Diving from the tower sets off a solar flair?

I just happened to be looking at the Salthill Diving Board as the intense golden setting bun flared up, seemingly just above and behind the people swimming thee.   

(Galway, Ireland, Diving Board, Salthill, Galway,  Ireland in November 2016.

Early solar eclipse glow

On 13 August 2026, there was a 90-something percentage solar eclipse.  Early on, there was an eerie glow along the Corrib river in Galway, bathing Leonardo hotel in an unusually attractive light.

Past their prime, but pretty in the sunshine

 

Each summer recently these outside, multi-story flower pots make their appearance in Eyre Square.

When they first come out, they look beautifully assembled and balanced.  

But as the summer goes on, some plants grow a little faster than others, and some suffer more damage from the madding crowds of Race Week.  We all know that eventually the plants will or get damaged as the new crop of students set themselves goals for tipping monster flower-pots onto their side.

But in late July, in the sunshine and from the middle-distance, they do look beautiful.

Depth in the hills of Clare

 

The hills of Clare usually look quite flat against the horizon.  But once in a while, you see them must as the final licks of sun are hitting some of the hills and suddenly they have depth across the water.

Setting sun over the bay

On this evening in early July 2026,  it felt like the setting sun over the hills of Clare was drawing the sea out of Galway Bay.

Delightful daisies

These determinedly cheerful Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, aka Livingstone daisies, were spotted in a corner in Doughiska one sunny day.

Industrial estate hoodlum

Saw this ldistingushed gentleman in an industrial estate on the east of Galway city this evening.  Google tells me he's a hooded crow, aka a hoodie.

Not a great pic, he was a bit camera shy.  But I don't think I've seen one before.

Minature megalithic mushrooms

Spotted these impressive mushroom-esque monsters  in Briarhill Business Park one afternoon after a  recent heatwave.

Oi ! What are you doing at MY bus stop?

Standing at a bus stop beside a business park in Galway, Ireland one day, and this cow came over to see what I was up to.   She kept a sharp eye on me!

Mr S Seagull

 

One of our neighbours, out for a early morning walk while we were heading home.  With a mean look in his eye, too.

(Galway,  June 2025, just after midnight).

Cows, cash and otherwise

 

One day in September 2007. at the Cliffs of Mohr in County Clare. Ireland.   The cash cow are the ones on the path in the background. 

Just a carpark

I snapped this carpark in Canada (somewhere near Banff?) in June 2007.  In the moment, the sheer scale if it was impressive, with scow capped mountains that felt like they were right next door.

The Iconic Corrib

This a snap I took one day in May 20206 of a frequently-photographed section of the river Corrib.

In the middle of the river are the remains of fish traps, constructed during the 1800s, designed to catch spawning Atlantic salmon swimming upstream.  Behind is Weir House which is home to the low-profile Galway County Club, and the Fisheries buildings.  Further up the river, you can see the Salmon Weir bridge - and the modern salmon-weir is out of site behind it.  

A trio of lillies in the Square

Seaside coffee-kiosk with dramatic skies

 

This city-council owned seaside coffee kiosk is between licensees, but still enjoys dramatic sky-views:  fleeting moments of beauty at the intersection of nature and the built environment. 

Picnic invasion in St Stephens's Green

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A cheeky Dublin swan waddled on in and staged a full-scale invasion of this couple's picnic in St Stephens's Green:  The man tried to appease him by plucking grass, which swannie was only to happy to eat.  But then he headed into the centre of the rug to check out the human fare as well.

Dublin, Ireland, April 2026

I do have a second photo from this scene:  the swan is in the middle of the picnic blanket, and both the people are recognisable so I'm not posting it here.   But contact me with some details if it's you and you'd like a copy.

Crystal Valet, Crystalline clouds

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I took a quick snap, help me remember the name of the car-wash in an old shed between two houses.

Didn't realise until later just how mesmerizing the sky looked at the time, even with rows of power-lines crossing it.  Natural beaty in a most unexpected scene.  

Wild Atlantic views from a suburban coastline

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The coastline in Renmore, Galway, March 2026

Hazy sunset over Galway Bay

A tiny round tower, way up high