Discovering Irish Kerry
Kerry in Ireland
I'd like to invite you to Ireland, and more specifically to the Celtic coast of Kerry in the south-west of the country.
For this trip, we'll be guided by Loïc Perron, from the photo agency Un oeil sur la nature, a leading specialist in Ireland.
We land in Cork, Ireland's second largest city, in the middle of the afternoon. Taking the coastal train, we head straight for Cobh, a small fishing village renowned for the charm of its colorful houses, its majestic cathedral and the fact that it was the Titanic's last port of call before it sail across the Atlantic and sank on 12 April 1912.
We return to Cork for some night shots of the city's quays and harbour.
The next morning we set off to explore the city centre, its covered market and its quays, in the rain, before taking the road to Dingle, our starting point for this photo trip.
Day 1
Under a gloomy, rainy skies, we set off to discover Dingle, a small port town in the far west of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is set on a natural harbour backed by Mount Slievanea and overlooks Dingle Bay. The town is full of cosy pubs, where traditional music groups come to play.
We then follow the western tip of the Dingle peninsula, stopping at Ceann Sreatha on Waymont Point for a magnificent view of the bay and Clogher Strand beach. Then we head to the small port of Dunquin, which is more of a quay than a port. It is known for its steep stone access path and its many twists and turns lined with low walls. This path, also called "the sheep's walk" is regularly used by flocks of sheep to be embarked and transferred to the neighboring islands. From the top of the cliff, the view overlooks the ocean and Blasket Island in the distance.
Continuing along the coast, we reach Coumeenoole bay and the cliffs of Dunmore Head. Dunmore Head is a green promontory and a spectacular site, marking the westernmost tip of Ireland and Europe edge.
The path along the cape overlooks the Atlantic waves crashing against the cliffs below, giving you the sensation of having reached the end of the world. A natural setting battered by invigorating winds.
Day 2
We set off very early, at 4am, to be at sunrise on Brandon Bay beach, which we reached by crossing a meadow occupied by sheep. For this sequence of blue hour, then golden hour until sunrise, the dawning dawn, the mist and the threatening clouds will offer us beautiful light and strong contrasts.
After a short shower we will also be treated to a double rainbow.
After the rain, the sun makes a timid return to warm the colors and give us these sumptuous landscapes where the sheep are king.
We leave Dingle for Portmagee, a beautiful little village on the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, where we'll be staying for 2 days.
Day 3
Our first spot of the morning will be the Cromwell Point Lighthouse through thick fog and intermittent rain... ghostly atmosphere!
Not far from the lighthouse is an old building that proudly stands the test of time and weather.
Further upstream on the coast of Valentia Island, we reach the site of Saint Brendan's Well, named after a famous Irish saint, where a Celtic cross stands as a vestige of an old cemetery.
Then, after a long walk-through fields and sheep, we reached a spot on the edge of cliffs battered by a raging sea. In these conditions, we had to be extra careful to get our shots without putting ourselves in danger.
The day ends and we return to our accommodation on the heights of Portmagee to enjoy a well-deserved evening at the pub!
Day 4
At 6.00 am, we set off on foot across green meadows, copiously watered by the night's rain and the morning dew, taking care not to disturb the sheep that were watching us curiously. After a 45-minute walk, we reached some of the most impressive cliffs in the country. Standing 300 metres high, these cliffs offer a spectacular view of the ocean, Puffin Island and the Skellig Rocks. The overcast weather gradually clears in the late morning.
Day 5
We leave Portmagee for Kenmare, a small tourist town in the Irish countryside known for its colorful pubs. We stop along the way at Dromakilly and then at Lough Acoose, a magnificent lake lined with flowering rhododendrons. I take the opportunity to get a photo of a pair of rams, which earns me a nice fall in the mud of a peat bog! You've got to earn it!
On the way to Ballaghbeama Gap, we stop to discover ruins on a mountainside that appear to be the remains of an ancient village. Only crumbling walls and low stone walls guarded by sheep remain.
Day 6
After leaving the coast, today we enter the Killarney National Park. Once over the pass, we made our first stop at the 'Ladie's View' viewpoint, which offers a superb view over the valley, followed by a second, lower down, on the midge-infested banks of Upper Lake!
Along a very narrow road, we then reach a long lake nestled in the hollow of a valley adorned with rhododendrons. The clouds play with the sun and rain, offering us once again beautiful light.
Along a very narrow road, we then reach a long lake nestled in the hollow of a valley adorned with rhododendrons. The clouds play with the sun and rain, offering us once again beautiful light.
At the very bottom of the valley, going up the slope, hides a house with a ruined slate roof.
Under brighter skies, we change peninsulas and head along the coast towards Lauragh and its little bridge, Capall Bridge.
A little further on, at Eskadawerun, another peaceful spot and otter territory.
We then have an outdoor meal break in the charming, colorful village of Ardgoom.
We continue towards the small town of Eyeries with its many equally colorful houses.
We continue our journey towards Billeragh, the last spot of our day and of this trip to Kerry.
We spend our last night in Castletownbere before heading back to Cork the next day for our return to the mainland.
A big thank you to Loïc Perron, from the agency Un oeil sur la nature, our guide during this photography trip, for his cheerfulness and kindness. Truly fantastic!