Snowfalls

Heavy snowfalls in Ireland are rare and as a result, the country is not prepared for their impact when they come with huge consequences to the economy including cancellation of public transport services and impassable roads. However, the novelty of them being so rare combined with how much they can add to a beautiful landscape makes snow a welcoming visitor to many. As a photographer, snow is one of my preferred conditions as it gives me a perspective of the environment I could not get with any other weather conditions.

The year 2010 was front and back-ended unusually by cold, snowy winters. The former 2009-10 was the coldest since the severe winter of 1963 whilst the latter 2010-11 contained the coldest December on record and one of the coldest months ever in Dublin with several big snowfalls including a very white Christmas - only one of 2 in my lifetime to date with the other being back in 2004. As a 9 or 10 year old at the time, I thought the snow/cold was the norm but boy was I wrong. I did not take a single photograph or get a single photograph of me that year which is one of my biggest life regrets. I don't want to make this mistake ever again and make the most of any snowfalls we get, capture them best I can.