Whale Ahoy! Whale watching in Ireland

The sky & sea are incredibly beautiful- whales or no!

Did you know that Ireland is a good place to see whales? 

It is, and here in the sunny southeast some of the best months are Nov- Feb, when you can often see fin whales. They are a big whale, on average around 65 ft long. And we saw 11 of them! 

How did we do it? And what else did we see?

Rebecca C & Duncannon harbour

I got in contact with Martin Colfer, who runs Off The Hook Whalewatching, and arranged for myself & some friends to go out with him on his boat the Rebecca C. 

Martin needs a certain number to go out, but if you are an individual or small group you can get added in with others- do give him a ring & chat about it 353 (0)87 265 7177 or email him info@charterangling.ie  

We were out from 9am to 2pm, costing €40 per person, and it was worth every penny!

 Be sure to dress warmly, & waterproofly (Is that a word? It needs to be!) 

It ended up being quite choppy the day we were out, so another tip is to take some seasick pills before hand, just in case. I 'visited' the side of the boat few times myself...thankfully it didn't ruin my day.

Luckily I was upright for this pic! Looking for whales.

We all had our cameras, but the sea spray is lethal to them, so don't have them out- keep 'em in plastic bags & use only when boat is not kicking up spray.

 I found that looking through a camera made me feel ill- looking at the horizon is really the best thing for funny tummy. 

 Also, we all agreed: don't worry about photos if it's your 1st time seeing whales. They are so quick you'll miss seeing them properly if you're trying to snap pics. Enjoy the experience instead.

Look at us, not your camera! Curious seals watch us on the boat

As the boat took off from Duncannon Harbour, we passed the historic Duncannon Fort, and later Hook Head Lighthouse in the distance. First the dolphins came, jumping and playing in the water. There were guillemots and gulls flying and diving.

Then seals bobbing about, relaxed and curious. All the time we were also looking for the spouts of water or gatherings of seabirds that Martin had told us would alert us to the whales.

Suddenly- spouts! Whales! 

For at least an hour we were seeing loads of whales-- it was magical. Quite a few times they were close to the boat; magnificent. 

Mostly, we didn't take photos, we just marveled. But Suzanna did take some, and kindly shared with me for this post. I hope you enjoy them. I highly recommend taking a whale watching boat trip! 

PS we went to The Strand Tavern after, & had good food, hot drinks & warmed ourselves by the fire. The service was excellent, and they catered to the coeliac in our group with no problem. It was the perfect end to a wonderful outing. 

Fin whale by Suzanna Crampton

Whale watching with Martin Colfer, Off The Hook Whale Watching, Wexford, Ireland. FANTASTIC

 To find out more about whales and dolphins in Ireland, visit the website of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group

Photos: Why I Love Ireland

Tinnahinch Castle&  a lockkeeper's cottage on the river Barrow, Ireland

 Tweeting as @Ireland for a week was a fun and interesting experience! As my last few tweets I wanted to say & show a few reasons why I love living in Ireland. Not all my photos attached to the tweets though, & I didn't realize until later. SO- here they are.

This photo to the left was meant to illustrate this tweet:

''The way older history (Tinnahinch castle) blends with more recent tradition (Lockkeepers cottage,) & nature.''

I also shared:

''I love the beauty of the Irish landscape, especially with added snow :-) #lovesnow'' 

The river Barrow in snow, Ireland

Ireland's recent big snow was in 2010, and I've a post on it here if you'd like to see more.

The Graiguenamanagh/Tinnahinch bridge in snow, Ireland 

I also tweeted about the wonderful sunrises I see in Ireland (photos below.)

There'd be too many photos to post for this next tweet--but sure, there are plenty of related photos all over this blog :-)

''I love the resurgence of Irish artisan food, craft, & the spirit of fun I find in so many people. THANK YOU!''

And right now I'd like to say thank YOU, for reading the Vibrant Ireland blog, and also if you follow on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or G+!

THANKS! Here are a few of the sunrise pics.

If you aren't following Vibrant Ireland on those things, and you'd like to, you can by clicking the appropriate buttons upper right of the blog :-)

Sunrises, (mainly over the Blackstairs Mountains) Ireland

Sunrise over the Blackstairs mountains, Ireland

hope you've enjoyed :-)

Blow Away The Cobwebs At Hook Lighthouse, Ireland

The sea crashes into the rocks at low tide, Hook Lighthouse, Wexford, Ireland

As the New Year approaches, Irish people often like to head outdoors to 'blow away the cobwebs.' The end of this year, 2012, was very good for just that activity, with storm force winds blowing all over Ireland during the last week of December. 

