Uploads from swordscookie

Elegy

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:56:32 -0700

Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude Forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
The ruins of an old graveyard in Naas, Co. Kildare with "Rotten tooth" stumps of old stones marking unknown deceased peoples graves. It reminded me of the "Elegy written in a country churchyard"

The old bridge

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:42:27 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The old bridge at Ballymore Eustace on the upper reaches of the river Liffey

Playing with fire

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:01:31 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

On a 10 foot unicycle, standing on one leg, juggling three flaming torches and continuing his spiel of humour - the mans a legend!

Purest white (and green)

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:52:31 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

Experimenting with a macro lens and extension tubes I took this white rock rose in our garden!

The stocks or worse

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:13:47 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

In Balrothery church yard you have a bleak choice, you can have the stocks or....

How to get up on a unicycle

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:19:31 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The street entertainer has roped some dopes, sorry, citizens in to help him get up onto his ten foot tall unicycle with hilarious results. I spent an hour watching and listening to him and it was great fun. Good man Ross.

Street entertainment

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:52:17 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

A street entertainer in Dublins St. Stephens Green trying to keep all the balls in the air!

The Campanile in the grounds of Trinity College Dublin

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:47:24 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The Preziosa

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:37:37 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

This the ship we cruised on in April. She was being built for one of Ghaddafi's sons when the regime fell and was taken over by MSC. She was built in France and is the height of luxury. Stunningly beautiful with spacious cabins she was on her first round of cruising when we went on board.

Balrothery Church, North Dublin

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:31:45 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The church at Balrothery, from the irish 'Baile na Ridire' (Town of the Knights), has a medieval defensive church tower built at the western end of the church. In the image shown left you can see the square tower with a circular stair turret on its western side. I was always under the impression that the tower had incorporated an old Irish round tower into the structure of the square tower but that is not the case! There are also a number of early grave markers located around the grounds of the church including megalithic stones recycled with later grave details into them.

Blonde or brunette

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:31:59 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The inscription on this stone in Balrothery Cemetary reads "Jane Coleman - dyed 1-10-1799. Now the obvious question is was she a blonde or a brunette???

Uphill and against the wind

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:38:03 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

Two cyclists at the back of Dublin Airport. I was debating joining them later but the heavens opened and I thought better of it:-)

FlyBe to the moon

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:10:04 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The FlyBe flight takes off at Dublin Airport. I flew with them two years ago and the outward flight was fine but they ambushed me on the way back with a charge on my hand luggage. I beat them though by taking the wheels off my case;-)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCW9Hey6IVY

The end of a long battle

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:20:51 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

Though the bumble bee was still struggling furiously the spider has it tied in knots and is about to administer the coup-de-grace. Note the way the spider has successfully tied the bees head section and tail together to lessen its defensive threat and make it easier for removal!

I know I left a house here somewhere?

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:28:33 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

Another former dwelling in the village of Cloghran being strangled by Dublin Airport.

Lonely the house now

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:39:38 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

An old cottage in the old village of Cloghran lies bricked up and deserted. Cloghran is being strangled by Dublin Airport and an ancient community is fast disappearing.

High Fashion

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:49:05 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

How to have the comfort of runners and the style of stiletto's. I could even wear these;-)

Black Tailed Godwit

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:32:09 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

The Black Tailed Godwit is a Winter visitor to Ireland from Iceland. It is a wader and will sometimes arrive in September and stay for the duration. A small number will remain in Ireland permanently. I spotted these in the Swords Estuary outside Dublin.

Dropping in

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:32:08 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

I managed to get a shot of this male as it joined the flock who were feeding in the shallow water. You can see the rufous neck and breasts of the males and the less colourful females with their distinctive long straight beaks/bills. When I looked at this on the screen I spotted the rings on both legs.

Wired for sound

nobody@flickr.com (swordscookie) — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:32:07 -0700

swordscookie posted a photo:

A second shot of the male Godwit landing gave me a real surprise because it has a radio transmitter with quite a long antenna fitted to its back. You will see the wire going from the container on the back to the water!