Go West: Exploring Ireland’s Stunning West Coast

Dug in, the prevailing Atlantic weather a strong feature of Western Ireland’s climate, the rain and winds were promising to stay for a few days. This proves to be very beneficial if you want to explore during work time when work requires stable, dry weather. Based just outside Sligo, South East of Donegal, I decided my first port of call would be Fanad Head and I would then head south along the Donegal coastline.

The sun was still out as I arrived

A long drive North found me at Fanad just in time for a brief sunny interlude. Running down to a point on the promontory to the south of the lighthouse, I managed to fire off a few shots before the rain came again. In a matter of seconds, along with a couple of other photographers, I was completely soaked and trying to find space to dry everything in my van.

It didn’t last long at all

Looking at the forecast, I figured I could make it south to Bunbeg and the site of the shipwreck known as Bád Eddie (Eddie’s boat) in time to get some shots as the tide came in. Much as I spend time researching and planning the shots I’d ike to take, I always seem to find myself on the back foot, running as fast as I can to be in position before the magical light of golden hour fades or the tide comes in/goes out.

Bád Eddie or to use her proper name, Cara Na Mara (‘Friend of the Sea’) was a fishing vessel originally built in France and bought by and Irish Fisherman Eddie Gillespie. The story of this wreck is one of neglect. Needing repairs, it was towed to Magherclougher beach where it has remained ever since, slowly succumbing to the brutality of the weather of the Irish Atlantic coast.

Ironically following her sad demise as a fishing vessel, Bád Eddie has now become a much loved part of the community, a focal point for tourism and a playground for local children.

Sunset and a rising tide provided challenges and very wet feet for this shot of Bád Eddie

Not the easy shot I foolishly thought it would be, I composed my shot and waited as the tide seemed to take an age to come in and then no sooner had it reached the boat, it had covered my feet and tripod. I had maybe 5 minutes to get the shot I wanted which is easier said than done with 2 minute exposures in soft moving sand.

I got one that I’m really happy with and a lot that I’m nearly happy with. Ah well, it was very much a learning curve with photographing artefacts on the beach within tidal areas.

Wet weather was the theme for Ireland, but the clouds add a lot to this shot of Downpatrick Head

A couple of days later, I took a drive out to Downpatrick Head in Co. Mayo. I wasn’t sure what to expect as the weather was pretty abysmal. A night in my van had me wondering whether I’d still be where I had parked when I woke, such was the deluge. Morning arrived and the rain had thankfully eased but the sea definitely looked a little fuller. Either that or the tide was in, it was definitely one of the two.

The short walk from the car park meant I could mostly avoid the showers and position myself on an empty headland without having to jostle for prime position. The cloud cover and wind speeds were perfect for the type of shot I wanted. A long exposure smoothed the movement of both the sky and water allowing the sea stack to pop and give it an other worldly feel. I used a combination of Lee Little Stopper, Lee Graduated ND filters and a Lee Polarising filter to get the effect I wanted. The resultant image is very much indicative of the calm mindful process involved in capturing it. I hope you like it as much as I do.