I recommend Hook Head peninsula in county Wexford  (home to the oldest operational lighthouse in the world,) as a perfect place to get a blast of nature, picturesque scenery, & history.  

As you travel down the windy, narrow roads to the tip of the peninsula, there are stone walls, old ruins, and lovely cottages old & new. Here are a few photos:

The ruins of Hook Church, Wexford, Ireland

The world's oldest working lighthouse- 800yrs at Hook Head, Wexford, Ireland

If you'd like to take part in the New Year's Day tradition of Daisy Day at the lighthouse, click to read. We were there yesterday (30 Dec,) and I spotted some daisies, so they are there for the finding! The link will also let you know the opening times for the lighthouse centre & tours any time of year. Enjoy! 
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Be part of tradition at Hook Head Lighthouse, Ireland-the world's oldest!

New Year's Daisy Day at Hook Lighthouse, Ireland. Photo Jimmy Fallon.

 Age Old Tradition fresh as a daisy this New Year's Day at Hook Lighthouse 

 Hook Lighthouse (the world's oldest operational lighthouse) are bringing back a Hook Head peninsula tradition- Daisy Day! On Tuesday 1 January 2013, bring the kids to the Lighthouse from 11.30am for an afternoon of fun, with a traditional daisy hunt and free games.

Humpback whale off of Hook Head, Ireland, photo Padraig Whooley

Additionally, Hook Head is a fantastic place to watch waves, especially in stormy weather. Its also a good place to whale watch (something I'll add to my 13 for 2013.) Here the Irish waters are among Europe's richest for cetaceans, with an impressive 24 different species recorded to date. November to February is prime whale watching time- a great activity at a time when you may think not much is happening in the natural world.

 Why not come explore the area, watch the sea, and be part of the charming Daisy tradition this year? The Daisy Hunt will be on noon to 4pm.

In case some real Daisies are not blooming there will also be a ‘Make your own Daisy’ art workshops with resident artist Rose, with the best daisy winning a prize. :-)

The event is being held in aid of charity. Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre's site has more info

Tours of the lighthouse are also available & the visitor centre is open year round.

June/July/August 9.30 am to 6 pm

May/September 9.30 am to 5.30 pm

Rest of year 9.30 am to 5 pm

Guided Tours of Hook Lighthouse Tower

June/July/August – Every half hour from 10 am to 5.30 pm

Rest of Year – Every hour from 11 am to 5 pm

Group bookings by prior arrangement

Access to Lighthouse by guided tour only.

For more on Whales & Dolphins in Ireland click here

Enjoy Hook Head- it is a beautiful, wild & windy place- fantastic!

Frost & sunlight make some natural magic

December sunrise, Ireland

This morning dawned pink, orange, and frosty. The air was still, and the whoosh of the rooks' wing beats carried across the sky, combined with the rushing of the river Barrow below. What a wonderful way to wake. After a bracing cup of coffee, both I & the sun were fully awake-- time for a walk! 

Here are some photos:

The sunlight & frost made magic together.

Seed heads were fuzzy- not with seeds but with frost crystals!

A long-tailed tit called in the mist that still lingered close to the river

Sunlit beauty of decay; a reminder of the cycles of life

frosted lace was everywhere

the delicacy of the fine threads of frost on the plants was amazing

upon returning home, one of the last flowering garden plants sported frozen beads! 

The December days may be short in Ireland, but there is still beauty be found, especially in the quiet hours of dawn and dusk. May your December, & beyond, be full of gentle beauty. 

Once again the Irish landscape works its magic

There is nothing like the stunning beauty of nature to lift your spirits, even if for only a few moments. 

Last night I had to pull the car over and snap the magnificent sunset over the Carlow hills. The warm majesty of the colour and light also warmed my heart, replacing the worry about our dog's cancer battle & the new worries over my job, for a little while.

 But then, another gift from nature dawned this morning- a beautiful river of mist filling the Barrow river valley. The glorious sun and blue sky above made it even more special.  Once again the landscape of Ireland worked its magic on my spirit. I'm not ashamed to say I love the land of Ireland with all my heart, and that is why I so enjoy sharing what I can of 'her' with you all, here on the blog. 

