Capturing History Challenge – Week 5

Here we are with yet another week of the Challenge. The last five weeks have flown by, and I got some more great images for you to see. This week we travel around England, Ireland, Scotland and then across Europe to Sicily. As always Im like a kid in a sweet shop and immediatly start googling these sites as they come in to find out all about their history. But as you all know, the Ruinhunter is a bit of a geek when it comes to such things. From the early Saxon Cross from Bakewell in Derbyshire to the Dunvegan   Castle on the Isle of Skye. We then move on to the Neolithic Long Barrow of Wayland’s Smithy in Oxfordshire before  travelling across the Irish Sea and down to Killarney National Park to see the famous Muckross Abbey. And with the winter chill slowly creeping in on us, we head off to a warmer climate to see the Greek Theatre of Taormins and Porto Palo in Sicily, before heading back to the Emerald Isle to Donadea Castle in Kildare. As always the sole purpose of this challenge is to raise peoples awareness to the fact that our little world is filled with fantastic history and heritage, which is sadly forgotten about and ignored or destroyed. If you missed out on last week’s instalment of the Challenge, then  you can check it out HERE.

But before we continue, I would like to make an announcement.

The end of next month is Samhain/Halloween, the Gaelic New Year celebration. Which is universally celebrated on the 31st of October. So as part of this years celebrations, on the back of the ‘Capturing History Challenge’ I would like to run an extra Spooktacular Challenge on the 31st October. Its going to be the same as the current weekly challenge, BUT all submissions must have a spooky historical connection. It could be a Haunted House, A Vampire’s Castle, a Witches Lair or anything that you can think of. Im hoping that this is going to be huge, so get your thinking caps on and you can begin submitting your images from today. In order to make sure that the Spooktacular Challenge is ready for Samhain, please try to have your image sent in no later than Midnight on Monday 26th October. Entries to the usual address  edmooneyphotography@gmail.com

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1. Early Saxon Cross & Carved Stones, Derbyshire, UK. By Sue Vincient @  Daily Echo

2. Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland By Cybele Moon @ The RunesOfAGateKeepersDaughter

3. Long Barrow of Wayland’s Smithy, Oxfordshire, UK by Cameron McCulloch @ WorldsBiggestFridgeMagnet

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4. Muckross Abbey, Killarney, Ireland. by Autumn Wagner @  Autumnchangesblog

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5. Greek Theatre Taormina & Porto Palo Sicily. by GiusyB @ KimomoLab

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6. Donadea Castle, Kildare, Ireland. by Ed Mooney @  EdMooneyPhotography

Donadea Castle is situated on the grounds of Donadea Forest Park and was first settled by the Normans whom had numerous fortifications here over the years. The ruins of the current structure were actualy built by the same guy whom built the Folly on the Hill of Allen, Gerald Aylmer the 9th Baronet of Donadea. You can read all about its history HERE

And so thats it for this week, I hope that you have enjoyed this weeks selection of images. Many of the contributors will have this included on their own blog, so if any or all of the sites this week appeal to you, please feel free to drop a line in the comments section below. Or even better yet, click on the link located underneath each image and check out what they are up too. Im sure that they would be only too happy to hear from you and answer any questions you might have.

So here is how you too, can join in;

The plan is quite simple, each Wednesday I will be posting an image of a random site with a heritage connection. Any images sent in will be included in the challenge along with your name and a link to your site. Full credit is given to each participant. The joy of this challenge is that we can all participate and share our images whilst raising the awareness of our own particular History and Heritage. The image can be anything from an old Church or Castle, to a Battlefield or Neolithic tomb, the choices are endless. And you can capture the image on any device you choose to. It can be in colour, black and white or any variation. The important thing is that we share.

And so to make sure that the challenge runs smoothly here are a few notes on how to participate:

• All images must have been taking by you, there is no time restriction on this and you retain the copyright for your images
• Images should be submitted via email by no later than midnight GMT on the Sunday before so I can ensure the challenge is ready to be posted on the Wednesday morning. My email address is edmooneyphotography@gmail.com
• You don’t have to even have to be a WordPress blogger. This challenge is open to everyone, please include your name and a link back to your blog, website or social media page.
• Images should be kept at low resolution with the largest side at 1000 pixels or less, if you need help with this you can pm me.
• Once the challenge is published I will delete all files and mails from that week .
• Each contributor should write a small piece about their image on their blog, for readers to check out, or at least the history behind the shot by adding  to the comments of each challenge.

And dont forget to start sending in submissions for the SPOOKTACULAR CHALLENGE in October.