Blue Skies and Storm Clouds over Knowth

Knowth is one of the largest megalithic monuments in Europe, and dates to about 5,300 years ago. It was constructed at the height of Neolithic activity in Ireland, along with similarly huge passage-tombs at Newgrange and Dowth.

Knowth is also surrounded by 18 smaller 'satellite' passage-tombs and was excavated over a span of 40 years beginning in 1962.

I am fortunate to have known the archaeologist who excavated the monument, the late Professor George Eogan, and to have been on site there in the 1990s as a young newspaper reporter. Later, when I was researching for my book Island of the Setting Sun, George welcomed Richard Moore and I onto the site and was generous with his time and expertise.

Over the years, I have visited countless times with my camera. Just occasionally, a scene presents itself that demands to be photographed. Just one scene became apparent on a summer day when a large towering shower cloud (cumulonimbus) was approaching the monument. My instinct was to grab a wide angle lens and try to capture the moment. I hope I was successful in doing so, as this has long been one of my favourite photos of Knowth.