Recent – Page 2

Where is the Sea? The curious case of sea-blindness

Published on November 14, 2019

“The British Isles depend on the sea, but we who live here can suffer from sea-blindness, little realising how much our way of life is made possible through ships that bring goods and food, export our manufactured products, and provide the naval defence of our island.”

These are the opening words of a book by John Blake called “Sea Charts of the British Isles” which brings together an array of old maps from the UK and Ireland, and outlines the development of maritime map making in the UK. Keep Reading

Faraway Hills are Grey

Published on November 11, 2019

Geology/Recent/Science and Geography

The comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has small cliffs that stretch across the landscape for months at a time. Keep Reading

Inspired by the Spire

Published on July 27, 2019

Dublin/Fresh/Monuments/Recent

Monuments need to be reconsidered in order to see them in a fresh way. But as we have seen from other articles here, they are very much part of their time, and often related to tourism. The Spire was installed in Dublin in 2003, and was hated by more people than it was loved. Now sixteen years later, many Dubliners will walk past without noticing it – yes, even though it is 120 metres high. This summer I wanted to take some photos so I could rediscover the essence of what is the Spire.

Keep Reading

Vartry Water Supply Scheme – Engineering Envy and a mention in Ulysses

Published on April 13, 2019

Dublin/Fresh/Recent/Science and Geography

The Vartry Water Supply Scheme provides drinking water for a supply area stretching from Roundwood, through north Wicklow up to south Dublin and serves over 200,000 people. Not only was this an extraordinary feat of engineering, it also caught the imagination of James Joyce.

Keep Reading

The dark side of a cliff – A sense of unfairness at Fair Head

Published on February 26, 2019

Featured/Fresh/Geology/Nature/Recent

On my last evening in Ballycastle, I made a desperate attempt to see Murlough Bay, Torr Head, and Fair Head – in that order. The unexpected beauty of the first two had taken me by surprise, and delayed my arrival at Fair Head car park. By then, the fading April light was quite dim, and in a hurry I missed a sign saying “Private Property”

Keep Reading

Creature from the Blue Light – Silver Strand in Malin Beag

Published on February 23, 2019

Atlantic Ocean/Beaches/Fresh/Recent

An evening at this beach brought an end to a week of driving on the north cast of Ireland. The Silver Strand at night is a beautiful and mysterious place to be all alone. I had not prepared myself for an encounter with some other kind.

Keep Reading

Rathlin Island East Lighthouse and Robert the Bruce

Published on November 21, 2018

Fresh/Lighthouses/Recent

The name of George Halpin seems to pop up everywhere in Ireland. And Rathlin Island did not evade his engineering pencil; he designed the lighthouse on the east end of Rathlin. Opened in 1856, it was unique by having two lights in order to improve its visibility in foggy conditions.

Keep Reading

Antrim coastal road, connections with Asia, and a Polar Bear

Published on November 11, 2018

Irish Sea/Mysterious Faces/Recent

The coastal road of Antrim was sublime and beautiful even though I arrived late to the area. With few cars, it brought me a constant murmur of delight; it had that perfect road-trip vibe.

Keep Reading

Ossian’s Grave, Cushendall – Reclaiming heroes

Published on August 2, 2018

Fresh/Prehistoric/Recent

Ossian's Grave - megalithic court cairn - Cushendall

The excellent voicesfromthedawn.com blog offers an interesting insight into a literary sensation of the 1760’s. James Macpherson claimed that a series of books including “Fingal, a Poem in Six Books” were merely a translation of a third century poet called Ossian. But he was less forthcoming when asked to present these ancient manuscripts. Keep Reading