Three Castle Head – Where Time Sleeps Beneath the Irish Dawn

There are places in Ireland where the boundary between myth and memory grows thin — and Three Castle Head is one of them.  As dawn breaks over the wild cliffs of West Cork, golden light spills across a landscape that feels untouched by time. Dunlough Castle, silent and weather-worn, stands at the edge of the world, guarding its secrets in stone.

Here, the land whispers ancient stories. The wind sings over jagged rocks and across fields sprinkled with sea thrift. Everything is motionless, and yet alive. It's not just the beauty that strikes you — it's the silence, the space, the overwhelming sense that you are standing in the presence of something sacred.

Photography in such a place is not about capturing a scene — it's about capturing a feeling. That first golden breath of morning, the soft kiss of light on the ruins, the shimmer of still water in the valley below — it’s an invitation to stop, breathe, and simply be.

Three Castle Head is more than a destination. It’s a reminder that there are still wild, forgotten corners of the world where wonder lives and waits — just beyond the last road, beneath the first light.

Ireland beast from the East 2018 – Snow Chaos on the Streets of Dublin

In February and March 2018, Ireland was paralyzed by an exceptionally heavy snowfall caused by the weather phenomenon known as the “Beast from the East.” It was one of the most severe winter storms in the country’s history, creating chaos on the streets of Dublin and beyond.

 A Snow Apocalypse in Ireland

Ireland, known for its mild and rainy climate, rarely experiences significant snowfall. However, in 2018, freezing air masses from Siberia collided with Storm Emma, bringing heavy snowfall and strong winds. Snow accumulation reached up to 50 cm in some areas, which led to widespread travel disruptions in a country ill-prepared for such conditions.

Road Chaos and Disruptions

Documentary photos taken in February and March 2018 show Dublin’s streets buried under thick layers of snow and ice. Drivers were caught off guard by the extreme weather—many cars were stranded in deep snow, and road services struggled to keep up. Major roads, including the M50, became nearly impassable, and public transport came to a standstill.

 

Consequences of the Snowstorm

• Schools and government offices were closed for several days.

• Food supply issues – supermarket shelves were emptied.

• Thousands of households lost electricity.

• Airports, including Dublin Airport, canceled most flights.

• Hundreds of people were stranded on roads, unable to reach their homes.

 A Historic Weather Event in Ireland

The 2018 “Beast from the East” remains one of the most extreme weather events in Irish history. While the snowy landscapes were breathtaking, the storm highlighted the country’s lack of preparedness for such severe conditions.

 

If you enjoyed this post and are looking for more inspiring places and unique photographs, feel free to check out the post Discovering Cádiz. You’re also welcome to visit my Landscape Photography Portfolio Gallery, and those interested can explore my stock footage as well.

 Rafal Rozalski.