We were heading home from Hare Island after a Fit Up Theatre Performance, when this happened
Many of our top Facebook photographs this year were from the Mizen, but not all. You also liked and shared photographs that captured the essence of other parts of West Cork.
Baltimore Bay and Ringarogy Island
I think the Baltimore Bay one was so popular because the colours are SO west Cork. When you get blue sky and clouds, the sea turns this amazing Caribbean blue and the contrast with the green fields and wilder high ground is gorgeous.
Lighthouse Loop, Sheep’s Head
This photograph of our friend Susan Byron of Ireland’s Hidden Gems is one of my favourites this year because of the impression it creates of sheer wildness.
Occasionally we get lucky with the local wildlife. Ferdia, the fox, used to be a regular around our place but has forsaken us recently for neighbours with higher quality leftovers.
Bantry House
It’s possible to get good shots of Bantry House in winter, when the trees don’t obscure it from view.
Kilcoe Castle
Kilcoe Castle is such an icon on the landscape. This photograph shows the neighbourly way it interacts with the other houses around it.
Bardic School Loop Walk, Sheep’s Head
This tiny abandoned cottage may have been part of the 17th Century Bardic School near Lake Faranamanagh on the Sheep’s Head. We’re looking across at the Mizen in this shot.
The Beara, from the Sheep’s Head
And here’s the view from the other side of the Sheep’s Head, across to the Beara Peninsula, with the instantly-recognisable bulk of Hungry Hill to the far right.
Priest’s Leap Valley
The long climb up to Priest’s Leap starts near Ballylickey and ends at a high mountain pass that separates Cork and Kerry. The views are spectacular from the top, but this shot of a colourful house and farms in the valley on the way up seemed to express something typical of West Cork.
Farm, Sheep’s Head
This farm appears to be carved out of the mountain land behind it.
Barloge Bay, at the entrance to Lough Hyne
This was taken in November. I love the contrast of the turquoise water with the autumn colours of the bracken-covered hillside.
A final sunset to end this post. This was taken last February from the lay-by overlooking Roaringwater Bay on the N71. The light was extraordinary – a once in a blue moon kind of shot. The mussel beds make the water look like floating ice packs.
A big thanks to Celia Bartlett for helping us improve our photographic skills this year. We loved our workshop with her.
Happy New Year to all our faithful readers!
Roaringwater Journal 
Reblogged this on Historical Tours Ireland.
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Yes the most beautiful area, and you have documented it well with beautiful photographs. Much enjoyed – though I live here too and see it with my eyes, can’t ever have enough of it. Hope the recent storm did you no damage.
Kind regards, Agnes
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A bit of very minor damage but nothing to worry about. Glad to hear from a neighbour!
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Likewise Finola. Kind regards from me here on the other side of Skibbereen 🙂
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fabulous fotos, love and best wishes, eric &joxx
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Thank you all for your kind comments – we so appreciate your support. We’re away at the moment with limited access to Internet, hence the joint response. Wishing you all the best for 2016! Finola and Robert
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They are all stunning images, Finland! Hope you are having a fab Christmas down there, and that Storm Frank isn’t causing too much havoc… hes wild up here in Cavan! All the best to you for a great 2016.
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Just having had the briefest of experiences of West Cork (and being completely blown away by it), I am still amazed at these pictures which make me want to spend my entire next trip in Ireland in this land.
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Beautiful photos!
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Happy New Year to you both. You take the most beautiful pictures. Every time I open them I think of meeting you with Pat Collins your neighbor next door. I was there for 10 wonderful days in August and had the pleasure of visiting with you. As I sit here in snowy Madison,
Wisc. my heart and mind are back there. Please God maybe some day I’ll come back.
Patrricia O’Driscoll
Madison, Wisc.
—————————————–From: “Roaringwater Journal”
To: Cc: Sent: Sun, 27 Dec 2015 01:32:01 +0000 Subject: [New post] Beyond the Mizen: Top 14 West Cork Pics of 2015
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Finola posted: ” Many of our top Facebook photographs this year were from the Mizen, but not all. You also liked and shared photographs that captured the essence of other parts of West Cork. I think the Baltimore Bay one was so popular because the colours are S”
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Those are terrific pictures. There’s a difference between those who take pictures and those who know how to take pictures. You know how!
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Stunning photos. Happy New Year.
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I think you might be feeling a bit homesick! A great selection of pix, the last one is really something special but you’ve captured the feel of the place beautifully.
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Reblogged this on West Cork History.
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Yes, a very nice selection. With a half-decent camera and a little sense of composition one can get really great pics in West Cork if one is just THERE at the right time ( which sometimes only last a few minutes ) – think the trick is always to have a camera with you so you don’t miss the incredible changing light effects that the Atlantic weather systems produce, and the landscapes and seascapes do the rest. You can also get some amazing pics out on the water – but you need to be on a boat of course. Generally speaking, if you are lucky enough to be out and about to see it, living here is often like being in a 360 degree cinema screen and you don’t need all that film music either ! Finally there is that difficult balance between snapping away to record those golden moments and leaving yourself time to see and marvel at it in your own head – perhaps the most important “photograph” of all………….
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