Rarely seen, the hermitage clings to the narrow South Peak of Skellig Michael with a 700 foot drop on either side. The main monastery can be seen on the North Peak in the middle distance, and the Small Skellig and the Kerry coast lie beyond.

The Black Valley is not a million miles from the bustling town of Killarney. However, due to the geography of the area, it's one of the more remote parts of Ireland, surrounded by craggy mountains on all sides.
This house is located at the very heart of the valley and couldn't present a more Irish scene if it tried. A classic view of the valley, it epitomises wild Ireland for me.

Skellig Michael is one of my favourite locations anywhere in the world. It has long been my desire to photograph the 6th century monastery here in good light, and in mid-2012 I was given the opportunity to do just that. Access to the island is restricted with tourists only permitted between the hours of 10am and 4pm - which is unfortunately when the light is at its worst during the summer months.
On this occasion I was able to overnight on the island and was granted a spectacular sunrise, which you see here.
The 'beehive' huts here are drystone construction and have stood in more or less this condition since the monastery was abandoned in the 13th century. Even the ground on which they are built is remarkable, as it's a man-made terrace produced by building up hundreds of tons of rock held in by a series of retaining walls. The monks had no choice in this, as there is virtually no naturally occurring flat space on the island.

Three Castle Head, the northwestern corner of the Mizen peninsula, from the air.

The sun rises over the North Peak of Skellig Michael with the monastery huddled on its shoulder.

Photographed just after sunrise, this view from the western end of Skellig Michael shows the two lighthouses very effectively. As shafts of sunlight penetrate the clouds and light up the sea, the abandoned northern lighthouse sits high on its ridge in the centre of the frame. The still-operational southern light is very visible with its white painted walls.

The winter stars rise above the monastery of Skellig Michael on a calm night.

The Rock of Cashel is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture to be found in Ireland. Set on a limestone outcrop, it was originally the seat of the high kings of Munster, and was donated to the Church in the 12th century. The scaffolding visible in the photograph is from a long-term conservation project to protect and preserve the elaborate wall paintings in Cormac's Chapel. It has been present since 2009.

This view of Skellig from an aircraft overhead reveals the entire island like a map. The eastern side is on the left. The boat landing can be made out as a pale area just above the eastern point, and you can follow the whole path from there to the monastery on the left peak.

A ruined cottage on the uplands of the Burren as a rain shower passes by.

An aerial view of the hermitage clinging to the south peak of Skellig Michael.

The Rock of Cashel is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture to be found in Ireland. Set on a limestone outcrop, it was originally the seat of the high kings of Munster, and was donated to the Church in the 12th century. The scaffolding visible in the photograph is from a long-term conservation project to protect and preserve the elaborate wall paintings in Cormac's Chapel. It has been present since 2009.

Donkeys are the only full-time residents of the Great Blasket Island now. This pair formed the welcoming committee on a particularly fine summer's day. One of the island's ruined cottages forms the background.

Ross Castle is one of Killarney's most popular tourist attractions. Probably built around the 15th century, it was restored in 1979 and is open to the public.
Seen here from Rien Pier by the Workmen's Rowing Club boathouse on a fine summer's morning, it's easy to see why it's such a popular place to visit.

A ruined coastal watchtower keeps vigil on the rocky coastline of the Mizen peninsula in this infra red image.

The Great Blasket Island is the largest island in the Blasket group off the coast of Dingle. Evacuated in the 1950s after the population had dwindled to a level too small to be self-supporting, this image looks back over one of the ruined houses back towards the mainland.
Slea Head is the point on the right, and Sybil Head the point on the left. Beginish island is visible to the left of frame. The Macgillycuddy's Reeks are visible on the extreme right of frame, in the distance.

Banba's Crown, Ireland's most northerly point is seen here from the air at sunset.