As all good things the adventure in Ireland is nearing its finish line. We had about half a day to enjoy the most beautiful weather in Northern Ireland.Some of that time was spend on walking around Belfast University area and the city.
After a bit of relaxation in the city, I was catching up with a Flickr friend in Donaghadee, east of Belfast. A drive took us through Bangor on some of the busy roads to the coast. I visited Bangor some years before and while it is a nice place, it gets really busy, so heading to close by Donaghadee was a great idea. It is easier to find parking there and it has some great locations for photoshoots, like the lighthouse in the harbor, south pier or the castle.
A hike to the castle towering over the town is short and easy, and most of all worth the effort. However, if the weather is poor, it will get windy at the top, so bring warm clothes and a tripod. View towards the harbor is great and you will be tempted to try a lot of different shots to capture it all.
Area around Donaghadee is worth exploring as there are many interesting sites for an inquisitive photographer. One of the stunning sights is a windmill located close by. Exploring the area with a friend was really great. I wished only that I had more time to enjoy the day. A beautiful sunny day in Northern Ireland is very valuable and rare.
However, we had to slowly head back to Dublin, so after a short stop for some lunch we hit the road and went back south. There are multiple places on the way that you can stop at and explore. Our goal that evening, however, was a visit to the pub area of Dublin and listening to some live music over a pint.
As it was Friday afternoon, there were many choices for good music. We went to Temple Bar, one of the best known sites in Dublin. The bar is very busy, you will pretty much get some standing room, if you come over with friends, you should head there a bit earlier to score a table. There is a great selection of beers on tap, some snacks as well. However, if you are hungry it is better to stop at one of the local Irish restaurants before heading to the bar.
As the evening was getting to a close, we were heading back for the last relaxing night before getting on the plane back. It was a great trip, a bit short but worth every minute and views were just amazing. The last picture from Dublin is the view of the city by night. Goodnight Dublin! Goodbye Ireland!
Dublin by night
Agnes Caruso Photography 