Welcome to John Eagle's Lighthouse News Page
Stena Nordica passing North Bull lighthouse on the East Coast tour
Matted and signed prints of Hook Head lighthouse now available click here
Hand made prints of this and other Hook Head shots now available from 8x6 to 40x30 inch prints
West Pier lighthouse at Dún Laoghaire
Took some new pictures of the Old Head of Kinsale click here to see them
Spitbank near Cobh in Cork Harbour
The new Mizen Bridge is the overall winner of this year's Irish Concrete Society Awards. Above cutting is from the Irish IndependentMay 9th and as you can see I took the picture
The 2013 East Coast Irish Lighthouse spent a wonderful couple of hours at the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre which had a display of RNLI exhibits on show. This visit was a highlight of the tour that everyone much enjoyed. In the above picture l-r are Leo Coy Secretary of Rosslare Harbour Maritime Enthusiasts, John Boyce the Chairman and Ray Wickham ex lighthouse keeper who made the model of the Dunbrody below and presented it to me as a gift. I was thrilled to receive it, not expecting the surprise at all. Thank you all very much
Members of the East Coast Irish Lighthouse Tour beside Youghal lighthouse: l-r Keith Morton, Ross Griffith, Judy Weeks, John Eagle, Pamela Griffith and Hendrik Schilpzand
Hook Head lighthouse in a storm. More views click here
Dunmore East pier and lighthouse, with Hook Head lighthouse in the distance
 |
| Youghal lighthouse at dawn. Prints available click here |
 |
 |
| Spend two nights at Galley Head lighthouse with me and cruise round the Fastnet lighthouse at the end of June. I have the lighthouse booked for the nights of 28 and 29th of June, going to the Fastnet on the 29th. This offer is open to 4 people only at a cost of 200 euros per person. If you would like to do this then please Contact me |
Gathering of keepers at The Hook Lighthouse, September 13-15. This article above appeared in the Irish Examiner April 8th
Roancarrig lighthouse in Bantry Bay showing the new stainless steel tower, click here to find out the details of the new lighthouse
!st print nearly sold out, new printing coming soon with corrections and inclusion of new light details of Roancarrig and the Bull.
The book was first published in Spring 2010, so it has taken just 3 years to sell out. That makes me feel very proud. I wish to thank all of you who have bought my book
Click here to buy
Just heard that Cromwell Point is opening up to the public at Easter, so we will be going there on the June lighthouse tour
New postcard 15C is now available, replacing 15B which has now sold out
I had a 40x30 inch print of this shot of Ardnakinna done recently and was amazed by the drtail see below
I didn't realise there were so many seagulls in the picture, here's a couple, but there's many more all over the shot
Gerald Butler, the author of the above book will be giving us a slide show when we stay at Galley Head on the Southern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour
People often ask me which is my favourite picture of the Fastnet. This one is right up there among my favourites. Looks like the whole rock is being wrenched from the ocean. To see the image bigger please click here
Pictures taken during the Northern Lighthouse Tour are now available click here
The East Coast Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour starts May 5th in Skerries and runs until May 11th in Cobh. A 5 day gem of a tour that packs quite a punch as a lot will be seen. We will be in Dún Laoghaire, (above) where Irish Lights have their HQ, and also the Maritime Museum is there, we will visit the Baily lighthouse for a tour, go on a boat trip to the Tuskar, go on a tour inside the Hook Head lighouse which is the oldest working lighthouse in the World and we alsio see where the Titanic made her last port of call. So this is a tour not to be missed, please click here for more details
I just want to wish all my lighthouse friends a very Happy Peaceful Christmas and lighthousing New Year. Hopefully meet up with some of you again on one of my 3 lighthouse tours in 2013 The above picture is Arranmore, taken during the Northern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour 2012
Gerald Butler signing a copy of his book 'The Lightkeeper' for Claire O'Callaghan from Clonakilty who is home from England where she lives in York. Gerald, the Attendant at Galley Head lighthouse was launching his book of his memoirs in the Irish Lighthouse service at the Dunmore House Hotel near Clonakilty. The picture of the Fastnet on the back cover of the book was taken by me!
I have produced this resin model of the Fastnet lighthouse, going on sale as from today, each hand painted by me so no two will be exactly the same. It stands 3 inches high and 5 inches in length, 75g in weight. Click here to find out more
I have some images of Aussie lighthouses on my site, click here I have begun with Cape Wickham the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere
I have brought my Blog page back to life.
