Kerry weekend

On Saturday last (November 14th) Noreen, Patricia, Dermot and John ventured out on the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry for weekend photoshoot. They were based at the Skellig Hostel at Ballinskelligs, a remote area at the most westerly point. The weather forecast was appalling and they were heading into the most affected area for high winds and rainfall.

The weekend started meeting up at the Rose Garden Cafe in Kenmare for a full Irish to set them up for the  activities to come.

They bravely headed out west into the gales and rain along the Ring of Kerry. Strangely as they travelled further west the rain eased of revealing some beautiful soft lighting conditions. Dermot spotted a classic ‘ white house on the hillside ‘ shot so they dived off right down a narrow track to capture it while the light was right.

After a very windy shoot  another shower appeared so it was back to cars and move on further west. They stopped of  Sneem for provisions as the Skellig Hostel is in a remote location with the nearest shops pub in Waterville. The decision was to eat in so food and wine was the order of the day.

They stopped off again at Staigue Stone Fort, as this would give opportunities for images of stone walls against a misty atmospheric landscape and at White Strand for some beach and wild sea shots.

By this time the weather started to close in, and darkness was approaching, so it was on to Waterville for refreshment and more provisions and pint of guinness in the Lobster. The rain had stopped so there was a photo opportunity to take some very wide landscape shots out to sea from the road past Derrynane.

They arrived at the Skellig Hostel, with the help of John’s satnav, and found they were the only inhabitants except for three Spanish people who turned up later. The accommodation is of a very high standard consisting of individual housing units, with one having a large, well equipped, kitchen and dining room. On the menu was steak with pepper sauce with all the trimmings and, of course wine, craic, and cards. Alas there was no opportunity to photograph the night sky!

( For future reference the hostel would make a very suitable base for further activities )

Next day was cloudy, very windy and dry with more rain forecasted after midday. They decided it would be best to use the morning   and concentrate on shooting locally at the beach at Ballinskelligs,  around the McCarthy Mór Tower and the 12th Century Augustinian Priory. The wind was very strong so tripods had to be strapped down. However again the soft cloudy lighting conditions were ideal for creating atmospheric images. At noon the predicted cold front came in so they beat a hasty retreat back to the cars to head for home.

The weekend was very successful, despite the weather, resulting in  hundreds of images to trawl through. It would be good to return to this location with more favourable weather condition.

A really great thanks from us all to Patricia for organising this expedition !!!!

John Hughes

Noreen Brazier

Dermot Lawlor

«
»