Thank you for reading,  Susan.

the magical landscape in Ireland

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Sunrises, Sunsets, & what to do next in the Sunny Southeast of Ireland

Carlow, Ireland Sunset in September. (No filter or effects)

September, as is often the case in Ireland, was a beautiful month. If you are from abroad & are considering a visit, do think about September/October as there are always lots of festivals on, too! 

In Graiguenamanagh this Sept the Town of Books Festival was on,

 in Waterford  was The Harvest Festival, 

the hurling championship is played in September, 

The National Ploughing Championships are in September-- I could go on!

(OCTOBER FESTIVALS LISTED AT POST END.) 

Sunrises in Kilkenny & Carlow, Ireland, September

 In this post, I'd like to share a few photos with you- like this one (above) of a sunset over the fields & hills of Carlow. It was quite amazing the way the light blazed up in the sky, & the majesty of it made me pull over the car & try for a shot, even though my phone isn't great for distance photos. But September wasn't just a month of fabulous sunsets, the sunrises were gorgeous, too! (right)

       The weather in September is usually mild, and late summer flowers are still looking zingy, like these beauties at the treasure trove that is Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford. (The gardens are open to the public on Thursdays only, 9.00am to 4.00pm, April 5th to September 27th.)

                                                     

flowers from Mount Congreve, Ireland September

  Coming up now for October in the sunny Southeast of Ireland are several interesting festivals:

  Savour Kilkenny food festival 25-29 Oct

Irish Conker Championship Festival in Freshford, Kilkenny 

28 Oct 

The Imagine Arts festival,,

Waterford, 19-29 Oct

  Wexford Festival Opera 

24 Oct -4 Nov 

Wexford Fringe 19 Oct -4 Nov. 

Whew! I bet I've missed some, too! What October festivals/events are you going to?

   Have fun! :-)

 whattoseeinireland outsideinireland

Mrs Meaney's Traditional Cottage Museum

Beauty, History, & Fun!

September's sunshine has been a welcome joy after the wettest & cloudiest summer in Ireland for many a year. Last weekend we got out & enjoyed it at a real hidden gem- Mrs. Meaney's Cottage Museum at the gorgeous, special, Ballilogue Clochan.

Now open on weekends serving tea, coffee & homemade cakes, the cottage is a joy, very lovingly restored under the guidance of Pat McCarthy who had great affection for the late Mrs. Meaney.

Her cottage is part of the clochan, often translated as 'farm town'- a traditional small group of homes, farms & even little shops clustered together in the Irish countryside. Mrs Meaney's cottage dates back to the 1700s, and is a treasure well worth seeking out, regardless of the tasty weekend cakes & coffee! 

the fabulous old hearth in Mrs Meaney's- still works!

the stairs to the sleeping loft now display crafts

I should add a disclaimer here-- we used to live in one of the old stone barns in the Clochan, and my husband was the project manager & general labourer for the renovation of the main Inn building- another set of old stone barns. We've seen the love & care that has gone in to the development of the whole Ballilogue Clochan, and think it is a really special place to stay over in if you can't get enough of the charm of the clochan! The Inn is fabulous; a wonderful mix of the traditional and modern, and of course Pat & Mark are fantastic hosts. Lots of the jams & such for sale in the shop are made from their garden, as well as in the cooking for the Inn.

Mrs Meaney's Cottage, Ireland

Out to the Golden Fields

After cups of very good coffee, slices of  sinfully good chocolate cake, & a jar of locally sourced & made Ballilogue honey, you might want to hit the great outdoors and burn off some calories. The whole Ballilogue/Graiguenamanagh/Inistioge area is perfect for strolling or being even more active, with walks, hills, and rivers galore.

We collected our four dogs from home, and headed out to a hilltop field for a bit of fun under the warm September sunshine. September is a brilliant month to visit Ireland/staycation in Ireland as the weather is often at its best, lots of festivals are on, but crowds are less. Here in Graiguenamanagh, for example, the Town of Books festival is on 21-23 Sept 2012, & the week of 10-16 Sept the Waterford Harvest festival is on- just a half hour drive away. (If you click the links you'll find out a bit more.)

We had a great bit of craic playing in the fields, take a wee minute & have a watch. Enjoy! ;-)

Fantastic Beaches on Ireland's Copper Coast! Where to Go in Ireland

Copper Coast beach, Waterford, Ireland

If you are looking for uncrowded, magical beaches for swimming, sandcastle building, rockpooling, kayaking  or just admiring the beauty, there will be at least one to suit you along Waterford's Copper Coast! It is designated as a Geopark, & truly is one of Ireland's hidden gems. (AND in the Sunny Southeast!)