Hi all, I am back from my holidays in Australia and that means my books are now available again from me. If you had gone to order my books in the last couple of months you would have been taken to the Collins Press website who were looking after my sales for me. Many thanks to them. So I am back open for business and if you would like a copy of my books please click here
Hornby lighthouse at the entrance to Sydney Harbour
Please note I have been forced to change the start date of the August tour from 17th to the 16th of August
|
| Come on tour with me in 2013, click here to see details of the tours |
 |
 |
| The Eddystone |
Watchet |
Towards the end of September 2012 I flew over to England to give a slide show of my lighthouse photography to the ALK (Association of Lighthouse Keepers) at Devonport in Devon. It was the occasion of their AGM and I was the guest speaker, quite how I got so lucky to do this is beyond me. Anyway while I was a bit nervous of doing the slide show, it went well, in front of some 50 very knowledgeable people on lighthouses. I have always been the first to admit that I am first and foremost a lighthouse photographer, I get my enjoyment from taking pictures of them more than all the technical stuff, so I was a little wary. However my worries were soon swept away by the very nice audience. While I was in England, my first visit there for 21 years, I visited several lighthouses including Eddystone, Start Point, Watchet, Portland Bill and Plymouth Hoe.
If you would like to view a selection of my English lighthouse pictures please click here
|
 |
 |
| I have added some new pictures of St.Johns Donegal (left) and Altacarry (Rathlin East) Also one of Rathlin West |
 |
 |
| I have added some new views of Arranmore lighthouse, click here to see them |
 |
 |
| Changes at The Baily, left picture shows how it was in 2011 when the Northern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour visited there, and right as it was when the Northern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour visited there in 2012. Note the metal grill floor |
I have ceased using my Irish Lighthouses Facebook wall, as I feel it is a total waste of time. Instead I have been writing a lighthouse blog
I have been forced to increase the prices of my lighthouses tours. The Northern Irish Extreme tour in August 2013 goes up by 100 euros to €1095 and the Southern Irish Extreme goes up to €1295 I still feel they are very good value for money as all transport (bus and boat trips) and places to stay are included in the price and I am on hand for help and advice for the duration of both tours
A nice blog written by Peter Goulding about my book click here
Northern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour 2013 announced, click here
Came across this during a clean up of my studio, a bookmark given out by Irish Lights at the Mizen Head Visitor's Centre when they celebrated 100 years of the Fastnet lighthouse there in 2004
The ILV Granuaile heading out into Bantry Bay with the Hebridean Princess coming into Berehaven. This and other pictures of vessels in Irish Waters can now be seen enlarged and avalable as prints by clicking here Please note, this particular image is a 35mm slide and for best results needs to be hand printed There is also a side view of the Granuaile on the website which is a 6x7 slide, and that too would be best hand print
This is the brochure for Loop Head lighthouse which is open to the public for guided tours May to September from 10am to 5.30pm. I conduct photographic workshops here, lots to take pictures of, wild and stormy and also occasionally tranquil. We stay in the cosy Keeper's Cottage. We also go to the south coast lighthouse of Galley Head and stay at the Keeper's Cottage there. It's all a lot of fun, and if you would like to be part of this then please contact me
August 4th Bantry Bay boat trip is cancelled due to storms, new date set for August 10th and also August 18th If you are interested then please contact me
You can now have my photographs on mugs, key fobs, book marks, as well as prints click here
Would you like to view a slide show of my Irish lighthouse pictures? Then click here sit back and enjoy
|
| View pictures taken on the 2012 Southern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour |
We recently had the opportunity to be a part of the John Eagle Extreme LH Tour. We are lighthouse enthusiasts that have seen well over 275 LH's around the world and have taken many trips to seem them. This tour certainly ranks amongst the best we have ever done. Thank you John for a great tour. Many of the lights could only be seen from a boat, which was a fun part of the tour. The journey out to see the Fastnet LH was the best ever and I got some of the best LH pictures I have ever taken, look for them in Lighthouse Digest Magazine! Also, we loved the two night stay in the actual keepers quarters at Galley Head LH. Skellig Michael LH was fantastic, Tommy the tour driver was a riot, great B & B's, unbelievable Full Irish Breakfasts, nice pub stops, and on and on! We would certainly do it again.
