Great Western Greenway

I cycled the Great Western Greenway a few weekends ago and really enjoyed the whole experience. I had never been to Westport. It is a picturesque and lively town. We rented bikes from Clew Bay bike hire. The lovely Fergal drove us to Achill and we cycled the 42 km back into Westport. If you are relatively fit this cycle is a breeze. Beautiful scenery and friendly interaction with locals and fellow cyclists along the way. Pop into Yvonne's cottage for a scone and tea break.

I must mention a few places in Westport to visit; the Willow Cafe Tea Room. Proper baking and quaint surroundings. The lemon drizzle is the best I have ever had. The Helm at the quays is a must for a pint or if you can get a table for dinner. Thanks to Shane who made our weekend and squeezed us in without a booking. Of the pubs in the town I was in McGings was my favourite. Matt Molloy's is a great spot too, you might be surrounded by numerous hen and stag parties though. Also recommend a visit to the grounds of the beautiful and grand Westport House.

Some of my photos of the stunning Mayo countryside along the Great Western Greenway.

 

© Ruth Maria Murphy 2014

Beautiful Lahinch before the recent storm

I can't believe the devastation in Lahinch from last nights storm in Ireland. I was home visiting just a week ago and walked the prom with my family. It was a wild day but still the beauty shone through. I hope it will be restored in time for summer, it is such a great part of the West and has a big place in my heart. Even though I grew up in Dublin, the north west coast of Clare was my second home and I spent summers in Lahinch.

Please enjoy my recent images of Lahinch taken on Christmas Eve 2013.

 

© Ruth Maria Murphy 2014

Ha Long Bay

It is about time I got around to posting the rest of my travel photos from last summer, if you don't stay on top of each shoot before you know it you are a year behind.

I recently went back and uploaded my Ha Long Bay photos. It is truly an incredible place, the bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. 'Ha Long' means "Bay of Descending Dragons" and is one of the most unique natural formations in the world. 

It depends on the season you go whether you get the bright clear blue skies, we were there in June and so it was very overcast and hazy which added a certain eery and surreal quality to the experience. We stayed on a junk boat for a few nights and went kayaking, climbed one of the islands which was no mean feat and visited a magnificent cave. We did lots of photo shoots along the way and it was a really relaxing few days after the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.

While there a visit to some of the caves is a must. We went to Thien Cung grotto, it is known as a magnificent palace and is filled with an abundant of stalagmites. Located in Van Canh Island which is 4km from the wharf outside of Ha Long city. I wasn't expecting the size and grandeur of this cave it just keeps revealing itself to you the further you go. The views out over the Bay from up there were breathtaking.

Enjoy a glimpse into my experience there...

Shopping in Halong Bay

 

Amazing kayaking in the Bay

My Photo Vogue Portfolio so far

Secret Garden, Hayworth Vintage, Malahide Castle, Dublin, Ireland

Classic, Quack _ Dirk, Dublin, Ireland

Taking a Break, Meatpacking District, New York

Beautiful Ireland

The weather in Ireland was great for most of my trip home. It makes such a difference to how you see and enjoy things. There are two places I spend time in every visit, Dublin and County Clare. My dad being from Dublin and my mom from Clare. I grew up between both places. The Burren in Clare has a huge place in my heart, having studied it extensively in school and well growing up around it on my summer holidays, my family are dotted all around North West Clare. We vacationed in a tiny place called Fanore which is nestled in the Burren and very close to Ballyvaughan. Ballyvaughan is one of the most beautiful examples of a quaint Irish village by the sea, it is catered for tourists but still has such a modest charm. Below are some of my images of the coast and unique Burren landscape.

The Burren (Irish: Boireann, meaning "great rock") is a karst-landscape region or alvar in northwest County Clare, in Ireland. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe. The region measures approximately 250 square kilometres and is enclosed roughly within the circle made by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna. It is bounded by the Atlantic and Galway Bay on the west and north, respectively.

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

Flora of the Burren

Flora of the Burren

Mullaghmore in the distance, Ballyvaughan, County Clare

Ballyvaughan

Mullaghmore in the distance, Ballyvaughan, County Clare

Mullaghmore in the distance, Ballyvaughan, County Clare

Lahinch, County Clare

© Ruth Maria Murphy 2013

The Tannery

One of the most interesting sites in Fez is the Leather Souq and the oldest leather tannery in the world.

I was lucky enough to get to shoot right down in there and it was an unforgettable experience. I almost fell in, the guy in the red t-shirt saved me. The pits are really close together and the ground in between them is wet and unstable but it didn’t stop me from getting right into the middle.

Thankfully the Moroccan ‘gasmask’ really does the trick. We shoved a whole bunch of mint right up each nostril.

Photographer Ruth Maria Murphy

© G Adventures 2012

The Desert

One of the most memorable things you can do in Morocco is the camel ride through the Sahara Desert as the sunset. It is quite a surreal experience. The sky is changing colour all the way along and the colours are simply awesome.

Photographer Ruth Maria Murphy
© G Adventures 2012