Dunmoe Castle with dramatic sky

The wonderful thing about April is that it brings these glorious days that are a photographer's dream - a mix of strong sunshine and dramatic skies and towering clouds. In this case, a distant cumulonimbus cloud looms over the ruins of Dunmoe Castle in the Boyne Valley.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GxhmBW

Stormy sky over Drogheda

Evening storm clouds over Drogheda. In the centre of the photo is the martello tower at Millmount, which sits on the top of a large earthen mound. The mound is said to have been raised by the Normans in the 12th century AD, but local folklore says it is the burial place of an ancient Milesian bard, Amergin, who is said to have arrived from Spain in the 17th century BC. Recent archaeological investigations of the mound have revealed the possibility that it might be a mound of earth dating into prehistory.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GyDtRB

North Cross, St. Mary's Abbey, Duleek, Co. Meath

Detail from the North Cross at St. Mary's Abbey in Duleek, Co. Meath. According to Peter Harbison, this is the smallest sandstone High Cross in Ireland. It dates from the 10th century.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/FJkBMd

Almost 1.9 million sunsets since Newgrange was built

Almost one million, nine hundred thousand sunsets. If we take the date of 3150BC for the construction of Newgrange (which is the date favoured by archaeologists), then tonight's sunset in the Boyne Valley (pictured) would be the 1,886,632nd sunset since this great monument was built in the distant New Stone Age. Also pictured, directly under the setting sun, is a satellite mound known only as Mound B.

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Photo shared from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Gd62CC

Tractor at work in the Nanny valley, Bellewstown, Co. Meath

A tractor in a field in the Nanny valley near Bellewstown, Co. Meath, rolling the soil after ploughing. The introduction of agriculture in the New Stone Age was arguably the biggest social and technological revolution of the ancient world, and set in motion the creation of today's civilisation. Mankind emerged from the forests, and left his hunter-gatherer lifestyle behind in favour of a seasonal farming life. It can't, however, have been easy to till the soil without the aid of metal tools, and although the new agricultural lifestyle did provide windows of "down time" - in which the great stone monuments were built - it didn't immediately create a sedentary and enchanted existence. Life was still harsh. The introduction of a lot of grains into the diet may also have contributed to shorter lifespans - not longer ones. Today, we can easily see why the biggest passage-tomb monuments are in this region. The Boyne valley area is abundant in rich, fertile brown soils. The Nanny river runs from Kentstown through Duleek and on through Julianstown towards the sea at Laytown. It is the next river to the south of the Boyne.

Boyne Valley Bridge with Taurus and Mercury

The Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge in the afterglow with the stars of Taurus/Pleiades and the planet Mercury.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GrW9Ps
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An April rain shower approaches Newgrange

A downpour near Newgrange, Co Meath.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Gxn6HG

Blocc and Bluigne standing stones at Tara

Blocc and Bluigne, the two ancient standing stones in the churchyard on the Hill of Tara. Some people say they are guardian stones. Others say that they are fertility stones. One ancient text describes the inauguration of Conaire Mór as High King of Ireland. While wearing a cloak that should normally have been too big for him, he had to steer a chariot harnessed to two unbroken horses between these magical stones. Though one could normally only slide a hand sideways between them, these druid-stones parted before the king's chariot, allowing him to pass over the Lia Fáil, which then screeched out against his axle, declaring him king. (From Ireland - An Oxford Archaeological Guide by Andy Halpin and Conor Newman)

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GyeV78

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Boyne bridge and walkway at sunset

Another photo from last night's sunset. This is taken from the boardwalk that connects Drogheda with the nearby Battle of the Boyne heritage site at Oldbridge. This is a fantastic local amenity, used by hundreds of people to enjoy views of the Boyne Valley as they walk, jog and cycle out to Oldbridge and beyond.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GoETpG

Aonghus and Caer lover swans on the Boyne at sunset

Two swans on the river Boyne at sunset beneath the Boyne Valley Bridge.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/G1bkRU

Three of the Seven Suns at Dowth

Three of the suns on the so-called Stone of the Seven Suns, one of the giant kerb stones at the ancient Dowth passage-tomb in the Boyne Valley, Ireland.

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from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Fu4UeB

Boyne Valley Bridge with crescent moon

The Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge with waxing crescent moon.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/FshxWj

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Brú na Bóinne visitor centre sign

The sign, carved into rock, at the entrance to the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre, serving Newgrange and Knowth.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/GdL2qs

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Sunset over the Boyne Valley, viewed from Ardmulchan

Friday's setting sun over the Boyne Valley viewed from Ardmulchan.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Fq8z9Q

The River Boyne at Ardmulchan

I walked one day adown the Boyne,
From Domnach-Mor to Slaine;
How rich the fields on every side,
In Cattle, wood, or grain.

The river flowed in summer pride,
And on its banks of green,
How many a noble ancient home
Seemed sent'nelling the scene.

I marked the salmon springing free,
Beneath the glittering fall;
I heard the cuckoo in the glen
Repeat her welcome call.

Vigilantius, from the Irishman.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/FoBkBV
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Sunset over Dunmoe Castle, Boyne Valley

Sunset this evening, April 15th 2016, over the top of Dunmoe Castle, viewed from Ardmulchan, in the Boyne Valley.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/Gic8UZ

The Mausoleum attached to the ruins of St. Catherine's Church, Dunmoe, Co. Meath

This structure of unknown date is close to the Boyne river between Slane and Navan at Dunmoe.

from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/FnmmfL

The River Boyne at Ardmulchan, looking towards Dunmoe Castle

A bright spring day in the Boyne Valley at Ardmulchan.

See the full resolution image on my Flickr page here: http://flic.kr/p/FRBHFu

The road to Newgrange

A stormy sky over the road near Newgrange, Co. Meath. bit.ly/NewGrange