Photos

Hi Folks,

I'm glad you liked my pervious picture - really appreciate all your comments. Today same theme cont'd -picture taken on same day, with same people I've drove around Dublin, and just the place is different this time.

This picture was taken in the Mellifont Abbey (Irish: An Mhainistir Mhór, literally "the big abbey"), located in County Louth. It was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in Ireland. The area is really worth visiting - for those of course that enjoy ruins and the atmosphere of historica mystery. If you want to capture similar light I suggest you go over there around 4-5pm (depending on weather of course!).

The Abbey is believed to have been founded in 1142 on the orders of Saint Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh. It sits on the banks of the River Mattock, some ten km (6 miles) from Drogheda. By the way - you can take a train to Drogheda from the Dublin city centre Connolly station.

By 1170 Mellifont had one hundred monks and three hundred lay brothers. The Abbey became the model for other Cistercian abbeys built in Ireland, with its formal style of architecture imported from the abbeys of the same order in France; it was the main abbey in Ireland until it was closed in 1539, when it became a fortified house.

Mellifont Abbey is now a ruin as you can see. Little of the original Abbey remains unfortunately, save a 13th-century lavabo (where the monks washed their hands before eating), some Romanesque arches and a 14th-century chapter house.

I really enjoy visiting such places. There is always something interesting to capture, although good weather, blue sky and nice light are priceless for this type of scenery.

Have a nice weekend!