Randy and Barb Hemstad, Minnesota, USA
There is a documentary series Cork Lighthouses and Foghorns will be broadcast on Life FM starting on Thursday July 26th at 3.30pm and repeated on Saturdays at 5.30pm. It will run for 9 weeks.
Each programme will be available to hear on podcast on lifefm.ie for one week after each part is broadcast.
New photographs of the Fastnet click here
Just got this canvas print of Slyne Head made, A2 size, one of my all time favourite shots taken back in 1999
My 2012 Brochure is now ready to download, click here
Inisheer, the first lighthouse we see on the Southern Tour. Reservations are now open for the 2013 tour. Only 8 places available due to the number of beds available at Galley Head Keeper's Cottage and also it is great to have a small number of people. If you would like to be one of the 8 then click here please
Galley Head
We spent two nights at |Galley Head Keeper's Cottages
Hook Head
We visited Hook Head on our second last day, going for a tour of the lighthouse
Outside Youghal lighthouse
l-r Maggie, Anna Lena, John, Barb, Randy, Richard, Janet, John Eagle and in the front Tommy Hartnett the bus driver
Members of the 2012 Extreme Irish Southern lighthouse tour leaving the Fastnet Rock lighthouse June 29th. Maggie, Barb, Randy, Richard, Anna Lena, Janet, John, it was fabulous spending a week with you, I hope we all meet up again sometime. I loved the craic on the bus
2 places have come available on my Northern Lighthouse Tour starting August 20th, going first to Galway then up the west coast through Galway to Blacksod for two nights (where there are 4 lighthouses all within easy driving distance) then its up to Sligo, Donegal, along the top of Ireland and down to Dublin, spending 3 nights at Blackhead lighthouse on the way. If a place on this tour, (it would suit a couple) is something you would like to do then please contact me This was advertised as an 8 day tour, but is in fact a nine day tour
Ordering prints of my work just became a whole lot easier, click here to see
Crookhaven
buy a print
Buy a print
---
|
| Some stamps of German lighthouses sent to me by Klaus Kern when he mailed me Leuchtfeuer |
 |
 |
| A couple of old postcards very kindly supplied to me by a friend |
 |
 |
| A review of my book and lighthouse tours has appeared in the great German lighthouse magazine Leuchtfeuer. My thanks to Klaus Kern for this. You can click on the article to make it bigger for reading if you so wish |
The cover of Beam volume 40, The Journal of the Irish Lighthouse Service 2011-2012
The cover photograph is Crookhaven taken by friend Kim Fahlen who was on the Southern Irish Lighthouse Tour 2011, well done Kim, great photograph
Please click on the above to hear me being interviewed on the radio
Today date can be turned upside down and will read the same. The same will happen on August 8th so be ready for it!!
Went through the Bull Rock tunnel May 5th 2012 on the Bantry Bay Lighthouse Tour, this time I did a video of us going through. First time I went from west to east, this time east to west so I guess I have been to the other world and come back to live the tail. Please click on the picture of the tunnel below to watch my video
To watch the video please click on the above picture
Visiting the Mizen
Featured on the front page of The County March 13th 2012 regarding my tours of Irish lighthouses
I was interviewed by Maria Burke of Life FM on February 29th, to hear it please click here
Announcing a new tour. Bantry Bay Lighthouse Tour. May and June Bank Holidays. 3-4 hour boat trips round the lighthouses of Bantry Bay, including Bull Rock, Fastnet, Calf, and Roancarrig. For details please click here
The light at Roancarrig has now been switched over to the new l.e.d. one ending 170 years of the old original lantern Feb 28th 2012
I made a video about my lighthouse photography, talking about my books and postcards. If you would like to view this please click here
Southern Irish Extreme Lighthouse Tour 2012
8 day tour June 24th to July 2nd
Meet the puffins at Skellig Michael on the Southern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour in June
picture courtesy of Sue Gilkey
Last Summer Mairéad Meade came to visit me to do a radio interview for a programme she has now released called 'Life in a Lighthouse' in association with UCC 98.3FM) I talk my books and why I take pictures of Irish lighthouses. She also visits The Mizen and talks to other people involved in Irish lighthouses. You can now listen to this programme click here
http://www.maireadmeade.com/ documentary.html
The Northern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour has 2 vacancies
