory. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

Drumcliff Round Tower

Drumcliff Round Tower stub from across the highway near St. Columba's Church of Ireland. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Drumcliff High Cross

Only the shaft remains of this High Cross. It was probably a plain cross rather than a Celtic one. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/500 second, ISO 250.

Drumcliff Round Tower

Drumcliff Round Tower dates from about the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1396. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

St. Columba's Church of Ireland

Drumcliff Round Tower with St. Columba's Church of Ireland in the background. The tower dates from about the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1396. W.B. Yeats, the Irish poet, is buried in the Drumcliff Cemetery alongside the church. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Benbulbin

Clouds draped over the top of Benbulbin. Drumcliff, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (Binn Ghulbain, Droim Chliabh, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Mullaghmore Head

Mullaghmore Beach

Calm and gentle seas off Mullaghmore Head. Mullaghmore Head is one of the best big wave surfing locations in the world. On 8 March 2012, surfers and windsurfers from all over the world rode waves up to 15 meters (49 ft) high off Mullaghmore Head. These waves were about five meters less than the tallest wave ever recorded in Ireland in County Donegal on 13 December 2011, which was 20.4 meters (67 ft) high. Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Mullach Mór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/10, 1/400 second, ISO 200.

Mullaghmore Beach

A small breaker off Mullaghmore Head. Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Mullach Mór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/6.3, 1/640 second, ISO 200.

Classiebawn Castle

Classiebawn Castle is an 18th-century country house built for Viscount Palmerston in a 10,000 acre estate on the Mullaghmore peninsula. It was designed in the Baronial style by J Rawson Carrol, a Dublin-based architect and is constructed from a yellow-brown sandstone brought by sea from Donegal. It comprises a gabled range with a central tower topped by a conical roofed turret. Once belonged to Lord Mountbatten who was assasinated nearby during the Troubles. Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Connaught, Republic of Ireland, (An Mullach Mór, Contae Shligigh, Connacht, Éire), August 23, 2012. f/5.6, 1/500 second, ISO 250.