Blessington, Ireland – January 2020
A legendary Boeing Stearman flying near Weston Airport, Dublin on its way to the Bray Air Display
A couple of surreal days – snow in Ireland…. a lot of snow, in fact! So much so that the population is ordered to stay indoors. The snow storm is battering my home for a solid two days now – getting to a level where I wonder: should I be worried?
Well, today, I ignored the warnings and went out for a walk with the cam in the hand exploring my local area…. running right into the midst of the storm! There were moments where you couldn’t see what was in front of view.
The white powder battering anything that’s in the way, be it houses, trees or human faces!
The Grand canal is frozen. The poor swan, lonely and waiting for better times, can only sit patiently on the ice in the hope of someone throwing him some bread. Hopefully – so the meteorologists say – the worst is over after the weekend.
After passing the site multiple times in recent weeks (and didn’t find it instantly when actively looking for it either), today there was no stopping getting to the top of the Hill of Allen!
To find the site, even more so to find parking, is an adventure in itself. Don’t expect signs, and don’t expect the small car park that exists in theory to be open either – the site is officially not open for public any more as quarrying takes place at the other side of the hill.
It it still possible to go up, though. A small, muddy way leads all the way to the hill. A shame the county council has effectively abandoned this site of historical importance as it could be a real gem – if protected and cared for.
At the top of the tower has been a glass canopy erected a few years ago. Unfortunately this one has been smashed and glass is scattered as wide as the eye can see.
If you squeeze through the open frames you’ll be rewarded with the most magnificent view over county Kildare, the Curragh all the way up to the Wicklow Mountains in the distance, nonetheless. It’s well worth the effort.
Would you believe it? Six years and counting…. that’s how long I reside in Ireland now. Mostly in Dublin, of course. And as you would have noticed following this blog: I do love sport. Seen pretty much all you can see here. The obvious and the obscure ones. But motor sport? I didn’t have a clue!
I mean, I had no idea it even remotely exists in this country the way it actually does. There is, however, just outside of the capital, this massive race track, the Mondello Park – it’s of course the green island’s only international circuit.
Well, for a couple months now I live in Naas, county Kildare, outside of the stinky capital. And as it happens Mondello Park is a leisurely 20min car ride off the home door.
Last Sunday was the right time to visit the place. The Irish Rallycross Championship took place this day. Cars in all shapes and forms thundered down the track in countless small lap races. Close to the action with fantastic viewing of the track I had to get out the cam and shoot the exciting scenes unfloding right in front of my eyes:
All photos taken with the Nikon D7100 and the G2 Tamron 70-200mm.
Been a tremendous day out there at Mondello Park. Viewing is great from across the track. You get as close to the action as safety regulations can allow. Can highly recommend a visit. I for one will be back, that is for sure.
Shoot It Now 