Coastal Scenes of County Sligo - Descriptive List of Locations


Coastal Scenes has been a natural theme for me to put together as I feel a close affinity with the sea. It gives me a sense of excitement with it's sights and sounds and fresh Atlantic air. All of the pictures in this series were taken in places that can be seen when looking down over Sligo Bay from the high viewpoints of images L7 and L8 in the Sligo Landscapes album.


C1 Cairns Harbour - North Sligo


This quiet bay is just off the N15 near Grange in North Sligo. It is a working fishing harbour and the boats fish mainly for lobster. The sand barrier in the middle distance gives the bay shelter from the Atlantic storms and the cliffs of Slieve League can be seen in the background overlooking Donegal Bay. It was a lovely September evening at the time of the year when the chill is starting to enter the air.


C2 Ballysadare from Galleyhouse Strand


Galleyhouse Strand near Ballysadare village, about 4 miles from Sligo town. The foot of Knocknarea mountain can be see at the left of the picture and the view is looking inland towards Ballysadare village. Strandhill village is about one mile to the left of where the picture was taken. This is also a working fishing harbour.


C3 Knocknarea from Galleyhouse Strand


Taken from Galleyhouse Strand, this view of Knocknarea was taken from the same spot as the previous picture. It is good to visit a place often and become familiar with it. It provides a challenge and has the grounding effect that is important to creativity.


C4 View West from Lisadell


When the tide is out at Lissadell there are opportunities for fantastic skyscapes. Lissadell is wide open and it is popular with wind surfers and people who like to fly kites. The stream in the foreground babbles out from under an old cobblestone bridge to the right of the scene and the distant landscape features Knocknalongy Mountain and the Hills of County Mayo.


C5 Benbulben Mountain from Dunmoran Strand


A nice place to walk and listen to the sounds of ocean. Benbulben Mountain can seen in background behind the old ruined house which is sitting perched on the cliffs.


C6 Blue Waters - Mullaghmore


This is what the ocean at Mullaghmore can look like on the right day. The weather appeared overcast and the colour of the crashing water was having a hypnotic effect with it's rhythm as it lapped up and over the rocks.


C7 Evening Sunshine - Dunmoran Strand


Taken from the same shore as picture C5. This looks to the west and the cliffs in the distance lead to Aughris Head. Once there was a sick Whale that came to grief in Ballysadare Bay and the Air & Sea Rescue took her out to her final resting place in the deep waters off Aughris Head.


C8 Summer Night - Rosses Point


This was an unexpected shot that was difficult to take because a setting sun is usually too strong to be captured with any colour in it. Highlights are always a problem because they need careful exposure control. On this occasion there was some haze in the atmosphere that contributed to the success of the exposure.


C9 January Sunshine - Mullaghmore


A January morning with fine clear weather at Mullaghmore. The ocean was in fine fettle and there were a lot of Shags and Cormorants diving for fish. The cliffs were full of Seagulls tending their nests and the scene was noisy and full of life.


C10 Low Tide - Lissadell Strand


This shot was a compromise between the proportion of sky to sand and 2/3 of the available space was allocated to the sand patterns. The vertical patterns appear to balance the horizontal lines of the distant landscape and the diagonal patterns in the sky add more interest. There is also use of complimentary colour because the sky sand patterns consist mainly of blues and yellows.


C11 Fishing Boat - Raghley Harbour


There is something about fishing harbours on a summer day that makes you want to linger. The old fishing trawler was surrounded by deep green water giving colour harmony to the scene. A pattern soon became clear as it was noticed that the bow mirrored the rope and chain to form a cross. This forms a series of triangles that add interest and keep the eye busy at it wanders around the picture.


C12 Red Sandstone


Red sandstone block found on a rocky shore on the Sligo Coast. On the coast you often find unusual natural objects that stand out from their surroundings. There are always man made objects found on the coast that have been tossed from fishing trawlers and other ocean going ships.