The Hibernian Hotel in the main street of Mallow was where I stayed the night before the big day.

Even at nearly 11 o’clock in the evening the sky seemed surreal with the brilliant royal blue of maritime twilight.

I love the old world feels of buildings like this one with their colored panels, dark frames and hundreds of layers of built up paint from a lifetime of maintaining. It seemed a fitting place to stay for the night before.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 531, The Night Before’ 1.3s f/11 ISO320 15mm