Boyle Abbey

In 1161 the Cistercians founded this Abbey at Boyle, Co. Roscommon, taking about sixty years to complete the church building. The carving and ornamentation which has survived is quite beautiful, mostly foliage inspired.

Even in its ruinous state it is a vastly impressive structure so in its heyday it must have been truly awe-inspiring.

Evening Light

 Benbulben in the evening light, quite the county bastion, yes?

Further inland along the same line of hills. There's something so beautiful about the golden evening light, I never get tired of admiring the scenery then.

Trawler

I love trawlers: the grimy working no-frills appearance, the chuggy way they bustle about while entering and leaving a harbour, the smell of oil and fish and salt, the way they rock when tied up. I daresay if I had to work one for a living I would see them differently but I don't, so I can just enjoy them.

Spring Sprang...or Sprung

Spring is finally springing and the buds on the trees are hatching. It was lovely this morning, but very cold; if I was a leaf I think I'd stay furled a little longer. The mountain in the background is Benbulben, a local, very distinctive landmark not normally viewed through a haze of trees!

Looking Down

You can see just as many interesting things looking at the ground...