These two beautiful gannets flying overhead, alongside the famous Bull Rock, showcase their reputation of Ireland’s most majestic seabird. Watching gannets feeding is amazing. After a period of circling, a gannet will hover about 6m above the water and then suddenly drop into a vertical plummet, diving into the sea. What is especially spectacular is […]
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Nearly seven years ago I got to circumnavigate the famous Skellig Michael off the south west coast of Ireland, symbol of the archangel Micheal and spiritual haven of the Mainistir Fhionáin monks that made this sacred rock their home. I planned to return one day with the anticipation of climbing to its pinnacle. Last Saturday […]
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Each day we went out we left the cosy comfort of our host vessel, the Ostee Star, donned several layers of thermal undergarments and enclosed our selves in dry-suits. Two layers of neoprene hoods and gloves later and we were ready. I added another twelve kilograms of lead on my weight belt just to male […]
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When I watch a gull in flight above some beautiful landscape my eye is drawn to the movement and for a moment I feel I share in its effortless freedom. Thinking about it some more I muse the gull has no concept freedom so in that moment the freedom was completely mine. Photo: Robert Rath, […]
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Just under two kilometers north east of Skellig Michael is the smaller of the Skelligs, ‘Little Skellig’. What struck me as the biggest difference between the two is that here on Little Skellig the sea birds ruled. Tens of thousands of gannets and other migratory birds clings to every usable surface of this barren rocky […]
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