Gallery 2005. Mounted size 20"X 16" Paper size 15"X 11" approx. Home Page
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Alcock and Brown Landing site Ancient Cemetery at Kill
This landing site is an excellent viewing spot for all the twelve bens. This cemetery is place for the most perfect views. The remains of Doon cast are on the opposite shore and I can easily imagine Grace O'Mally rowing over for devotions. The graveyard also contains a wonderful cross inscribed stone, very like one on Caher, the holy island.
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Boggy track, South of the Bens Cashel Hill from Inish Nee
South of the Bens lies the Roundstone bog a mass of pools, lakes and tracks for turf collecting. This is one of them. From Inish Nee, Cashel hill seens very close and small but it is a mighty climb in reality.
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Church site on Boffin Cistercian Abbey at Kill, Clare Island
This is the site of the first church and graveyard on Inishboffin, and the views north from it are as you can see, just lovely. The pile of pebbles are from children's graves. This Abbey on the island is plain and simple as you would expect from the Cistercians but inside it has been lovingly decorated with wall paintings which are almost miraculous. Despite being unroofed for years, they still have plenty of colour and many are very well preserved. Very well worth seeing.
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Clare Island cottage Cottage below the Hill
This brave cottage, near the water on the southern edge of Clare island, has perfect views of the mainland, but to me it feels as though it might blow away at any moment. This Streamstown cottage is wonderfully situated, protected by the mountain but with the water coming almost to its door. Early people agreed with me as there is a megalithic tomb near by.
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Croagh Patrick from Clare Island Small settlement on Clare Island
This cottage, inland on Clare island is near the site of a mill and is enhanced by Croagh Patrick showing in the distance. This group of dwellings and sheds are protected from the worst the sea can do by the towering sea cliffs behind them.
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Towering sea cliffs on Clare Island The twelve Bens across Roundstone Bog
Walking back from the Light house on Clare Island, this is the inspiring view of the sea cliffs. This wonderful sky was seen by the side of the cashel on the top of the hill by Kendal wood. It may also be a Victorian fake but is never the less a wonderful viewing point.
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The well just South of Kendal Wood Kylemore woods
This well is a mystery. It looks as old as any holy well but may be a Victorian addition, as the wood certainly is. Either way, it is a struggle to reach and in a wonderful place. If you enter the woods by the Tullywee bridge, you may find this view, up stream. It is the tranquil pool before the water rushes under the bridge.
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Inish Nee cottages Roundstone Mountain from Inish Nee
From this corner, the Roundstone mountain is visible and looks quite tame, but that is just not reality. It is full of iron ore and very craggy. I rounded a corner and saw this. It is a very paintable cottage but tucked behind it is a lovely quiet harbour that also would attract artists.
View at: Kylemore Abbey View at:
Offshore Islands from Boffin Illanroe on loch Fee
By the new harbour at Inishboffin, this is the incredible view out to sea. High island is the main island visible from there. This little peninsular of Illanroe, in Lough fee, only partly obscures the wonderful view of the Maam Turks.
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Curragh Island from Omey Reflecting wet sand at Omey
Curragh has recently been recognised as having been inhabited, possibly by an off shoot of the monastery on Omey island as beehive hut traces have been discovered there. After the rain, the poles reflecting on the wet sand at the sand causeway to Omey island, are a treat.
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Cove on Northern side of Inishboffin Navigation markers, Inishboffin
Heading back for the boat after seeing Boffin's sea caves, this is the first hamlet you come to. These marker buoys on Boffin can be seen from a long way out and must have saved many lives.
View at: Millars, Clifden View at: Kylemore Abbey
Sheep and Old Thatch Washing blowing on Clare Island
This cottage and the sheep both huddle for shelter on this blustery day. This Clare island cottage is almost hidden by the fuchsias, from the road. It has its gable to the south, the worst wind.
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The Village, Middle Quarter, Inishboffin The inner harbour, Inishboffin
This middle quarter view on Inishboffin is from the almost vanished graveyard which is marked by the stone piles on the left. This innermost harbour on Inishboffin is very safe but little used now. This boat is slowly collapsing to add to the charm for artists.
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Friar Island from Inishboffin Streamstown tomb
This view of Friar Island, (which has no visible traces of Friars on it,) is from Inishboffin's western end. This southwesterly view from the tomb has glimpses of the inlet at Streamstown.
