Photo Rally 2016

Yet another Photo Rally year rolls around - the culmination of the year being the awards weekend, just over. Another resoundingly successful event.

Thanks to the 243 folk who participated in 2015 & to the additional souls who did many of the photos but were happy to leave it at that & not make a formal entry.

The crew who assist are also due recognition; thanks folks.

Thanks to those of you who let me know of possible locations - keep up the good work please.

The 2016 locations are attached. Enjoy your explorations & again if you find anything interesting let me know please.

If 24 places are not enough you will find a few more @ http://www.bmwclubulstersection.com/...hic-rally.html

Those of you new to the Photo Rally will find previous years locations @ http://irishphotorally.com/ - click on the “rally map” tab & all locations since 2003 are there – you can view by year or by county in this section; some things have vanished e.g. the bronze plaque at Lough MacNean but all things vanish eventually.

The 2015 photos & prize winners will be up on that site in the next few days when the unpaid Photo Rally IT staff (another unnamed hero) gets a few hours spare.

Big thanks to Gerry, Lorcan & co for a great PR 2015 & a very enjoyable 'do' on Saturday night

Two done on Sunday

7. Longford / W, Meath


13. Laois / Offaly


Definitely approach from the south (northern access is very slippy)

Bike is starting to dirty-up nicely Jochen !

Jockser said:

Two done on Sunday

7. Longford / W, Meath



13. Laois / Offaly


Definitely approach from the south (northern access is very slippy)

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Nice bike - well wear

I learned about the northern approach to my embarrassment last summer.....................

Laois Offaly only so far


North doesn't look nice. Flipping cold today.

Time to make a start

Today was bright and dry, a bit crisp but a good day to be out on a bike and not patching plaster - I'll save that for a rainy day.

14. Clare is one of the closest so that is where we are going today, we have to start somewhere.

She is nattering away, pursed lipped " Recalculating" - local knowledge beats Garmin.
Before going any further it's time for petrol. Nice day.

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Then onwards to the twin villages of Montpelier and O'Briensbrige to cross the Shannon without the traffic light delay upstream. The river is well down on the level from earlier this month.

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In Killaloe, the route through the centre avoids the traffic lights.

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Lough Derg is still, little or no wind today.

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The Pipers Inn with a campsite behind reminds me of the rallies that I went to 40 years ago. The roads that I'm on today, I first travelled over 40 years ago on a Riders Rally - where did the time go?

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St. Mary's church, or part of it.

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One of those days

Wednesday 24th February - Building on yesterday's start, I decided to add Limerick and Kerry to my collection. After a cold night, it was a bright cloudless morning with frost in the fields and ice in the verges. A low sun strobed through trees as I made for the Limerick location.

This is the waypoint, but I was assured by the enquiring security guy that was the entrance to JP's house, that the gateway opposite was the farm entrance and that the Martinstown stud was around the corner.



Around the corner



On through Kilmallock, Charleville, Abbeyfeale and, feeling the cold, a stop for lunch in Listowel.
Twists and turns brought me to a flooded Kerry location.





too cold for swim and the tide was too far out.



Left home just after 11h00, after some meanders back by 16h30 under gathering clouds.
South and east for the next outing, when it gets a bit warmer.

Water water

# 15 Martinstown stud gateway

Important notice – Feb 26th.

A manager from Martinstown stud - who does not wished to be publicly named - asked that the gateway be removed from the 2016 list. The reason being that Photo Rally participants were blocking the gate way & encroaching on private property.
His request was declined but participants are asked to photograph the gateway from the public road – please & thanks.
Please refer to the event rules & regulations: -
All rules & regulations as relevant to traffic &/or trespass apply to all participants at all times.

Sunday 14th

Not a great day but I wanted to get out for a while so decided to do the south east ones.
12. Carlow / Kilkenny :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/24948231551/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1672/24948231551_1f6c071a8f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cross country to the first hydro-electric 'plant' in the country, on the Barrow :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/25041501415/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1651/25041501415_c8c241c5b1_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Still plenty of water running in the Barrow :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/24414646783/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1687/24414646783_4a1830538b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stopped in Bunclody for an early lunch cos I was freezin :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/24745942080/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1554/24745942080_cb31a01414_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

11. Wexford :
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/25015109316/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1664/25015109316_2d6d34b117_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

At that point I was running outta time so skipped going to Greystones & hightailed it home for loads of hot tay....

Great pics. Inspiring me to make a start soon. Looks cold though.

comberjohn said:

Looks cold though.

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It hasn't been warm, my start was delayed by a snow shower & I had a couple more during the spin.
But it's still better than doing stuff at home

Went to work on the bike yesterday. Naas to Dungarvin on the M9....... it wasn't warm. Had a lovely spin home through New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Arklow, Rathdrum, Laragh.

I must get involved in this photo rally mularchy, looks like fun.

Sent using a Jedi mind trick!

younger06 said:

I must get involved in this photo rally mularchy, looks like fun.

Click to expand...

It is

Sunday 21st

I had other plans for today but the weather further north was wetter & windier than at home so the outing was cancelled. So there I was, suited & booted at 8.30 on a Sunday morning, with nowhere to go. Well I wasn't going back indoors without at least putting a few miles on the bike so thought I'd see what it was like further south - if it didn't improve I'd go home & if it did I'd carry on to Greystones.

Within a few miles it started to look a bit brighter but Wicklow Gap was quite windy. There wasn't much traffic about so I took it handy, sticking to the middle of the road to allow for gusts. Met a GSA & KTM Adv half way over but not a single bike in Laragh. On a Sunday !

10. Wicklow - the Bear in Greystones :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/25132381262/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1649/25132381262_95c91cc055_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A cup of tea in my sisters & it was on to Kilmainham

9. Dublin / Kildare :
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/25132368722/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1607/25132368722_31f7535ab7_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/139151959@N08/25157480721/in/datetaken-public/" title="Untitled"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/25157480721_885c822b59_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Untitled"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Then it was minor roads home
Not what I was expecting of the day but it was no worse for that....

Jockser said:

Sunday 21st

Met a GSA & KTM Adv half way over

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If the KTM was a black 990, it was myself and my buddy.

younger06 said:

If the KTM was a black 990, it was myself and my buddy.

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Yep, I think it was. I'll stop for a chat next time

I'll be in the Wicklow Heather in the mornin' doing quality control on their bacon & eggs.

2016 photography finished today along with BMW Ulster section extras another year bites the dust..