Lamp Winter 2011/12 is out and carries a great picture of the Fastnet lighthouse which we will visit in June 2012 as part of the Southern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour. The cover picture was taken by Nancy Ohlson who was on this year's tour. Inside you can read a great article by Kimberley Fahlen on the tour along the south coast of Ireland which we undertook in August of this year
I have increased the number of nights we stay at Blackhead lighthouse to 3, which will be lots of fun as we go to sleep with the big lantern light flashing through the windows. If you would like the thrill of spending time at this wonderful lighthouse then please click here
 |
 |
| Above left show the PDG Squirrel helicopter Captain Pete Hodges used to fly parts of the new tower out to Roancarrig as seen right |
This is the future light at Roancarrig. The old tower will be shut permanently, and this placed outside it. The middle piece in the centre is the base, with the balcony piece going on top with the section on the extreme left being to the uppermost section with presumably the light on top. It will be powered by solar panels, and inspected once every 18 months or so. This cuts down visiting costs dramatically, and with the helicopter costing 20 euros a minute to run you can see why Irish Lights are doing it. Other lighthouses will follow, like the Bull and Tearaght |
 |
| Mizen Bridge wins Engineers Ireland Excellence Award. This mounted and signed print is available from me click here |
| September/October 2011 |
| I have been straying from home, venturing out across the big blue ocean to America |
 |
| visiting lighthouses like Chatham (above). I also went to Nubble and Plum Island lighthouses. I was in America because I had been invited to do an exhibition (below is the invite) of my oil paintings at the Eventide Gallery in Essex, Massachusetts. Here I did a slide show of my lighthouse photography and signed copies of my Collins Press book 'Ireland's Lighthouses ~ A Photo Essay' While I was over in the States I visited New York, something I have longed to do, but never found the courage or time, but with the help of my friends I got there and took some snaps |
 |
| August |
 |
The 2011 Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour group at Josephine Geraghty's at Blacksod, Co. Mayo. 'We loved staying with you Josephine' l-r: Gary, John Eagle, Laura Chewning, Nancy Ohlson, ?, Josephine, Lynda, Judy Weeks and Tommy Hartnett
I have put up a selection of the pictures I took during
the Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour 2011, to view please click here |
 |
| The Irish Coastguard helicopter circling Blackrock, Sligo. Still don't know why it was there, but it made for a great picture |
 |
| Took the above picture whilst staying at Blackhead lighthouse in Co. Antrim during the Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour 2011. We were there for a couple of nights. The tour was split into two weeks. With me on the first week, a tour of lighthouses of Counties Clare, Kerry and Cork was Keith Morton (Hon Secretary of the ALK) Gerry Douglas Sherwood (President of the Alk) and other members, Peter Claus and Kirsten Hemplemann, Bette Keeping, Judy Weeks and Kim Fahlen. We also had the please of sisters Laura Chewning and Nancy Ohlson from the USA. The picture below shows them all out at the Fastnet Rock lighthouse at dawn. I am now putting together tours for 2012, one going along the South taking in the lighthouses of County Clare, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Wexford, and one going up the west coast across the top and back down the east coast. Please click here to find out more |
 |
| April 2011 |
 |
| I went over to Hook Head to take some new pictures |
 |
| Duncannon North has been in the papers recently, as it is up for sale, please click on the above photograph to view my other pictures of it |
My 2011 brochure has been released, you can download the pdf free of charge by clicking on it
|
 |
 |
 |
| Visited to the lighthouse at Maspalomas in Gran Canaria January 30th, the middle picture shows dawn over Africa |
January 2011 |
 |
Two of the pictures (June and July) in the Bord Gáis calendar were taken by me
As of January 11.1.11 fog horns in Ireland have been discontinued. Irish Lights say they are no longer required as most vessels at sea have GPS
I have started up a lighthouse dedicated wall on Facebook, to join just go there and search for Irish Lighthouses.
I am giving a tour of Cork and Kerry lighthouses starting August 15th at the Castle Hotel in Bunratty. I will give a slide show of my lighthouse photography, then the next day we start by going to Loop Head and then make our way round the coast and finishing up at the Fastnet. If you would like to join us then please click on the 'Lh Tour' tab above.