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Tomb at the head of Streamstown The Watershed on Loch Fee
I am very attached to the views from here and this one is looking north west, towards the marble quarry. This place must have been beloved of fishermen for ever, but now you ought to be a Culfin angler. Just to watch the fish pass here is enough for me.
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The mainland from Clare Island Shed, South of Oughterard
On Clare island, the views back to the reat of Connemara can be immense, but it is the vast skies that I admire. This shed was probably once a house but the whole group of buildings are temptation to an artist as the colours and situation are a delight.
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Stone built house Letterbrechaun stream
This house is so tiny that I have wondered if it is just a shelter for water bailiffs, but it look wonderful to me. This is my favourite spot to admire the Mamturks from, and Letterbrechaun towers over them all.
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Fahay Pier and houses Coves at Lettergesh
This new pier at Fahy is obviously being enjoyed and must make a safe haven for boats before a storm. These ruined houses must have been hell in winter but now add to the charm of what my family call the secret beach.
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Ruin at Tra Beag Flower meadow and ruin at Lettergesh
This cove has special charm as it includes the ruin and some wonderful combinations of flowers. These flowers in the meadow at Tra beag, are the prettiest any where. The orange is montbresia, a garden escape artist but the rest are wild.
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Rhododendrons and Fuchsias at Kylemore Red roofs South of the Bens
I am very well acquainted with these flowers at Kylemore but the newly restored gothic church, just visible from here is my particular delight. I saw these roofs when returning from Inish nee, and the colours with the heather were just so cheerful I could not resist them.
View at: Kylemore Abbey View at: Millars, Clifden
Reeds on the Edge of Loch Inagh Inside Kendal Wood
This is winter around Lough Inagh, usually bleak and wild, ruffled with wind but on this morning it was tranquil and reflective This blue carpet of 'self heal' lies deep inside Kendal wood
View at: Avoca, Letterfrack View at: SOLD
Spring. Tully wee bridge Summer Green. Tully wee bridge
By this bridge in spring, the rhododendrons dance in the wind, over the water These summer greens at the bridge are already looking tinged with the hints of autumn even thought the rhododendrons have only just finished
View at: Kylemore Abbey View at: Kylemore Abbey
Tully wee bridge in Winter Viewing point. High on the Sky road
In winter, the views from this bridge open out as the foliage dies and the mountains reappear, to enclose it in a way that is different from the summer enclosing foliage This is where we always stop and marvel at these high sites to the south and west, with all the islands laid out to admire. Just below is a newly discovered Tomb.
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Lower Sky road Cottage Killary View from Mweelrea
The view from this cottage has had big changes. The cottage was burnt and has lost its thatch and a new pier has been built by it, changing the access. But nothing changes its charm. This is what you could be lucky and see if you are fit enough to tackle Mweelrae. This is from near the top, looking in land and up the Killary fjord.
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Looking West from Fahy Inland from Fahy
This cottage perches on the western tip of the peninsular and must be something in a storm. It is so exposed that little grows there but heather, but traces of potato lazy beds are visible. From this Tomb at Fahy, if you look inland up the Killary Fjord, you can see all the westerly bens.
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Out to Sea from Fahy Tomb Landing site. Alcock and Brown
This tomb at Fahy is one of several, some only recently found and the views out towards the islands are wonderful. This landing site is important historically but is a very favourite spot for picnics and viewing most of Connemara across the Roundstone bog.
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Streamstown Cottage Looking from Streamstown to the Bens
I once stayed very near this cottage in my courting days and so this place is particularly special for me. This Streamstown patch of water can be forded at this point as it is so narrow. The view is from the loop of road from Clifden that saunters around the coast.
View at: Kylemore Abbey View at:
The Head of Streamstown Bay Tully Wee Bridge in Autumn
Sreamstown bay cuts deep inland to the foot of the Twelve bens and is always a magical site. Just behind where I was painting is a spectacular megalithic tomb. This tree tunnel at the Tully Wee bridge, can become a fairy land of trees with personalities, when the light is right.
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The Ruined Renvyle Church Old Boat House on the edge of Killary Harbour
This is what remains of the Church of the seven sisters, at Renvyle. It has a tiny door and ambry and views that look toward the new world. The graveyard is none of the four earliest in Connemara. This boat house is beside the green lane running along the Killary Fjord. The impressive mountain behind is the dormant volcano cone of Mweelrae, Irelands seventh highest mountain.
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Tully mountain view from above the well The standing stone alinement in Glen Inagh
This is the view from the well I use. It is just down the hill from my house and the views across the lake to the mountains form it are a serious distraction when I am in a hurry. This wonderful alinement cannot be seen form the road in the Inagh valley but is very special as it has a possible ritual pool by it. The ridge beyond is Knockpassemore and leads up to Ben Baun.
