“Ireland is so saturated with green
that it’s the things not green
that catch one’s eye:
the roads, walls, shorelines, even sheep…”
— Hope Jahren
Scenic drive looking down on Galway Bay. Typical view of Ireland – immersed in green, dotted with ruins, framed with stone, softened with gorse and fragrant may flower.
Ireland Journey ~ First of a series of posts recording highlights of recent travels through Ireland. Aer Lingus brought us direct to Dublin where we met up with a wonderful Irish guide named Daniel and headed west to Galway.
* * *
Top: Looking across to Galway Bay. Bottom: ubiquitous rock walls and fragrant blossoming May flower. It is estimated that there are some 250,000 miles of dry stone walls in Ireland, built without cement or other form of concrete; gaps between stones let the wind blow through, allowing them to still stand today • Photos by Jan Logozzo
Middle: Ancient ruins of Clonmacnoise. Bottom: roadside yellow ulex or gorse, symbol of sun god as it carries a yearlong spark of light • Photos by Mary O’Connor
Stay tuned for more photos and words designed to share both sights and experiences along the way.
© 2023



Love the pictures ! Looking forward to more !
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Thanks. Hope you enjoy them all!
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so bucolic, thanks for sharing
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That it is. Peaceful and beautiful!
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Awesome and beautiful photographs! Looking forward to seeing more of them!!!
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Thanks, glad you are enjoying them. It was a great trip!
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I am so happy for you! 🙂
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Beautiful, Mary! That first picture is from a dream, so intensely green.
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I’ve always heard how green Ireland is — guess they weren’t kidding! 🙂
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Beautiful photos; they had to put all those stones somewhere!
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“Ireland is so saturated with green that it’s the things not green that catch one’s eye: the roads, walls, shorelines, even sheep…”
Quite true, Mary. But the green pastures with that abundant lush grass and the many cattle in one small area impressed Mary ever and ever again. Well, that’s the Texas view, when you are not used to see that many cattle in one small pasture.
I’m glad you enjoyed your Ireland trip.
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Fabulous photos Mary! The wildflowers are magnificent, they boldly grow everywhere in fields and rocky crevices. We loved the wild red fuschia shrubs – they were popping into full bloom the weeks we were there. They looked like dainty fairies in red skirts.
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And the Mayflowers were another treat!
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