No Filter: 2019 on Instagram

A round-up of photos from Instagram. From travels to far flung places. And near flung places.

Trip to Manchester

My big goal for 2019 was to do new things and see new places. When it comes to the UK mainland, I tend to gravitate toward London. This time I made a concerted effort to get to Manchester and later Edinburgh with a little time in Sweden for good measure.

Statue of Queen Victoria in Liverpool
Statue of Queen Victoria in Liverpool
Portrait with rainbow wings, Manchester
A shot of me beside rainbow wings in Manchester

Bray and Co. Wicklow

I took the kids for a brief summer break to Bray. Went to revisit Glendalough and Powerscourt Estate. The last time I was at Powerscourt, the stately home was a complete shell having been gutted by fire in 1974. These days it has had a complete renovation and both the house and grounds are utterly stunning. A complete joy to spend a summer’s day there walking around.

Powerscourt House and Estate, Co. Wicklow
Powerscourt House and Estate, Co. Wicklow
Shell formation on Brittas Bay beach
Shells on Brittas Bay Beach

Yoga retreat in Sweden

Random serendipity struck as a friend sent me details of a yoga retreat in Sweden in May 2019. I signed up on the basis that a yoga retreat was definitely a new thing for me. Visiting Sweden was a new thing. And the cooking would be entirely vegan which was something I was trying to improve on. And of course, the opportunity to meet a bunch of new people!

Log Cabin at Skoven Kalder
Log Cabin at Skoven Kalder. Maximum Hygge

The retreat was at Skoven Kalder. We bussed out to the remote woodland setting to discover log cabins, far from civilisation. Despite it being early May, we woke up to smatterings of snow on the ground. Down a lane from the studio was a secluded lake, peaceful glassy water, and on the lakeside a sauna. We would spend afternoons alternating between the intense heat of the sauna and the icy lake. I’ve never felt so absolutely refreshed.

Lakeside at Skoven Kalder
This tranquil lakeside had a sauna right beside it and stunning sunset views

We would do roughly four hours of yoga a day. Two in the morning before breakfast and two in the afternoon. The rest of the time was spent in conversations, playing music and wandering the grounds. Although there was no rule against it, people tended to decouple from their digital distractions, which kept us rooted to the people and experiences in front of us.

The yoga studio at Skoven Kalder
The yoga studio at Skoven Kalder

One of the key themes of the retreat was sparking joy. For me, the combination of disconnection from the noise of everyday life, the regular yoga practise and the remote location added to an incredible reset. It might be cliche to say it was a transformative experience, but I know many of us returned from Sweden fully rejuvenated and in a better frame of mind than when we left.

Obligatory forest yoga pose
Obligatory forest warrior pose

Edinburgh

A second visit to the mainland, this time a few days in Edinburgh. I spent much of my days wandering the Old Town, particularly the graveyards. St Cuthbert’s and Greyfriars were both filled with ornate and elaborate gravestones. Skulls everywhere. I loved it.

Beyond that, wanderings in the Scottish Parliament and through the National Museum made for an incredible visit. Walking the streets, wide-eyed at the art and sculpture everywhere and imagining living there, however briefly.

Scott Monument, Edinburgh
The statue of Sir Walter Scott illuminated during an August night in Edinburgh
Skull-adorned gravestone in St. Cuthbert's graveyard, Edinburgh
Skull-adorned gravestone in St. Cuthbert's graveyard, Edinburgh
George MacKenzie's mausoleum in Greyfriars Graveyard
George MacKenzie's mausoleum in Grey Friars churchyard. I've spent far too much time meandering through Edinburgh's graveyards this last couple of days. MacKenzie was the chief persecutor of the Covenanters.

London 2019

Exquisite stonework at St Margaret's Church in Westminster
Exquisite stonework at St Margaret's Church in Westminster
Pickering Place, London
Pickering Place, London
Marble Arch on a winter's night
Marble Arch on a winter's night

Day Trips around Northern Ireland

In April 2019, I took a friend for a walk along the top of Fair Head, just outside Ballycastle. It’s a place I return to fairly frequently for dramatic views over Rathlin Island and rugged coastline. The wind on this particular day was fierce and it was like being shoved around by invisible hands. I just loved this shot for its bleak colours and that impassive rock face staring eternally out to sea.

Fair Head, Ballycastle
Fair Head, Ballycastle

One of my favourite ways to fill a Sunday is to jump in the car, grab a coffee and hit the road. Here are some shots from day trips and nights out around the province.

There's Only Seven Types of Rain in Belfast
Neon umbrellas at Duke of York, Belfast
Gloomy November at Castle Ward
Gloomy November at Castle Ward
Birthday Croquet at Hillsborough Castle
Could get used to this Lord of the Manor lifestyle
Slash with Myles Kennedy in Ormeau Park
Slash with Myles Kennedy in Ormeau Park
Cat mural at Torr Head
Cat mural on top of Torr Head Coastguard Station. Fair Head in the distance.
Gerard McGarry Written by:

Liberal, humanist type. Optimist. Lover of life. Tryer of new things.