NOW THAT THE sun has made its belated return, it’s the perfect time to explore our stunning country and get that selfie which will make your friends envious.
To make sure you stand out on the Insta feed, we’ve asked some of Ireland’s best photographers to recommend their favourite places to grab a picture.
It is easy to get caught up in work from time to time but I try to schedule some ‘me’ time every week. It usually involves a drive to the coast and just sitting by the sea. Being mindful and taking in the beauty around us is something which is so easy to do and so rewarding, yet we can often manage to go long periods of time without really being truly present.
Sandycove in Dún Laoghaire is one of my favourite places around Dublin to go when I need to take a moment for myself. Leaving my phone in the car, I usually take my camera with me to the shore and simply be. It’s my little oasis in the busy city with the perfect backdrop for a selfie.
My favourite place to photograph would have to be a small trail at the back of Ballinastoe Bike trail, Co Wicklow.
For me it feels very magical, it has a kind of fairytale feel to it. I like that it’s a hard place to find. You’ll only get to see it with directions from a friend and a willingness to seek it out. When you do reach the steps, there’s no right or wrong way to photograph these woods. Every step brings you a new composition, looking up the hill or heading back down. I’ve been here three times before and it has never let me down.
I used to travel down to Valentia Island off the coast of Kerry as a kid. Being a nearly five hour drive, it’s as remote as it gets for a Dub. It’s only in recent years that I’ve travelled back a couple of times and taken some of my favourite photos.
There’s been a lot of tourism in recent years due to the Star Wars movie being filmed on Skellig Michael, but if you haven’t seen the rock before it really is breathtaking. I would be torn between the view of Skellig or Cromwell Point Lighthouse, which is incredible in its own right. The best part is that they’re all within a ten-minute drive or a short cycle.
Keem Beach in Co Mayo has a mountain on either side. So whatever the weather you get a completely different scene. You never really get the sunset there but it doesn’t matter, the skies you see could captivate anyone. You could quite simply be anywhere in the world with its turquoise blue sea.
One of the last times I was there, a young man told me he had just proposed to his girlfriend and asked me to take a quick snap on his phone. It felt so good to take a photo of such a joyous event. I tried to see the composition, as we usually do, but I knew that once I handed the phone over I would never see the couple or the photo again. Sometimes the event is way more important than the photo and Keem is that kind of a special place.
One of the spots I like is called Maghery in Co. Donegal. Along the coast there’s a little tower and a sea arch. It’s so unusual. It’s maybe a little fifteen minute drive from where I’m living and it’s one of my go-to places for a sunset photo.
You can’t see it from the road and it’s not signposted. You have to climb over a fence and walk through a field. The farmer doesn’t usually have animals in it, though when he does he gets a bit grumpy about it! But it’s a lovely spot, one of my personal favourites.
Ticknock is located in the Dublin Mountains, only a half hour from the center of Dublin. The mountain is full of forest walks, so it’s easy to find beautiful places to take pictures.
Every single season offers me a wide range of opportunities to play with my camera.
In winter you can find the mountains covered in snow or get some beautiful sunrises in summer. It also has one of the most spectacular views of Dublin City. On a clear day you can even see Howth. One of my pictures taken on Ticknock was featured on the main page of Instagram, which made me proud to share a piece of this beautiful country with the world.
Naming my favourite shooting destination is a real challenge, as I’ve been around Ireland for 15 years. Every time I re-visit a location, I feel like I re-discover it, seeing it in a new light with a new feeling.
But if I had to name one that always amazes me, it would be Carrantoouhil, Ireland’s highest mountain. It’s distinct to the others because as you climb the mountain, it builds your expectation of what it will be like. My favourite time to shoot Carrantoouhil is at sunrise. I did it twice and the second time I slept in the tent waiting for the first light. Waking up to the splendour of the sight was unforgettable!
I love to go along the north coast of Northern Ireland around Co Antrim. It’s not massively off the beaten track, but there’s numerous things along the way that you wouldn’t know were there like some massive sea arches.
The best thing is going on a quiet day and getting Benone beach to yourself. Driving along a beach with not a soul in sight is so refreshing. Also the views from Mussenden temple are just incredible. No matter what the weather, you’ll come away with some incredible photos.
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