This hardback book of photographs of Ireland's wildlife, taken exclusively in Mayo in the West of Ireland, around Lough Mask and Lough Corrib, presents wildlife in their natural habitat, completely wild, using a basic camera and lens. It has taken patience, perseverance and time - five years of time to compile this book, made all the harder because most of our wildlife is scarce, secretive and hidden. A book treasuring our wildlife, a testimony to have on your bookshelf.

Everyone sees this bird of prey. Heard on a clear day soaring high in the sky or lurking on the edge of woodlands.

Young Falcon, about to fly his wings.

What a thrill to see the Great Spotted Woodpecker make their way to the West of Ireland. Getting this close in a hidden corner of the forest was a great joy.

Majestic! Took only two years to get this close for this image in the wild wetlands, lakes and mountains of Connemara.

A silhouette, taken in the early morning as the sun came up. I hiked 15km in the dark, climbed to the top of a mountain in wild Connemara, and waited for the family to begin their breakfast. I was well prepared for this beautiful image as they circled me - maybe they considered me for breakfast!

Curious Owl, this Long-Eared Owl flew to roost above me; he saw me long before I saw him. In nature, wildlife’s eyes go to and fro in search of food and security, and some are just very curious.

Their eyes are searching the skyline for their parents to come and feed them. The long-eared owls are a beautiful treasure in our native woodlands.

Ireland’s Red Squirrel

I caught this image as the mist rises along the Robe River between Ballinrobe and Claremorris in County Mayo in an early May morning.

A memorable time with the wild stags in a remote corner in the West of Ireland.

Red Deer Stag. As with all my images, they are taken in the wild. This one is no exception; tracking them and observing their stands over a wide range, these wild stags are completely wild, unlike those of national parks. In my view, it makes the images more satisfying. It took years to gain their confidence, reflected in the images.

European Otter feasting on crustaceans in a local river. I encounter the otter family quite often along our rivers. I caught this fella emerging from the water with a crab between his teeth. I was waiting for this opportunity for weeks, when the water was calm under the right light.

The Irish Stoat, unique to Ireland and the islands off our coast, is a mustelid that is so agile and quick that it is very difficult to photograph. In this image, I managed to sit quietly and draw its curiosity within feet, filling the frame of my camera.

My Icon Image - I just love the composition, spatial awareness and eye contact. A beautiful hawk, hidden near the edge of the ecosystem. I used this image for the front cover of the book - Fabulous as a large print. In Irish, “spioróg” is a fierce, small wild bird.

Has to be one of my favourite birds of prey - close up, he is a very striking bird. Watching them hover above their prey in the skies is an incredible work of creation, all its senses working in pinpoint accuracy. Took years to get this shot in the wild; everything about this image speaks of beauty. In Irish it is called the “Pocaire Gaoithe” translates as "wind frolicker".

Deep inside this native Irish woodland, untouched for over a hundred years, where squirrels, deer, badger, fox, stoat and birds dwell, this unique forest supports this elusive Pine Marten, known in the Irish language as “Cat Crainn,” the tree cat. Not liked by many for killing hens, yet in their natural environment, they are joyous to behold.

Curious, you can see how once upon a time in Ireland they were kept as pets.

Taken on a night when hunters were determined to shoot him. He managed to escape to a location I knew. I was very close when taking this image, seeing the fear in his eyes. It is a beautiful image, hidden, but alert.  

Extremely hard to photograph due to their wild terrain across bogs, moors and farmland. I spotted the falcon from a distance and crawled across meadows to get this close; she was undisturbed by my presence. They are rare to see.

Beautiful red fox cub, taken in our native boglands in early Spring.

Fox Cub taken at night in the forest, in the boglands where foxes and badgers share the same sett. This cub got a sniff of my coffee and warm food when I would sit late at night, hoping to photograph the badger. He became my friend.

This close-up of an Irish Hare was captured on a late summer evening under beautiful light as the sun was setting. Remarkably, when you sit down, the hare doesn’t feel threatened and will walk right up to you as long as you remain absolutely still. This detail in the image is best appreciated as a larger print; his eyes will follow you around the room.

I have a great affection for the Fox Cubs; they fueled my determination to continue as a wildlife photographer when, at many turns and countless fruitless days, I lost my motivation. When a prayer brought the voice of an old friend to memory, his words echoed in my mind - “What can you do but keep going, one foot in front of the other.” I walked a few hundred meters more and stumbled upon a fox's den with five young cubs.

Early February, as the dark winter nights were showing signs of passing and the light was increasing, an hour after sunrise, the deer would return to the safety of the woods. I was already in the woods before sunrise, knowing their pathways back into the woods. Sitting on the woodland edge, my camera nested between a natural tripod in the tree, I got this shot. He was totally unaware of my presence, and since I was lower than my subject, I was able to give strength to the image.

This dominant stag roams a wide range of woodland along Lough Mask. For a long time, I couldn’t get close enough to photograph him. Then the opportunity came, and when it came, many more came, sometimes too close for comfort. On this occasion, I sat in front of a large tree, with my camera on the tripod and my camouflage net covering me. As I sat there motionless, behind me came the Stag, and walking by me, a meter apart. When he heard the camera shutter sound, he turned, and I got this photo; thankfully, he didn’t charge at me.

A fine art image. I aim in my work to capture wildlife in its natural habitat, wild and expressing their instinctive behaviour. What is sometimes hidden reveals more, and what is unseen speaks more about what is seen. There is so much happening in this shot, deep inside the woods.

One for the kids' room. I remember taking this image so clearly. He was playing among the high, overgrown ferns at the edge of the woodland; I was hidden behind the tree, with the camera peering out. He seemed so curious, moving closer and closer, filling the frame in the camera, providing the sharp detail in the image, surrounded by greenery.

Incredibly difficult to catch an image like this in the forest; the deer has very sharp senses. I crawled along the forest floor to get into position for this shot. At the sound of the camera shutter, he turned, allowing me to get this delightful shot. I used spatial awareness to highlight the environment where they roam and the beauty and richness of its biodiversity.

Taken at dusk during the rut. I knew the location where the rut took place, and as I attempted to enter the harem, she met me at the entrance. In low light, she struggled to recognise me by sight, and I was downwind, so my scent didn’t carry. I managed to stay calm and still and take some beautiful shots. This is one of them, an elegant, grainy fine-art image.

Both sizes are mounted on a backing board, full bleed and signed on high quality paper. They are specially packed for shipment.

Up close and personal, I am but five metres from this healthy badger when I got this shot. It took eight months, countless nights and long walks home in the dark, empty-handed. When I got this photo, he had become accustomed to my scent and wasn’t at all bothered by my presence. After a number of shots, I sat down, put my camera down and simply enjoyed this beautiful mammal in real time.

Not the easiest of mammals to photograph, the Irish badger comes out late when the light is already at its poorest. It took almost a year to get this photograph, constantly visiting the sett, countless fruitless nights. Then, without cause or announcement, he left the sett to feed in the early afternoon, and I was graced with this photo opportunity.

Taken at night in the ancient castle of the De Burgos on the foot of Lough Mask in Mayo, Ireland. I was sitting on the rooftop of the castle five metres from this beautiful owl. In Ireland, they come out very late, perhaps due to an abundance of food or to avoid the ravens. It makes it hard to photograph because of the lack of light. This is a fine art image.

Taken after midnight, anticipating his landing spot from previous encounters, I set the camera settings and focused on his perching post using a long exposure, resulting in this ghostly shot of the owl coming into perch. It is one of my favourite fine art images. This image is mounted onto a backing board and sold as a wide format print only.