It's our 35th Wedding anniversary this month (the equivalent of 2 life sentences probably). We always go away for a few days to celebrate our anniversary. Himself offers me the world on a plate, "where would you like to go?" he says, "a city break? a few days in Spain? England to visit Suzanne?"
You know what I'd love I say. A trip to west Cork, not 2 hours drive from where i live in Cobh, Co. Cork. I can't be doing with airports and travelling at the best of times and besides I haven't seen the whole of Ireland yet.
Co Cork has a wealth of Megalithic sites, places of Pagan rituals and rites and I wanted to go and soak up some of Ireland's ancient past in Drombeg, near Glandore, in West Cork. Not so much a cheap date or easily pleased, I get a whole lot more out of visiting old graveyards, ruins and ancient historical sites than i could ever get traipsing around cities and into shops. Drombeg boasts one of the most visited Bronze age Stone Circles in the country, originally it had 17 standing stones and 1 recumbent / Altar stone. Google it, it's amazing.
The photographer in me dearly loves to have these places to myself to soak in the atmosphere of the environment and take my time composing my shots. A lot to expect at Irelands most popular Megalithic site.
We heard the voice of a child as we were walking up the pathway to the stones. Not an ordinary child but one that is obviously used to making herself the centre of attention. While mummy was giving a history lesson to a fine upstanding, quietly spoken gentleman madam was giving a narrative on her every movement.
While her slightly older sister was sitting day dreaming alongside the Fulacht Fiadh (you'll find out what that is when you google Drombeg Stone Circle) madam was climbing noisily up a rocky incline in close proximity to her mother.
"i'm going to put this foot on that rock, Oh it's a bit slippery here. oh no, oh no, I think I'm going to fall! Good I didn't fall, I'm going up a different way instead. It went on and on and on in what seemed like and endless tirade of nonsense.
Don't get me wrong I love children but the noise seemed so out of place in this Ancient sombre place.
I had read that a physic had been brought to visit the place and she deemed it to be a very evil site where human sacrifices had been made. For a very brief moment I was a Pagan Druid contemplating making a human sacrifice and madam wasn't helping her case.
Finally they left and myself and himself then had the place to ourselves. Now all i had to do was make sure i avoided getting himself into the shots. Not easy when he decides to sit on the Fulach Fia soaking up the quietness and sombreness of the place. I had to angle myself so that he was hidden behind one of the stones.
In the end i got him up on the recumbent stone and sacrificed him instead.
We had about 5 minutes with the whole place to ourselves before a bus load of tourists arrived. I think got a few nice shots though.
The stone in the centre of the circle where people place offerings. This was excavated in 1957 by Professor Edward Fahy. The cremated remains of a youth along with the sweepings of a pyre were found wrapped in thick cloth in an upturned bowl. Radiocarbon dating placed it 1100 - 800BC
The Fulacht Fiadh. Professor Fahy performed an experiment here to see how long it would take to heat 70 gallons of water using red hot stones from the fire pit. It took 18mins.
You know what I'd love I say. A trip to west Cork, not 2 hours drive from where i live in Cobh, Co. Cork. I can't be doing with airports and travelling at the best of times and besides I haven't seen the whole of Ireland yet.
Co Cork has a wealth of Megalithic sites, places of Pagan rituals and rites and I wanted to go and soak up some of Ireland's ancient past in Drombeg, near Glandore, in West Cork. Not so much a cheap date or easily pleased, I get a whole lot more out of visiting old graveyards, ruins and ancient historical sites than i could ever get traipsing around cities and into shops. Drombeg boasts one of the most visited Bronze age Stone Circles in the country, originally it had 17 standing stones and 1 recumbent / Altar stone. Google it, it's amazing.
The photographer in me dearly loves to have these places to myself to soak in the atmosphere of the environment and take my time composing my shots. A lot to expect at Irelands most popular Megalithic site.
We heard the voice of a child as we were walking up the pathway to the stones. Not an ordinary child but one that is obviously used to making herself the centre of attention. While mummy was giving a history lesson to a fine upstanding, quietly spoken gentleman madam was giving a narrative on her every movement.
While her slightly older sister was sitting day dreaming alongside the Fulacht Fiadh (you'll find out what that is when you google Drombeg Stone Circle) madam was climbing noisily up a rocky incline in close proximity to her mother.
"i'm going to put this foot on that rock, Oh it's a bit slippery here. oh no, oh no, I think I'm going to fall! Good I didn't fall, I'm going up a different way instead. It went on and on and on in what seemed like and endless tirade of nonsense.
Don't get me wrong I love children but the noise seemed so out of place in this Ancient sombre place.
I had read that a physic had been brought to visit the place and she deemed it to be a very evil site where human sacrifices had been made. For a very brief moment I was a Pagan Druid contemplating making a human sacrifice and madam wasn't helping her case.
Finally they left and myself and himself then had the place to ourselves. Now all i had to do was make sure i avoided getting himself into the shots. Not easy when he decides to sit on the Fulach Fia soaking up the quietness and sombreness of the place. I had to angle myself so that he was hidden behind one of the stones.
In the end i got him up on the recumbent stone and sacrificed him instead.
We had about 5 minutes with the whole place to ourselves before a bus load of tourists arrived. I think got a few nice shots though.
Drombeg Stone Circle, Co. Cork
Camera-Canon 70D, Lens Canon 17-55@17mm, 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO200
What remains of 2 stone huts
Camera - Canon 70D, Lens Canon 17-55@17mm. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 200
The Portal Stones
Camera- Canon 70D, Lens 17-55mm@17mm, 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 200
Camera-Canon 70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@13mm, 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
The recumbent/Altar stone facing the Portal Stones
Camera- Canon70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@10mm, 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
There are some engravings on the recumbent stone, a mark made by an axe and 2 cup shaped engravings
Camera-Canon 70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@10mm, 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
The missing stones
Camera- Canon 70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@10mm, 1?640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
My Human Sacrafice
Camera-Canon 70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@10mm, 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO 200
A view of the Standing Stones with the Fulacht Fiadh and the ruin of the huts in the distance
Camera-Canon 70D, Lens Tamron 10-24mm@24mm, 1/250sec, f8, ISO 200
Camera -Canon 70D, Lens Canon 17-55mm@47mm, 1/800sec, f3.2, ISO 200
The Fulacht Fiadh. Professor Fahy performed an experiment here to see how long it would take to heat 70 gallons of water using red hot stones from the fire pit. It took 18mins.
Camera - Canon70D, Lens 17-55mm@17mm, 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 200
