Growths on the Tower? Photo

Photographer’s Note

I have no idea why these round, green patches were clinging to the side of the tower, but it made for an interesting composition! They were scattered intermittantly over the surface in various places, and were almost completely round... strange!

This was taken at O'Brien's Tower, a round stone tower suitably placed at the top of the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most spectacular sites in Ireland. They're located at the southwestern edge of the Burren in County Clare. The cliffs rise above the sea ranging from about 400 to more than 700 feet. On a clear day the Aran Islands in Galway are visible, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara. The cliffs consist mostly of shale and sandstone. The oldest layers are probably 300 million years old. The famous Atlantic Puffins, the penguin-like birds with colorful beaks live in large colonies at isolated parts of the cliffs. The tower was built by Cornelius O'Brien in 1835. This one was probably built as an observation tower for tourists, who were numerous at the site even during that time.

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batalay (20964) 2009-01-13 21:19

Hello Terez,

I believe I saw these towers in a 1996 cruise around the British Isles, and wondering about the similar lush growth, and I distinctly remember the puffins. In a taxicab I remember distinctly a circular sign of a puffin inscribed in a red circle, with a bold red diagonal line rising through it, "No Puffin," it read underneath — I guess, a subtle message that smoking was not allowed.

As a graduate student in history, you might be interested in a recent photo I submitted, "Leonardo in his Youth." Where are you in your studies. Are you near completing them?

Warm regards,

Bulent