Little Island Walk 23rd December 2021

 Little Island Walk 23rd December 2021

Á contre soleil. Pic taken on Little Island looking across the River Lee as it loses itself in the salt-water of the large harbour. Taken, just after a tame shower, against the light, so not as threatening as it seems and there were no immediate nasty weather developments. 

The Fota Folly. Ireland has quite a few of these follies, usually built by aristocrats who had money to spare and often more cents than sense. Some of the efforts looked well but many had no useful purpose whatsoever. In this case though, BuildingsofIreland.ie report that the Smith Barrys, who owned nearby Fota House, holidayed in the tower which had its own little harbour and boathouse. 

A lot of old rope. Flotsam, I presume, rather than jetsam!

Puffballs are fungi, according to Wikipedia, so named because clouds of brown dust-like spores are emitted when the mature fruitbody bursts or is impacted (or pressed gently with a little stick as you can see below). Can't remember seeing these with a long time until this walk in the island but, less than a week later, I came across another group
in the grounds of Blarney Castle.

A little ruin, close to the foreshore at the Fota side of the island.