Some of you might notice www.JohnEaglePhotography.com is changing its appearance. It started awhile ago. I don't claim to be a wizard when it comes to web page designing but I like to keep my hand in and work away on the quiet when there is no photography to be doing. You can also click on the lighthouses in the header at the top and be taken directly to their own pages, ie Mizen, Fastnet, Skelligs and Inishtearaght. The other thing is my Indigo serer is full, so my site is cascading over onto other servers. It will take awhile to complete, so I hope you will bear with me while I am getting it all sorted out. Thank you for your patience
View pictures taken on the 2011 Southern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour
|
| October 2010 |
 |
| Got to fly out to Skellig Michael October 30th to get some much needed new shots. To see more please click here |
New lighthouse under construction on Dinish Island, Castletownbere
Roancarrig lighthouse. Please click here for more images
September
27A is now available again with the tower fully intact, it was sliced in half in the first printing, but my printer has kindly corrected their mistake. The card does not have lettering on the front, like the original above
August
The Irish Lighthouse Series complete set is now €39 + shipping click here
My collie Suzie didn't quite make it into my new book 'Ireland's Lighthouses A Photo Essay' she was there with me on the island when I took the shots, so here for all you pet lovers is herself, dangerously close to the cliffs!
She was tearing round all over the place, she likes to chase birds, butterflies and basically anything that moves. She is a bit like a sports car, she does nought to 70 in about 3 seconds. The Bugatti Veron has nothing on my doggy
--------
I have made a few changes to the Irish Lighthouse Series this Summer, getting shot of poorly printed cards and replacing them with new ones. The latest new addition is:
39B Straw Island which I did specifically for my loyal collectors who told me, quite rightly so, they could not see the lighthouse properly in 39A. I have also re-instated: |
60 Eagle Island as I feel it is a much better card to 60A. These postcards are now available to purchase, click here to do so
July
Thank all of you who were waiting for my new book
I sold out, a good complaint I suppose, but many of you I know were waiting and so thank you for your patience. I have fresh stocks in
I have just added pictures of Charles Fort in Kinsale which I took when I was there for the launch of my book 'Ireland's Lighthouses A Photo Essay'
From August I am replacing 60A with the above original of Eagle Island #60. I am not really sure why I ever brought out 60A (see below). I have stocks of it left for anyone who wants it, available in the Bargain Basement at 10c plus postage
My thanks to Tom MacSweeney the maritime correspondent, served for many years with RTÉ tv and radio, now retired. He officially launched my new book Ireland's Lighthouses - A Photo Essay in the Kinsale Bookshop in Kinsale July 15th.
l-r: Tom MacSweeney, Gillian Hennessy of Collins Press, John Eagle
picture: Denis Scannell, used courtesy of Irish Examiner
I very much enjoyed his speech and the launch, and the time I spent there. My thanks also to Kinsale Arts Week, Alannah Hopkin and The Collins Press for arranging the launch
My next new lighthouse postcard will be #39B Straw Island
Listen to me on RTE Radio 1 Seascapes (it is about 15 minutes into the programme)
As of July 1st all postcards off this site are only 40c + postage. I prefer payment with PayPal
Always striving to get my photographic work looking as good as possible I am now releasing new views of old numbers in the Irish Lighthouse Postcard Series. The new postcards I am really pleased with, arrived here today. Numbers 4A, 14A, 17B, 18A, 19A, 20A and 21A. Some of you might not have got the postcard #86A which I released in November of last year. All these postcards are available to buy on my website, click here Or if you wish to buy single postcards, click here
I have put up a new page to enable collectors to buy my postcards individually so if you are missing out on a few cards you can buy them from me. Individual postcards are now reduced to 40c each plus shipping click here
The Irish Times printed a picture of mine today, (June 14th) one I took of Blackrock Mayo, to go with an article on the 200 years of Irish Lights by Lorna Siggins
Click this link to read article by Lorna Siggins
May 2010
a stunning new paperback photo essay, entitled Ireland’s Lighthouses, which has just been published by maritime photographer, John Eagle, for Collins Press. Lorna Siggins, The Irish Times May 2010 Read other reviews click here
My first book 'An Eagle's View of Irish Lighthouses'. I have a limited stock of these books, all in unread mint condition and now out of print. It will not be reprinted. Each book is signed by me, the author and costs €45 plus postage. If you would like one then please click here |
April
Its here and waiting for you
My new book is now in stock. Please note, this book is much bigger to my first one and weighs a lot more, therefore the postage is more. Click here to order and I will post to you straight away. Please let me know if you would like me to sign it for you.
