Last of the Snow...?

This is the path which runs alongside the Bann from the town to the Cutts at Castleroe. The photo was taken on Friday afternoon.

To-day the thaw has begun. The temperature is just above freezing, sleet is falling...

Frozen

The River Bann has frozen over. A rare occurance, but to be expected after over a week with temperatures continuously well below zero.

Happy Christmas!!

The Diamond

How part of The Diamond, Coleraine looked last Saturday. And it's still much the same to-day.

Picturesque?

A view of Christie Park and the River Bann.

Yes, it is picturesque. When everything is covered by snow it's very beautiful. But we rarely get heavy snow in Northern Ireland - or in the rest of Ireland, or the UK, for that matter.
So when snow arrives we find it difficult to cope, especially when it is accompanied by record low temperatures.
The daytime temperature has been around minus 10 Centigrade, to-night it's forecast to be as low as minus 20 in places.
As a result, even the main roads remain snow-covered. The salted grit spread on them doesn't seem to be very effective at such low temperatures.
For many schools the Christmas break has come several days early. It's difficult to get to work. Christmas shopping has become a struggle for everyone. - which will give the shops an even greater struggle to survive.
People needing to travel to spend the holiday with their families are finding airports closed, flights cancelled.

Yes, snow is beautiful. But when it doesn't melt within a few hours of falling, life just falls apart.

Killowen Parish Church

Properly known as St John the Evangelist, this is the Church of Ireland church at Killowen - just across the river from Coleraine town centre.

Christmas Tree

It's unusual for Coleraine's Christmas Tree to be weighed down with snow.

But, for the second time in two weeks, we've had an exceptionally heavy fall - apparently the worst for twenty-five years .
The first snow was gone in a few days. This time, with daytime temperatures well below freezing, there's a good chance it will still be here at Christmas.

Chimneys?

Last time I said the Spanboard factory was 'mothballed'. Over the last couple of days the chimneys have been dismantled. To-day they're gone.

When I took the last photo, I didn't realise it would record the end of an era. Those chimneys have been a feature of the local skyline since 1959.
Originally smaller, they gained height over the years as changes in legislation forced the company to emit smoke and dust higher in the air.

Chimneys

We've had beautiful weather for the last few days - much better than most of July and August.

The photo is a view up the River Bann, upstream of Coleraine. The chimneys in the background belong to a factory called Spanboard.
Opened in 1959, Spanboard manufactured chipboard until last year when the plant was mothballed as a result of the recession.

I hope 'mothballed' isn't a euphemism for 'closed down for good'.

Evening in Portballintrae

I haven't been blogging for over four months now. Long, clear evenings keep me away from my computer. But as summer comes to an end, it's time for a new start.

The photo above was taken this evening in Portballintrae - which is at the eastern end of the Coleraine Borough Council area.

Scrapyard

Like many towns, Coleraine has a scrapyard where various types of old metal are collected for recycling.

Scrap metal was being recycled many years before being green became fashionable.
This particular yard is operated by T-Met.

In this photo, the River Bann is in the foreground, with St Patrick's church in the distance.

Daffodils

At last the daffodils are in full bloom.

The building in the background is Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart.

Exposed Rocks

Back to Castlerock - and away from the main beach.

This area is only exposed when there is an unusually low tide. Inishowen can, once again, be seen in the distance.

Volcanic Sunset?

Due to the cloud of ash drifting down from the volcano erupting in Iceland, we were promised a spectacular sunset...

Although the sunset must be poor consolation to the many thousands of people unable to travel to-day, due to the closure of all UK and Irish airports. No flights will be allowed until at least 1.00pm to-morrow. This cloud of volcanic ash has also affected flights and airports in most other Northern European countries.

The photo was taken from Strand Road, Portstewart looking towards the Inishowen Peninsula.

Ocean

A glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean from the beach at Castlerock.

Barry's Amusements

Established back in 1925, Barry's Amusements in Portrush still remains popular with visitors keen to experience the thrills of the Big Dipper or the Freak Out.

Spring Sunshine

It's been a long, hard winter in this part of the world, but we've had a beautiful week-end to finish the Easter holidays.
To-morrow the children are back to school and all those lucky people who've been on holiday all week return to work.

The photo shows the West Strand at Portrush this afternoon. A couple of days of sunshine and people think summer's arrived!

St. Patrick

St. Patrick's Church, Coleraine seen from Circular Road, with part of Anderson Park in the foreground.

A Church of Ireland building, this church opened its' doors in 1885. Over the centuries, a number of churches have been built at this particular place.

It is said that St. Patrick himself founded the first church which occupied the site.

Anderson Park

We've had cold, sunny weather for almost a week now. Perhaps winter is almost over.

This is a view of Anderson Park in Coleraine - seen from Circular Road, looking towards Union Street.

By the way, one of my friends, Maggie, is having a March giveaway on her blog. Check the blog out here.

Mussenden Temple

The Mussenden Temple, seen from Downhill. Perched on the edge of the cliff, the Temple is approximately 120 feet above the sea.

Built in 1785 by Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol (known as the Earl Bishop), the Temple is part of Downhill Demesne. It was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. Used as a summer library, the Temple was dedicated to the memory of the Earl Bishop's cousin, Frideswide Mussenden.

Now in the care of the National Trust, the Temple can be hired for civil wedding ceremonies.

At the bottom of the cliff, below the Temple, the entrance to a tunnel on the Belfast to Derry railway line is just visible.

Town

Back to Coleraine!

This is looking from Lower Captain Street, across the Bann Bridge, towards the town centre.
The Town Hall and St Patrick's Church are in the background.

Mist

Taken to the west of Dunluce Castle, a little closer to Portrush.

Castle, Again

Dunluce Castle seen from the opposite side to the last view.

Castle

Move a little to the right of my previous photo and Dunluce Castle comes into view.

It is believed that the first castle at Dunluce was constructed in the 1200's.
The ruins shown here were abandoned around 1690 and are currently in the care of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Sea and Cloud

Taken this afternoon just off the main road from Portrush to Bushmills, Co Antrim.

Calm

Calm sea on a cold day in Portstewart.
Taken from the Prom, with the harbour entrance in the background.

Fog

Taken on a cold, foggy day last week, this is part of Anderson Park, Coleraine.