Ireland Sketchbook
In 1991 I series of paintings in Ireland in a similar style to my current Newport Blog. I can't remember the exact order I painted them in, but the route I followed in my battered old Bedford camper van went roughly from the South East corner up to the North East corner, so thats how I have arranged them on this page. All the pictures were done from life, en plein air. Or occasionally looking through the windscreen of the van if it was raining.
Looking towards mizzen Head accross Dunlough Bay.
One of the most south easterly points of Ireland.
The Tall Ships Race, Cobh Harbour.
Cobh, formerly Queenstown, is the harbour for the city of Cork. This picture was done from the grounds of the cathedral which sits halfway up the hillside above the port. Its full of grand old Georgian buildings. The very tall masts in the middle of the picture are the 'Sedov' apparently the tallest sail ship in the world at the time. In its heyday Cobh was full of the largest ocean going sailing ships, so it was good to have a chance to draw some there from life. The smaller brigantine rigged vessel which is under sail is the Asgard II, the Irish national sail training vessel, which dramaticly sank a few years later in 2008. It appears twice in this picture because it wasn't moving too fast, so I drew it again when it got nearer.
The 'Pride of Galway' in Cork Harbour.
Unfortunately she sailed off before I could add colour paint.
The Schooner 'Sir Winston Churchill' in Cork harbour.
The cloud colour is accurate. There are a few drops of rain in the paint, showing I finished just in time.
Back in Cobh, the sun setting behind the masts of the 'Sedov'
Bantry Bay from the R572 near Derreenacarrw
Glanmore Lake, looking towards Kenmare River from Healy Pass
The summit of Healy Pass looking east, on a damp evening in July.
Ballinskelligs Bay from the Coomakesta Pass
Painted this one quickly, bit of a storm blowing in. Time to get back in the van.
The Lakes of Killarney, from the viewpoint known as 'Ladies' View'
Should have been called 'Coachloads view', this place was periodicaly swamped by coachloads of people who arrived, looked round a bit , had an ice-cream, and drove off again.
The Wreck of The MV Ranga, Dunmore Head, Dingle Peninsula.
A big Spanish trawler came to grief and broke up here a few years earlier, the rusty red wreck still looked dramatic against the cruel grey rocks. The Blaskets are in the distance.
Carrigafoyle Castle
At the top of Kerry, near the Mouth of the Shannon the landscape became much more flat.
Lough Derg, near Brian Boru's Fort, looking North
I had intended to follow the west coast into County Clare, but after a breakdown in Limerick (motor, not emotional!) I headed up the Shannon Valley towards Ulster, and more readily available spare parts for my van.
Lough Derg from the quay at Portumna.
Lough Arrow, looking East
These inland freshwater lakes had a much more serene feel than the rocky shores I had explored in Kerry.
Lough Gill, looking towards Slishwood.
The Crom Estate, upper Lough Erne.
Fairy Class Dinghies on Lough Erne
it started raining heavily before I finished, plenty of raindrops evident in the paint!
The fairy class boats are specific to Lough Erne, and have an interesting history.
Knockinny Quay, upper Lough Erne.
I was about to set up camp next to the 'main' road, but after helping him change a flat tyre, a friendly local advised me to head down a small lane to a place near some obscure small quays.
The sunset was too impressive to ignore, so I quickly tried to paint it . I think was in the same place as the last painting.
Teelin Harbour, Donegal
This was a hazey hot day in late summer, hence the yellowey tinge. Probably not typical conditions.
Cloghglass Bay, Donegal.
Dundrum Castle
After making my way up to County Donegal, I headed east through Ulster.
A Castle, somewhere in Ulster.
I remember painting this, but no idea where it was. Any help remembering appreciated!
Whitehead regatta.
I parked my van in a friend's garden here for a while.
Blackhead Lighthouse.
Waterfall at Glenloe, County Antrim.
Glenariff looking east near the A43
Torr head
Another sketch of Torr Head
I'm ending with this because Torr Head is Ireland's nearest point to Scotland in the north east, with the Mull of Kintyre very clear in this view. And the next thing I did was to take the ferry at Larne and continue painting on the west coast of Scotland,- which can be seen on the next page.