I still have stock of my first book
if you would like one
Here is your first glimpse of my new book. Just received an advance copy and I am really thrilled with the professional way The Collins Press have put my book together. Here are some sample pages so you can have a taste
Clare Island
Calf Rock
A special one for me, my white collie Quisha on the helicopter pad at Fanad
My new book is available to pre-order, list price is 19.99 but you can have it for 15.99 euros plus postage by clicking here I will sign and dedicate it for you if you wish.
Took a spin down to Clonakilty Model Village, great to walk round and see the models and railway. Below is a shot of their model of the Fastnet with trains passing by
Roancarrig Lighthouse in Bantry Bay features in the new
Neil Jordan movie 'Ondine' which was shot in the Summer of 2008 and Premiered in Castletownbere March 2010. The movie is about a mermaid, and stars Colin Farrell
February
Proposed Lighthouse Tour starting June 24th. Need 6 people to make up group. If you are interested in coming along please get in touch. Click the Contact Me tab above
January 2010
Here is the cover of my new book, to be published by the Collins Press in May of this year
December 2009
I have been working on the proofs for my new lighthouse book ‘Ireland’s Lighthouses – a photo essay by John Eagle’ for much of November. The way Collins Press of Cork have put my book together has got me very excited, their graphic designer is absolutely marvellous. My new book covers all the lighthouses of Ireland with lots of new pictures that I have taken over the ten year period since my first book came out in 1999. Hopefully the book will be on sale by May 2010. I am so looking forward to it. I shall have some to sell, but they should be available in all good bookshops everywhere. Book sellers wanting to stock my book will need to get in touch with The Collins Press http://www.collinspress.ie/
Clare Island postcard 86A
Lighthouse Postcard Sets now have 86A in them see below
I made a 20x16 inch canvas print of this shot and was so impressed by the result I have decided to make a postcard from it as well. # 86A is now available replacing #86 which shows the cliffs but not much of the actual lighthouse
Needing a new picture for my forthcoming book to be published by Collins Press of Cork I went up to Clare Island to take some new shots. I spent a night on the island with Mary and John Moran at their excellant B&B Seabreeze and was taken up to the lighthouse at dawn by Mary's brother Christy. To see more pix please click here |
August 2009 |
Southern Extreme Irish Lighthouse Tour 2009
Leaving the Fastnet are from left: Dave and Phyllis Idell, Mary Borkowski, Tommy Hartnett (our bus driver), Tom Chisholm, Darlene Chisholm and Phil Borkowski
My Lighthouse Tour got off to a flying start in Bunratty on July 27th where I performed a slide show of my lighthouse photography to 40 members of the US Lighthouse Society at the Bunratty Castle Hotel. Next day 6 of the members came with me on a tour of the Cork and Kerry lighthouses starting with Beeves Rock and Tarbert on the
Shannon, then Little Samphire Island in Tralee Bay.
The group at Little Samphire Island
left to right: Mary and Phil Borkowski, Phyllis and Dave Idell, Darlene and Tom Chisolm
Later that day we saw Cromwell Point on Valentia Island and spent the night in Cahirciveen.
July 29th saw us visit the Skellig Experience Museum in Port Magee, followed by a boat trip out to the rock.
Photographing Skellig Michael lighthouses old and new
The pilot of the boat took us so we could photograph both the old and present lighthouses of Skellig Michael. The sea was rolling but we didn't mind as we all got great shots.
Dave and Phyllis Idell making their way up Skellig Michael
Afterwards we went on the rock and climbed the steps to the beehive monastery. Later we drove to Eyeries. July 30 we spent on the Beara Peninsula.
Visiting the Bull Rock
We went for an exciting speed boat trip from Castletownbere to the Bull Rock, taking in the Calf Rock on the way,
The Calf Rock
also Ardnakinna and Roancarrig.
Photographing Roancarrig in Bantry Bay
July 31 we visited the Mizen Head Visitor's Centre, with a walk
across the famous suspension bridge.
