Excited to share that my work was selected for print in a special edition of @docu.magazine 2026
20 images - Inishturk Island
Thanks to @tuomas_koskialho and all the team for the collaboration and trust 🙏🏻
To purchase a limited edition signed copy, please DM me or email karen@kcoxphotography.com
News - Milk Beverage Residues Detected on Neolithic Pottery in Poland - Archaeology Magazine archaeology.org/news/2026/04...
First three photos from Derrymore East, N of Kilkishen, Easter 2026; photos: Michael O'Connell Seen (but not photographed) a white-tailed, sea-eagle and a buzzard
Brian Boru oak, in Raheen Wood, Tuamgraney. Easter Sunday 2026; M. O'Connell
Largely hidden #EastClare has much to offer. Mares being exercised on an elevated road (bog on either side cut away); nearby boithrín with furse & willow crosses the bog; sheep on green pasture; ancient 'Brian Boru' oak tree nr #Tuamgraney, living testimony to the ancient character of the landscape
#Cáisc shona daoibh uile! Happy #Easter! Sunset last evening in the Kilkishen drumlin countryside, east Co #Clare; #StormDave had passed leaving +/- no havoc in its wake
Yet another paper on the Burren, a favourite of mine in all seasons. Congratulations to all involved.
The Isle of Mull is the large stepping stone between Oban (W. Scotland) and Iona, the latter forever associated with St Colmcille (Columba). The video is well worth viewing
Léirmheas ó @gearoidinc.bsky.social #med @eabhloid.bsky.social
nos.ie/cultur/leabh...
Author Dr Caitríona Clear & colleague Dr Róisín Healy discuss the writing of 'A Concise History of Ireland', CUP, 2026 (Moore Institute, University of Galway; 25/03/2026; M. O'Connell)
Most informative discussion in the #MooreInstitute @uniofgalway.bsky.social this pm as historians, Róisín Healy & Caitríona Clear discuss the nuts, bolts & challenges of writing ‘A concise history of Ireland’ www.cambridge.org/core/books/c.... Congratulations Caitríona @historyatgalway.bsky.social
lá deas siúl agus breathnú ar plandaí le @timoceallaigh.bsky.social sna Mám Toice - bhí Saxifraga oppositifolia faoi bhláth agus speiceas suimúil eile ann ar nós Seligeria sp. (beidh orm cuartú capsules aibí arís) chomh maith le rudaí eile...
An assemblage of nice liverworts from Corcóg in the maamturks last week/réimse go aelusanna deas uaigh Corcóg sna Mám Toirce le @timoceallaigh.bsky.social an seachtain seo caite - Scapania ornithipoides, Radula aquelegia agus Anastrepta orcadensis (níl mé 100% faoin ceann deireadh fós)
Our new review is finally out! 🌿 I’m especially excited because this is the first chapter of my PhD!
Have a read to see what shapes the range limits of alpine plants besides freezing temperatures ❄️
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Yesterday on the east bank of the #Corrib river at Menlo, #Galway, spring tentatively making its presence felt with blackthorn bushes here & there flowering profusely. Little in leaf but the air full of bird song & ash (often ivy covered as in photo) about to flower. Summer beckons ...
📆 Tues. 3/31 @ 6PM: We join Long Now Boston in welcoming Andrew H. Knoll to the Harvard Geological Museum for a discussion of his new book "Earth and Life: A Four Billion Year Conversation". He will be joined in conversation by Robin Wordsworth. Get info and RSVP for free here: buff.ly/8Qm7Ahz
A square collage of nine close-up botanical photographs in shades of green. Delicate umbels, tightly packed spherical flower heads, unfurling buds, and pale green tulips are shown against soft blurred backgrounds, creating a calm, fresh composition suggestive of spring growth and renewal.
“May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.”
— Traditional Irish blessing
Green flowers, symbolising good health and good fortune, to wish the Emerald Isle a happy St. Patrick’s Day. #StPatricksDay #LaFeilePadraig
A pátrún at Mám Éan (Pass of the Birds) in the Maumturk Mountains, Connemara by WH Bartlett (1835). Realistic but with vertical exaggeration
Statue to St Patrick at Mám Éan by Cliodna Cussen (1986). As well as Leaba Phádraig (St Patrick’s bed), there is a small oratory, an altar, the 14 Stations of the Cross at the pass, which includes a small glacial lake. (photo: 1 Feb 2026; Michael O’Connell)
A Station of the Cross and below a well-like feature that can be seen in the sketch by Bartlett. View to NE towards Maam and Joyce Country, Connemara (photo: 1 Feb 2026; Michael O’Connell)
Statue of St Patrick at Mám Éan. On the opposite side of the pass, the small lake at the base of the mountain has provided an environmental history of the area since the end of the last glaciation, 12000 y ago (photo 1 Feb 2026; Michael O’Connell)
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh uile! Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Past & present meet at Mám Éan #Connemara. #StPatrick overnighted there in Leaba Phádraig (Patrick's Bed) (5C); Bartlett sketched the scene in early 19C The tradition reestablished in recent decades; lovely to visit at any time & esp. today
Joyous occasion @ria.ie today as Prof Mary Daly, historian @ucddublin.bsky.social receives Cunningham Medal from Prof Pat Guiry, President #RIA, for her outstanding contribution to scholarship. Also in photo Prof Dan Carey @uniofgalway.bsky.social who was elected President RIA for next 3 years
Bhíos ag plé seo inné (ag FÍS ó @cnagaeilge.bsky.social) le daoine eile a d'fhreastail ar lá na Gaeilge ag an mBleaist Eolaíochta - ní raibh mórán sna meáin faoi. Ach bhí 115 seastán ann le turgnaimh STEM spéisiúla acu. Sin ós cionn míle dalta díocasach ó thaobh STEM as Gaeilge. Bualadh bos ESB+RDS!