Along the Copper Coast

From Tramore's busy family holiday feel at the eastern end, over to Ardmore's cliff walk on the western, each time we've visited we've been struck by how there is something for eveyone. We picked up Discover Ireland's driving routes booklet in the Dungarvan tourist office to give us a hand, but extended our western journey to include lovely Ardmore.

Fenor Bog, Copper Coast, Ireland

Wildflowers, Copper Coast, Ireland

As well as beaches, cliffs, and old  copper mines, there's also an alkaline bog in Fenor where you can wander along the raised walkway listening to the birds and enjoying the wild flowers. There's also a very well recommended restaurant called
The Copper Hen above the pub by the Fenor Bog Walk, which was packed the Sunday we passed.  

Next visit, so! Of course, the main attractions are the beaches, and by doing the coastal drive & turning off to explore wherever you see signs pointing to 'strand' or 'cove,' you will be busy oohing & ahhing!

There are sandy beaches, pebbly beaches, beaches with rivers running through them, beaches dotted with caves-- fabulous! Here is a minute & a half relaxing video of 2 of the spectacular beaches-- so enjoy, & plan your visit  :-)

AND DON'T FORGET TO VISIT THE MAGIC ROAD, NOT FAR AWAY!!! It is so fun/weird/amazing! See a video clip of the magic here :-)

Old copper mine & beaches, Copper Coast, Waterford, Ireland

All photos & video by vibrantireland.com, PLEASE ASK first if you'd like to use any, thank you

 Get OutsideInIreland :-)

Amazing, Fun! The Magic Road: What To Do in Ireland

 Possibly the most amazing few minutes of fun you'll have anywhere in the world can be found on a small section of the Comeragh Mountain Drive in Ireland, called The Magic Road. There you can experience a bit of Fairy magic!

We went on a very misty day, but it only added to the otherworldly atmosphere.

Along the Magic Road, Comeragh Mountains, Ireland

 On the drive keep your eyes open for the 2 stones on the roadside saying Magic Road- as pictured.  (Apparently is GPS co-ordinates are 54.02237 -6.29178, but I'm not familiar with using GPS- so double check!!) 
At the stone by the rag tree, stop & put your car in neutral. It will then- believe it or not- roll UP the hill all by itself. It is really crazy!
We did it several times, first with the car going backwards, then we turned so it also forwards. Backwards- as in the video clip, was REALLY freaky!

Apologies for the bit of 'language' in this video- we were rather overwhelmed! :-) Have a watch: (& then check out the fantastic nearby beaches here!)

Get OutsideInIreland! :-)

Goodbye June, thanks for these beauties!

A decent last day of a June that, for Ireland, was a bit of a wash out. Here are some photos of today's beauty. Enjoy!

Irish skies from one moment to the next! 

Beautifully tasty black & white pudding combo from a local Kilkenny producer- great no matter the weather ;-)

After the rain: beautiful Kilkenny

While Cork and Belfast were getting flooded, we were lucky in Kilkenny- getting blue skies and interesting clouds after the rain. Kilkenny Castle's rose garden was looking glorious even though the river Nore was churning high. Have a look :-)

This was taken at 9.30 at night! Love the long Irish summer days!


Getting stuck in at Kilkenny Castle rose garden!


And the clouds change at a rapid rate!


Clouds are always interesting in Ireland


After the rain, nature glistens


The river Nore roars after the rain, & this spider takes refuge in a hollow tree, blending in well!

Enjoy Ireland, rain or shine!

Irish Weather; Rainbow Making!

rain again..sigh...depressed doggies!

 So.. it's raining again in Ireland. Lots. Actually, it's doing something unusual-- constant rain-- usually we have passing showers, which isn't so bad! Us humans are pretty fed up with this chilly, rainy, 'summer' weather, & now even the dogs are longing for a sunny day to play outside! Sunny days DO happen :-)

 See photo below!

Its not always rainy in Ireland!

Ahh, well. The rain keeps Ireland the famous 40 shades of green, and our showery Irish weather creates lots of rainbows (tho' the gold is all gone!) Check out this amazing one I caught on video this time last year:

Enjoy--rain or shine!