Photography by Mick O Callaghan Spring 2026 I give you the opening lines of the poem Cill Aodáin : Anois teacht an earraigh Beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh ’S tar éis na Féile Bríde Árdóidh mé mo sheol Ó chuir mé i mo cheann é Ní stopfaidh mé choíche Go seasfaidh mé síos i lár Chontae Mhaigh Eo. This poem was composed by Antaine Ó Raiftearaí, Anthony Raftery (1799–1835), a wandering poet who was born in Killedan, near Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. I think most people of an older gener

The Cormorant or Black Shag photograghed in Ounavarragh River by Mick O Callaghan I was walking home along the Burrow Road in Courtown when all at once I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a Broigheall or cormorant, neck held high and with wings fully stretched. It was such a striking posture  I come from a seaside village and spent a lot of my youth in Blennerville, Derrymore and Fenit pier and island. We did a lot of fishing and watching the comings and goings of bird

'Fungal Magic' at Spike Bridge , Courtown Woods. Photo by Mick O Callaghan I went for my daily stroll early this morning while the weather was fine. I parked in the main Courtown carpark and proceeded along the forest path between the canal and the Active Tribe complex. As I entered the woods I noted a motto attributed to John Muir (1838–1914) who was a  Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and environmental philosopher known as the " father of the National Parks " . 

Photo of A woodland tangle on Courtown Beach after Storm Chandra by Mick O Callaghan   I drove down to the Burrow Car Park in Courtown and parked my car, laced up my strong walking boots and headed for a beach and forest walk . I walked over The Burrow or White Gates Bridge which was the Earl of Courtown’s private entrance to the beach. I turned right and onto the forest path and right again over the little foot bridge while viewing widespread desolation caused by trees and