Meanwhile, at the O'Connell Monument, The Liberator looked down on yet another demo on behalf of a cause that is in danger of being forgotten about in a world goes from crisis to crisis
These are my days for gadding about. Today at #ECBL #EnnisBookClubFestival. Hugo Hamilton on Conversation with the Sea discussed his work with Éilís Ní Dhuibhne. It relates to Achill / Germany / the human condition & yet highly relevant to our troubled times. Looking forward greatly to reading
Macgillycuddy's Reeks incl. Carrantoohil from the Beara peninsula & c. an hour later from Moll's Gap. Sprinkling of snow on the peaks of #Kerry / #Killarney while sunny & warm on the lowlands. Little tourist traffic; lovely to have the Kingdom to myself for the day
Allihies once a busy copper mining town 19th century ; now a colourful town at the tip of Beara on the Wild Atlantic Way
Another great day in SW Ireland. On the tip of the #Beara peninsula. Stunning views incl. Dursey with sea-stacks Calf & Bull, & the Sceiligs [Michael & Little] rising majestic out of the Atlantic. Thanks to #Castletownbere Historical Society for the kind invite to these unique parts of #Ireland
Was in the Kingdom yesterday [Bridia valley, west of Macgillycuddy's Reeks]. Plenty of sheep, a Kerry pony, & hares & deer but much too fast to photo. Bird song everyplace - spring has definitely arrived
Fine crowd at the opening of exhibition 'usual and generous ways' curated by poet Padraig Regan. Padraig & Megs Morley (Director) set the scene last evening in the #GalwayArtsCentre in the heart of #Galway. Exhibits relate mainly to 'deep past' [geology] & recent [discovery & records of that past]
![Dr Edel Bhreathnach launches The Celtic World - A History [Publisher: Four Courts Press, Dublin] BY Professor John Waddell in Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, Galway. [19th Feb. 2026; M O'Connell]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wrx65ebdpeykh4sq6vfvdp3q/bafkreihwwuxit6wilkvw3ocm6iwppk36plp4uj74xyoljbxzdzbgzpmlje)
Dr Edel Bhreathnach launches The Celtic World - A History [Publisher: Four Courts Press, Dublin] BY Professor John Waddell in Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, Galway. [19th Feb. 2026; M O'Connell]
'The Celtic World - a History' by Prof. em. John Waddell @uniofgalway.bsky.social launched by Dr Edel Bhreathnach to a full house in #CharlieByrnes bookshop in the heart of Galway. Fine speeches by Edel & John. A joyous occasion www.fourcourtspress.ie/books/2026/t...
A zoomed in look at 4 scientists working with the a lava fountain covering the entire background.
A very tall lava fountain with tiny dots (people) near the base. The image is a bit forced perspective and we are not as close as it looks
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
View towards Quad (1845; first students 1849)
North central door of Quad, University of Galway (15 Feb 2026; M. O'Connell)
Ryan Institute (view from near main entrance to the University of Galway campus (15 Feb 2026; M. O'Connell)
Menlo Castle (ruin) on River Corrib. Fishermen return from L. Corrib; a winter feel still hangs in the air but not without its own charms! View from near sports fields, University of Galway (15 Feb 2026; M. O'Connell)
Signs of spring @universityofgalway.bsky.social, River Corrib-side campus, #Galway city, yesterday
This drawing of an approaching storm (around 1913) shows Paul Henry's consumate skill with charcoal, the location is likely to be the village of Dugort on the island of Achill on the west coast of Ireland.
Greatly looking forward to this @galway-geol-ass.bsky.social lecture on Tuesday 7pm. Much new data relating to the soils and sediments, especially of western Ireland, will be presented
Photo by G. Solecki/A. Piętak of a small figurine of a bear carved out of amber between 9600 and 4100 BC. The amber is a deep translucent orange. The display lighting makes it glow in places. The bear's head is carved to show ears, mouth, nostrils and eyes. A hole runs through the bear’s torso, suggesting it was threaded onto a cord. Dimensions: Length 10.2 cm, Height 4.2 It was discovered in Słupsk during peat mining in 1887. According to the museum catalogue ‘’Shortly after its discovery, the figure underwent conservation work to restore its original appearance as it was covered with a layer of dull patina from the exposure to the minerals contained in the peat. Already at that time, at the end of the 19th century, it was assumed the restoration had gone too far. The figure was stripped entirely of patina, the anatomical features of the animal were emphasised, the eyes and nostrils were sharply drawn, and the amber was carefully polished”. In 2013, a competition was organised by the Education Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, for children to choose a name for the bear. The winning name was ‘Słupcio’,
A little bear figurine carved out of amber some 6,000 years ago 🐻❤️
A hole runs through the bear’s torso suggesting it was threaded on a cord, perhaps worn or carried as a protective charm.
Found in a peat bog near Słupsk, Poland, in 1887.
📷 National Museum in Szczecin
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
The N59 leads to Leenane and Killary Fjord, looking respendent on Saturday, bathed in the low mid-day sun. The historic Leenane Hotel, recently extended & renovated, nestles among trees on the southern side of the inner fjord.