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Gallery 2005. Mounted size 14"X 11" Paper size 9"X 7" approx.
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Inagh cottage in the autumn Two heads of seals in the fjord
This lonely cottage is where I met Anne Bodkin and is near to the stone alinement I am a great seal watcher but I was very surprised when these two popped up behind the Cruiser on the Killary.
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Benchoona Horseshoe, from the cove by the castle, Renvyle Fuchsias and washing by the sea
This cove by Renvyle castle is where the pirate queen used to anchor her boats. This cottage was south of Clifden, but its roof is gone now.
View at: Avoca, Letterfrack View at: Avoca, Letterfrack
Little bridge on the lane by Letterbreckaun Sheep on the green way, Foher
The green 'v' of the mountains is the way my family approach climbing letterbreckaun. They climb and I paint by the bridge This green way along the Killary fjord is the most perfect walk.
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Cottage protected by the mountain Patchwork fields beyond the alinement, Inagh Valley
The mountain is Tully. From this point a long ridge mountain just looks triangular and this old place had taken full advantage of the shelter offered. The alinement is one of the best but I am just delighted by the patchwork of the walls beyond it.
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Gallery 2005. Mounted size 10"X 8"  Paper size 7"X 5" approx.
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Red roofs over old thatch Fahy cottage at the tip of the Clifden Peninsula
This is the reroofed Fahy cottage. Not as touching but far more practical. I suspect tins are loud in the rain This is the most exposed place you could imagine, and I would love to live there.
View at: Millars, Clifden View at: Millars, Clifden
New roof on the old fahy Cottage Cottage south of Clifden
This restored cottage looks well from the side facing the sea This cottage is now unoccupied and slowly vanishing back in to the landscape.
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Tomb behind the quarry, Streamstown Willie Diamonds cottage
This streamstown tomb is extremely well preserved and a favourite of mine. This ruin shelters Willie's sheep on bad days. I love the hedges of fuchsia
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Boat rotting at Derryinver Sheep rule the road to Cashleen
This Curragh is rotting at Derryinver, but behind it is another world of the Kylemore valley and the twelve bens. These wayward sheep annoy locals by making journeys slow but I love to see them.
View at: Millars, Clifden View at: Millars, Clifden
Boat reflecting by the pier at Derryinver, Balinakill harbour Glassilaun Rocks
From this place you can catch John Mongan's boat for a wonderful tour round the Ballinakill harbour. It is the best views from a boat ever. Glassilaun beach is child heaven. Out to sea is this island with a marker to aid finding the entrance to Killary harbour.
View at: Avoca, Letterfrack View at: Avoca, Letterfrack
The deep slash of the Salruck pass A cottage by Fahy pier
This pass is now used by climbers but it used to be the only way from the valley beyond, to the church at Salruck. This cottage is beloved by painters but now it is reroofed in tins.
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Tully mountain profile from Glassilaun beach Derryinver cottage
This is my favourite view of the mountain I live closest to. This old cottage is now a barn but must have been a lovely family home once.
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Sand causeway to Omey island Glassilaun cottage
This lane peters out into the sand causeway to the island. This cottage is in ruins and slowly being hidden as it sinks back in to the land.
View at: Avoca, Letterfrack View at: Avoca, Letterfrack
The pier by Scuba Dive west Cottage near Slyne head
This restful corner is now used for Scuba diving but has such perfect views that it is well worth walking to. This Slyne head cottage always charms me. The twelve bens behind it are particularly lovely in the evening light.
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Evening view from the Connemara National Park Curragh at Little Killary Harbour
I saw this walking the bog road in the national park at dusk. This may be Tommy Laffey's curragh at the inlet of Little Killary.
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Famine relief road along the Killary harbour Old church and graveyard at Renvyle
On a misty wet day, this famine relief road is a safe and astounding walk. The old church Renvyle with the iron age hill fort behind it is evidence of a very long history of occupation.
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Track along the Killary harbour Washing drying by Tully Mountain
This view of Mweelrae mountain is my favourite way to see it as the volcanic origin shows so well. This cottage, now unoccupied used to bravely hang washing out when ever the wild wind gentled enough to be possible.
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Cottage in the Inagh Valley
These stones from the alinement and Anne's cottage are just the excuse to paint the wonderful ridge behind them.
View at: Millars, Clifden