Pictures of Ireland

Pictures of Ireland.

Here are some pictures that were taken in Tara (co. Meath), Glendalough (co. Wicklow) and east co. Galway, back in the autumn of 2001 and the spring of 2002. Some of them have been enhanced for brightness because they were taken near dawn or twilight.

	This is the Stone of Destiny, on the top of the Hill of Tara, the place where the ancient kings of Ireland were inagurated. Standing beside it, trying to appear all Druidic and wise while trying to fend off the wind at the same time, is myself. (photo enhanced)
	Looking north from the Hill of Tara, just before dawn. On a good day, one can see as many as eight counties. (photo enhanced)
	The Hill of Si Mor (Big Hill) as seen from the top of Si Beag (Little Hill). These two hills are home to two bands of trooping faeries which exchange rulership of the surrounding territory twice a year. Si Beag rules from Samhain (Haloween) to Bealtaine (May Day), and Si Mor rules from Bealtaine until Samhain. (photo enhanced).
	The lower lake of Glendalough, from the Irish for "Valley of Two Lakes".
	The round tower at Glendalough monastic settlement.
	Some Celtic High Crosses surrounding the round tower.
	Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara, Co. Galway. This is the dining room.
	Dunguaire Castle, outside.
	Ailwee cave, co. Clare. The stalagmites that you can see in the upper left corner of the picture are known as the "bunch of carrots". Bright dots in the image are from the light of my camera flash, reflecting off falling drops of water.
	A view of a glen in County Clare, near the entrance to Ailwee Cave. The entire area is considered part of the Burren (it has to do with the type and formation of the limestone bedrock), although the valley is fertile and the hilltops are bare rock.
	And now, here are some "meetings with remarkable trees". This is the autograph tree in Coole Park.
	Lady Gregory's catalpa tree in Coole Park. The inset is a detail from the photograph of the original tree, with Lady Gregory sitting on a bench beneath it.
	Coole Park.
	The lake at Coole Park. This is where The Poet sat and wrote poems for the nine and fifty swans. (on this day, though, I saw only a mated pair.)
	A pathway in Kyle Na No, the Wood of Nuts, one of the Seven Woods of Coole Park.
	The cedar tree near the stone seat, Kyle Na No. I saw several wonderful cedar trees with multiple trunks bending like this, and they were usually surrounded by a ring of cedars that would lean slightly away from the center and upwards.
	The Turoe Stone. From an archaeological perspective, this is an important monument: the carvings on it is from the La Tene style of early Celtic art, and bears four distinct faces. But as a tourist destination, well...

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