Little chapel at Mellifont Abbey

The little chapel up on the hill overlooking the ruins of Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth.

Comet Panstarrs over the Boyne Valley

Sun's rays peek through clouds over the Boyne Valley

The sun's rays made a brief appearance this evening over the Boyne Valley, out in the west, beyond Newgrange. It was a fairly grey day throughout, in contrast to the beautiful blue sky days during the week. It was as if the Tuatha Dé Danann or the fairies were having fun, one last hurrah before the sun went down beyond Réaltoge Hill...

A streak through Orion

No, it's not comet Panstarrs. It's at least a week too early to see that here, and in any case it won't be located in Orion. I was out taking pictures of the stars this evening and had framed this shot of Orion with Taurus, Jupiter and (hidden in the trees) Sirius. I had taken one or two frames when I noticed a plane was coming into the shot. So I took another one, and this is the result. One of the challenges with living 30 miles (50km) north of Dublin is that traffic in and out of Dublin Airport can regularly be seen in the skies over us. I'm not sure whether the plane has enhanced or detracted from this shot . . . I'll let you decide that!

Dramatic sky over the Hill of Slane

Took a quick trip up to the Hill of Slane this evening on the way home from the playground with the kids. The clouds were breaking and the sun was trying to come through and it looked like something dramatic would happen in the sky. I caught this lovely scene with billowing dark cumulus clouds hanging over the ruins on the hill about a half an hour before sunset.

Ruins on the Hill of Slane

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The ruins on the Hill of Slane, illuminated by different types of lighting, in the evening glow after sunset. This is the place where, according to tradition, Saint Patrick lit the Paschal Fire in contravention of the laws of Ireland, and in direct view of the King, Laoghaire, who saw the fire from nearby Tara. In earlier tradition, the Fir Bolg king Sláine was said to have been buried in a mound behind these ruins. It is from this king that the modern village of Slane gets its name.

Orion over Newgrange

This is a photo taken tonight showing the constellation Orion, flanked by Taurus the bull to the upper right and Sirius the dog star to lower left, sitting above Newgrange. I went for another filtered artistic look (created in Photoshop). I like this look because the original photo is very red and orange due to light pollution. It was just starting to cloud over when this photo was taken. I think the cloud helps to enhance the photo, although it does demonstrate just how much the Boyne Valley suffers from light pollution these days. In ancient times Orion was venerated as a god and warrior constellation in many guises. He is seen to control the movements of the sun, moon and planets, which pass through his upraised hand. Also in this image, just above right of the V-shaped head of Taurus, is the bright planet Jupiter, somewhat obscured by cloud.