The Fastnet
We spent the night at The Heron's Cove in Goleen and got up at the crack of dawn August 1st for a boat trip out to the Fastnet where waves were crashing over the rocks and with the dawn light it was a spectacle that will live in our minds for a long time to come.
The Heron's Cove where we stayed and had a fabulous meal
If you would like to come on an Irish Lighthouse tour with me please Click Here
July 2009
I have just signed a new publishing contract with Collins Press of Cork to write a new book on Irish Lighthouses. The book will be published in the Spring 2010
Canvas prints, no need for a frame, just hang 'em on the wall
Special Offer
A2 canvas print (24x16 inches) €100 plus postage
A3 canvas print (16x12) €80 plus postage
Available on any picture on my website. No need for a frame, just hang it on the wall. Makes for an affordable present for that special occasion that will be greatly appreciated. Just tell me which picture of mine you would like made into a canvas print
Specially signed Irish lighthouse postcards now available, click here for more details
June 2009
Took this shot of Inishtearaght June 3rd with my Canon EOS 5D mk2. I have longed to do this because my 30A shot of Inishtearaght was cut off on the right side see below which I took 1996. I love this Blasket Isle location. My thanks to The Commissioners of Irish Lights and Capt. Peter Hodges. Please click here for more pictures
I also re-shot Cromwell Point, see below
More pictures of Cromwell Point click here
April 2009
The Irish Lights tender Granuaile visiting Berehaven. She is seen here moored between Bere Island and Dinish Island
I will be releasing two new lighthouse postcards towards the end of this month, 2F and 3C. This is with the very kind assistance of Sue Hill at The Herons Cove in Goleen and will have the Mizen sponsorship on them. To see both click here 2 F is below
Flew down to the Fastnet lighthouse on the 2nd to get myself some fresh pictures of this fabulous lighthouse. Also took in Crookhaven, Mizen, Sheeps Head and Ardnakinna.
My thanks to The Commissioners of Irish Lights for letting me go there and to Capt. Colm Martyn for flying me in the new Irish Helicopters Eurocopter 135
Fastnet Lighthouse
Crookhaven
Mizen Bridge
Sheeps Head
Ardnakinna
March 2009
Got my first flight in the new Irish Lights helicopter, the Eurocopter 135, on Friday 13th (Lucky for some).
Here seen taking off for a flight to Skellig Michael. A stunningly beautiful machine both inside and out. It came into service in December 2008 and replaces the Bolkow from which I did so many of my aerial shots. On this occasion I flew up the bay to Roancarrig, one of the pictures can be seen below. My thanks to Peter Hodges for flying me.
This and all shots seen here were taken thru the window of the helicopter. Canon EOS 5D mk2 with EF 28m. I had the 24-105L with me, but it was so much easier to use the 28m inside the confines of the helicopter. Being a shorter lens means there is less likelihood of camera shake as well.
Just to the north of Roancarrig lighthouse is this small island famous for its wreck. Weather beaten by constant storms there is not much left of the wreck.
I took the above shot of Castletownbere as we came back to land at the helicopter pad. A dull enough day, got much worse than this after we landed.
Book
If you wish to order a copy of my book from me please let me know if you would like me to sign and dedicate it to someone. Click here to order
Postcards
It never ceases to surprise me how many people are interested in my Irish Lighthouse Series postcards. I am really glad, because they have taken up a considerable part of my life and are something I am truly proud of. Thank you for making me so happy
January 2009
Got a phone call from a production team making a programme about storms at lighthouses for the Discovery Channel. They wanted to ask which lighthouse I would recommend on the Irish coast that would look good during a storm. It was a toss up between Roancarrig and Cromwell Point on Valentia Island. I looked up the weather forcast for the weekend and noted there was a big storm on the way, so I decided to head over to Cromwell Point for some wave action. However leaving Killarney on the Cahirciveen Road soon proved far too dangerous for the likes of me. Branches were being blown down, one narrowly missed my car, so half-way to Killorglin I reluctantly turned the car round and headed back home. I crossed over the Beara Peninsula on the Caha Pass tunnel road and drove down the southern shore of the peninsula. My reward was the picture below of Roancarrig getting a pounding in Bantry Bay. Looks a bit like a mighty submarine about to submerge!
Roancarrig
taken with Canon EOS 5D mk2 + EF 200 2.8
|
| © John Eagle Photography |
|
