View down Glenealo valley, Glendalough #1

This is the first and smaller version of my view down Glenealo Valley, painted on location from the track leading up from the miners' village below. Familiar to hikers on the Spinc walk (or White route) in Glendalough, this view is particularly striking when approached from the Poulanass Waterfall end, offering a captivating perspective throughout the descent towards the miners' village.

The scene showcases the intriguing disbanded mining works and slag heaps that define this landscape. I've painted this vista twice, with this piece being the smaller version, both created from the same vantage point about halfway up the track leading to the bridge further along.

While the trek up with painting gear can be challenging, the breathtaking experience of spending hours in this windy, elevated location makes it all worthwhile. This area deeply inspires me; it's rich in history, where miners once toiled, monks walked, and glaciers once carved the land. Standing here for hours, I can truly feel the weight of history and the ancient essence of this place, drawing me back again and again.