Ireland – The Sheep’s Head Peninsula in Storm Franklin
I’m an occasional host of an occasional (very occasional) podcast called the Viewfinder Vikings. It started life as a show about film photography, and more specifically, photographic projects, but like everything over the last couple of years, the Viewfinder Vikings output has suffered.
Back in the day, I used to enjoy recording when I was out on a photo-trip, and we always got good feedback on those episodes. So, in this return, I’ve extended the format a little and recorded my adventures over the course of a four day trip to the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in County Cork, south-west Ireland.
In the recording above, I’ve played in some of the sounds of the trip, mostly to break up the monotony of my voice, but also to paint a bit of a picture. If you’d prefer actual pictures to go along with the story, keep scrolling down…
Brow Head Cottages – Brow Head is the southernmost point on the Irish mainland. It protrudes out into the Atlantic and catches all of the weather that has a three thousand mile ‘run-up’Brow Head Cottages – I took several pictures of these miner’s cottages and most of them were blurred. This was because the wind was gale force and blew me off my feet a couple of times. Standing still for even 1/60 of a second proved a challenge.Brow Head Wireless Station – this is the actual southernmost point in Ireland, but due to the weather, I could not, and dared not get any closer.The Crookhaven Peninsula – being pummelled by the wind and rain brought by Storm Franklin, our third named storm in four days.Toor Pier – on the northern coast of the Mizen Head peninsula the wind was even stronger. When I parked up and saw this wonderful view, the wind was violently rocking the car. I forced open the door and stepped out for a few seconds, snapped these shots before driving quickly away.Sunset on Mizen Head.Seefin Summit – the high point on the Sheep’s Head peninsula and the highlight of my walkMass Path near Seefin.Fionn mac Cumhaill’s SeatFionn mac Cumhaill’s SeatWater and Ground In Their Extremity – a line from a Seamus Heaney poem, but the perfect description of this part of the world.The Road to the End of the World.Tade Carthy’s Bothy – restored to give an idea of how these stone huts might have been when in use. Another of the stone huts in the ‘Crimea’. You’ll have to listen to the audio to learn more…Tade Carthy’s Bothy.The Northern shore of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, close to Cahergal.On the Light House Loop.The lighthouse at the end of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. Built in 1968 from materials delivered in 280 helicopter flights.My new favourite handrail.Lough Akeen – close to the lighthouse.One of the many signal towers built in the early-1800s. They were in sight of each other so that they could warn of invading Frenchmen.Mizen Head takes another shower.Fresh storm damage on the Gougane Barra forest trail.I sheltered behind the roots of an upturned tree while the rain and wind tried to spoil this famous view.Ireland’s smallest church.Yield.Knocknakilla Stone Circle.
Gubbins: All pictures taken with a Leica M 262 and a Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5 lens.
I confess to not having listened to the podcast but the pictures are stunning. This is just the sort of wild and out of the way spot I love (although maybe not in such extreme weather) and now I feel like I’ve taken a trip there to help fill the void created by lack of travel this past year. Thank you!
Fantastic images of one of my favourite places in the world. I’m from Cork originally so to hear and see the weather from a winter storm brings back some great feelings and memories. Keep the podcasts going if time allows. Superb shots.
Barnaby Nutt 
Lovely shots Barnaby. West Cork is probably my favourite part of Ireland and Sheep’s Head is particularly wild and beautiful.
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I confess to not having listened to the podcast but the pictures are stunning. This is just the sort of wild and out of the way spot I love (although maybe not in such extreme weather) and now I feel like I’ve taken a trip there to help fill the void created by lack of travel this past year. Thank you!
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Fantastic images of one of my favourite places in the world. I’m from Cork originally so to hear and see the weather from a winter storm brings back some great feelings and memories. Keep the podcasts going if time allows. Superb shots.
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Thank you for listening and I’m delighted that it brought back some memories. That’s a powerful thing…
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