Friday, December 31, 2010

School's Still Out


Always plenty of activity on the seafront at Bray, Co Wicklow, especially during the extended Christmas holiday, as these girls enjoy a stroll along the beach with the backdrop of a towering and misty Bray Head.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

On The Beach


Back on familiar ground after the Christmas break in Dublin, here is the small beach at Blainroe Golf Club. It goes without saying that access is somewhat restricted!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Big Thaw


After the big freeze, we now have the big thaw so goodbye for now to all the misery you see above as we attempt to deal with burst water mains and the resulting water rationing!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

Ice Blue


An ice blue setting on a train trip from Wicklow into Dublin for Christmas holidays.  This is a camera phone view of Dublin Bay at Sandymount.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Par For The Course


We've just experienced the worst winter weather since records began and and we really can't cope.  We rarely have snow in these parts never mind the deluge we've had over these past weeks together with Siberian low temperatures .  All over east Leinster major roads are still treacherous to negotiate and minor roads are almost impassable. So, maybe, in the future, we have to learn some things from our eastern European neighbours who would regard this kind of weather as par for the course.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

A Well Earned Rest





This is Rudolph, Dancer and Prancer enjoying a well earned rest in their Christmas stable at the Powerscourt Estate after a long night working with Santa delivering Christmas gifts.  Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Last Minute




Passing the delightful gate lodge into the Powerscourt Estate near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, it's time for some last minute Christmas shopping at the Garden Pavilion and maybe a hot toddy in the adjoining Ritz-Carlton.







Thursday, December 23, 2010

Last Orders







Yesterday was the last day to visit Santa's Magical Kindom at Wicklow's Historic Gaol in Wicklow Town.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A Frozen Harp







Today we're at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Powerscourt, near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow and it's icy, very icy, even the harp sculpture out front is frozen.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

On Frozen Pond


Above, the view from the Arklow Bay Hotel, Arklow, Co Wicklow on the frozen lake of the Arklow Nature Reserve.  Well, almost frozen, looking back towards the hotel below, these birds still occupy a little corner.

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Uke-Guitar Man


Back at the World's Best Bar - Harbour Bar, Bray, Co Wicklow - we are entertained by Will Harrison, looking like Jacques Brel and singing and playing his odd ukelelee-guitar - tuned like a guitar, sounds like a ukelelee.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

World's Best Bar


The Lonely Planet Guide recently named The Harbour Bar, Bray, Co Wicklow as the world's best bar in the "Off The Beaten Track" category and we're glad to feature it again here because it's a great favourite of ours too!





An old world bar with nautical references, it has three distinct parts; the old main bar which has a traditional look and often has traditional music nights, the back lounge, a great location for indie bands and the conservatory area. There is also a beer garden located outside for smokers.




Saturday, December 18, 2010

Blind Yackety







This is Blind Yackety, the multi-instrumental, multi-vocal and very unusual band playing at the much loved Harbour Bar, Bray, Co Wicklow last weekend.













Friday, December 17, 2010

If Only


Looking out from the beach at Bray, Co Wicklow last weekend you could be forgiven for thinking this is back in that glorious last summer.  But no, its around 2 celcius at the moment, i.e., fairly cold for us natives, and, according to the weather experts, we've more freezing weather approaching from the Arctic!  So, if only!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Winter Welcome


This particular house front in Bray, Co Wicklow is always attractive particularly now at Christmas time.


Compare this to their Halloween decoration which I haven't previously published:

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Textboarding


This is textboarding, the new sport as practised on the promenade in Bray, Co Wicklow - requires only basic concentration.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Branching Out


Today we see The Happy Pear, Natural Food Market, Greystones, Co Wicklow branching out for the season to dispense Christmas trees to a discerning populace.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Brrrravery


Braving the elements on South Beach, Greystones, Co Wicklow yesterday morning - it looks nice and sunny, but it was so cold - it must be the layers!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Stone Bridge


View of the Stone Bridge across the River Leitrim in Wicklow Town on a wintry afternoon.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

All Quiet


All quiet in Wicklow Harbour looking across at the Packet Pier, the deserted North Pier beyond and the backdrop of the snowy hills.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Harbour Lights


A wintry nightime view of the working harbour at Wicklow Town.

'I saw the harbor lights
They only told me, we were parting
Those same old harbor lights
That once brought you to me' 
Jimmy Kennedy and Hugh Williams, 1937.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Camouflage


Female mallards nicely camouflaged in a bed of seaweed in the River Leitrim, at Wicklow Town.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Soft Landing


It's a bit frenzied here when food is thrown to the birds at the lakeside Nature Reserve, North Beach, Arklow, Co Wicklow and this gull needs all the help he can get as he avails of a soft landing on the duck's back!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Swanning About


Always a favoured spot for bird lovers, the lakeside Nature Reserve in Arklow, Co Wicklow is home to a variety of wildlife including swans and we can never resist a few shots.  They dine off of aquatic vegetation, insects, tiny fish, tadpoles and of course whatever they're fed by visitors here at the at the lakeside.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Come Fly With Me


Well, the last week has been pretty difficult in terms of getting around to bring you the usual selection of pictures from all corners of the county - I don't have a 4 wheel drive so I can't venture into the Wicklow Mountains where I know the winter scenes are surely spectacular so, it's back to the old reliable haunts for  today's feature.  Today, we're next to the Parnell Bridge on the River Leitrim, in Wicklow Town and yes, it's more gulls

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Al-Fresco


It would have been nice to stroll around Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co Wicklow after all the snow but they're not open in the winter, so this photo was shot through the window of their Avoca Garden Café which is open all year round although I'm not sure I'd take up their offer of al-fresco dining just at the moment!

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