Portballintrae

• Dunluce is one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. With evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was inhabited by both the feuding McQuillan and MacDonnell clans.

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Sunrise comes pretty early in Northern Ireland this time of year… I was up just past 4 am to catch it on this side of the Magheracross Viewpoint, only about 15 minutes from our hotel in Portrush (pronounced as though two words, port rush). A little over two years ago, my friend Evelyn McCullough brought me here as a first stop among many along the coastal highway, which is replete with stunning scenery. I dedicated this particular morning by retracing that time in tribute to Evelyn, though by myself this time. Dear Evelyn is in hospice at the MacMillan Unit in Antrim, where she is in palliative care due to incurable cancer. We were proud and appreciative to meet with her a last time during this trip… she has been a great inspiration to all who have known her, for even in the face of death, she lived life in a selfless fullness that so few others do even without such troubles. This image would not have been possible without her. I’ll never forget her. Please pray for her and her family and friends.

If you look closely (click the image for detail), you can see the remains of Dunluce Castle just beyond that first cliff.

This was a great experience for me, as it was a first for me shooting alongside my Irish contact Mari Ward-Foster (go here www.flickr.com/photos/22784225@N07/ and convince her to post some new stuff!). She's not only a true sweetheart of a person, she's no slouch at getting down and dirty to get the shot. That's my frame of mind too, so I've got some competition for the scenery here... and I loved it!

It was a fine morning at the ruins of this medieval castle on the coast of Northern Ireland... you can see not only just how formidable a landscape this is, but how defensible the castle is... when they say "Location, location, location!", well, there's something to be said for that. Mari moves like a little mountain goat in this terrain, though I believe I held my own keeping up with her... and what a spot she chose for this shot! A family had also come down to this rocky beach, apparently looking for shells among the rocks... they finally tired of having the cameras pointed at them and shuffled off... just in time, too, as the tide was working its way back in. We would soon lose this vantage point!

Joyce waited above for us, so she hasn't seen this image until now... another we will add to our honeymoon scrapbook. Mari gave me two CDs of music specific to Ireland... nothing says "Ireland" quite like the Chieftans. I gave them a good listen while preparing smoked salmon on the grill the other night... but this image, and all involved in it had me thinking of another song. There are lines in it that I find quite meaningful: "And where do you go when you get to the end of your dream?"... I'll let you know when I get there! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePrQFaB50w0

This scene in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is likely not far removed as it has been for centuries. Dunluce Castle, over on the next cliff ledge, has a history dating back to the 13th Century. As you may be able to tell, it’s undergoing some restoration.

The ruins of Dunluce have taken on the very character of the basalt and chalk cliffs where it abides… and its history lives on in this image.

In many ways, it reminds me of Evelyn McCullough, as she had taken on the charm and beauty around her that was her beloved Ireland. I saw that for myself one glorious morning over two years ago along this coast, a time I will never forget. She passed from this life on Saturday after a valiant bout with incurable cancer… even in the face of fear and certain death in her last two years, hers was still a life of fullness and selflessness… and beauty that surpasses the land that she loved. She will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew her... as always. God bless her family and friends.

Click here to see Ireland from Evelyn's eyes: www.flickr.com/photos/herringpond/

Il castello di Dunluce (Dunluce Castle in inglese, Dún Libhse in gaelico) è un suggestivo maniero in stato di rovina situato sulle scogliere della costa settentrionale dell'Antrim, in Irlanda del Nord.

È stato edificato su una superficie basaltica a picco sul mare, non lontano dalle cittadine di Portballintrae e Portrush.

Il castello di Dunluce è protetto dalla Northern Ireland Environment Agency, un'agenzia pubblica che si occupa della difesa e conservazione dei beni artistici e ambientali nordirlandesi.

it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castello_di_Dunluce

Pentax 645D, 35mm lens

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