Inis Oirr
by Cheri Randolph
Title
Inis Oirr
Artist
Cheri Randolph
Medium
Photograph
Description
Inis Oirr is a small village located on the smallest, and most eastern of the three of the Aran Islands, Inisheer. Traditionally a fishing community, the homes are nestled among the rocks of this windswept island.
The island is an extension of The Burren. The terrain of the island is composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks known as "grikes", leaving isolated rocks called "clints". Because of this unusual environment, the Island supports a varied collection of plant life; Mediterranean and alpine plants side-by-sidet. Like the Burren, the Aran islands are renowned for their remarkable assemblage of plants and animals. The grikes (crevices) provide moist shelter, thus supporting a wide range of plants including dwarf shrubs. Where the surface of the pavement is shattered into gravel, many of the hardier Arctic or Alpine plants can be found. But when the limestone pavement is covered by a thin layer of soil, patches of grass are seen, interspersed with plants like the gentian and orchids.
The limestones date from the Visean period (Lower Carboniferous), formed as sediments in a tropical sea approximately 350 million years ago, and compressed into horizontal strata with fossil corals, crinoids, sea urchins and ammonites.
Glaciation following the Namurian phase facilitated greater denudation. The result is that Inisheer is one of the finest examples of a Glacio-Karst landscape in the world. The effects of the last glacial period (the Midlandian) are most in evidence, with the island overrun by ice during this glaciation. The impact of earlier Karstification (solutional erosion) has been eliminated by the last glacial period, so any Karstification now seen dates from approximately 10,000 years ago and the island Karst is thus recent.
This painted version will reproduce most effectively when printed on canvas, or a matt finish watercolor type paper such as Somerset Velvet.
Uploaded
August 26th, 2012
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Viewed 241 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/18/2024 at 9:39 AM
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Comments (16)
Randy Rosenberger
lovely and unique capture, Cheri! Love it! It is with great pride and pleasure that I showcase this beautiful piece of your art work on the HOMEPAGE of the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group site. I believe your works to be well composed, masterfully displayed, and a true joy to view. Thanks for sharing your talents with our members of WFS group and all members on FAA. Your excellence sets a standard to be proud of. Liked Forever, Elvis
Cheri Randolph
Heidi, Thanks so much for featuring "Inis Oirr" in your group, Photography - Getting The Light just Right.
Bruce Patrick Smith
This picture makes me want to go there, it successfully portrays the magic of this place! Voted!
Cheri Randolph replied:
Bruce, I hope that you do get to visit, it is truly a magical place. The people are so friendly and the land is enchanting. Thanks for voting!
ABeautifulSky Photography
Beautiful work Cheri, love the sky especially! f/v
Cheri Randolph replied:
Bill, thanks for your compliment and also the f/v! It was an amazing place to capture dramatic sky compositions for they always seemed to be changing since the island is so small and subject to prevailing winds.
Cheri Randolph
Yes, I agree, Jenny. Once you have been there, met the people, and wandered around that magical land, it does have a very special place in your memory. I'm glad that you enjoyed this one.
Jenny Rainbow
Ireland has a special place in my heart and Im always appreciating the possibility to return there in my memory, Thank you for the beautiful reminder, Cheri!
Cheri Randolph
Wow, Thanks Krista. I really appreciate your feature of this work in the group Top Three Contest Winners!
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