North Shore, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

Lined by stone walls, roads twist through the Irish countryside and, if followed long enough, lead to the sea. It is interesting to me to think about how many generations have journeyed along these narrow ways.

This view was painted plein air from the ship.

Grouped along the road, these small stone buildings speak about ancient Ireland, not about the growing prosperous society that is now. I am pleased to see the Irish Republic prosper but the new houses and commercial centres to not have the charm of buildings like these out in the more remote areas. For so many years not much changed in Ireland, but now the prosperity is flamboyant and so obvious.

This view of one of the few brick buildings at Trinity College, Dublin was painted from the protection of a memorial arch in the courtyard. Although the rain continued for the duration of my sketching time, the gardeners kept at their raking of the lawns, pausing only to light another cigarette.

Near Killarney in County Cork, there is a view that begged to be painted. Although the weather can be difficult, at times when the rain clears to reveal a sight like this, all is forgiven. Perhaps the elusiveness of landscape there makes it so much more treasured.

The busy harbour at Dublin provided many possibilities to me as I set up my gear on the ship's deck. It is always difficult to restrict a section of a sweeping view with all the activity spread out along the panorama.