Michael O'Connell

@moconnell007.bsky.social

755 Followers 343 Following

Botanist, palaeoecologist. Research interests: long-term environmental change, local and global; also archaeology, geography, history & a spot of photography

Perennial flower beds. The Great Palm House (1883) is on the LHS (MO'C; 6 Aug 2026)
Photo of local and international participants at the AEA / IRCJS conference ‘Environment and Civilization: Past, Present and Future’ in the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (IRCJS), Kyoto (December 2010). Professor Yasuda, conference organiser, is in middle of the front row (seated), holding a copy of the conference programme.
A layer of fine sand with conspicuous holes below a stoney deposit at the top of drumlin face provides suitable material for sandmartins to dig into and make their nests (25/06/2026; M. O'Connell)
Charlie Byrnes Bookshop, Galway - part of shop window display to mark Bloomsday 2026 (photo: M. O'Connell)
Sun Voyager, Reykjavík (29 May 2026, MO'C)
Statue of Jón Sigurðsson facing the parliament. Next photo shows JS leading forth the Icelandic people to freedom (from Danish rule). Note the basaltic columns
Today's route to Reykjavik 26 May 2026; MO'C
Glacier front (view inland to north). Large chunk that has recently separated is to the RHS.
Beginning of an eruptian cycle in the main active geysers at Geysir. Water temp about 100C. 22 May 2026, MO'C
Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík
Bridge between the Continents. Ever increasing pag between Eurasian [LHS] & N American plate. 20 May 2026, MO'C 1
An Spidéal (Spiddal), Connemara; swimmers taking advantage of an exceptionally fine Friday afternoon (24/04/2026; M. O'Connell
First three photos from Derrymore East, N of Kilkishen, Easter 2026; photos: Michael O'Connell Seen (but not photographed) a white-tailed, sea-eagle and a buzzard
Author Dr Caitríona Clear & colleague Dr Róisín Healy discuss the writing of 'A Concise History of Ireland', CUP, 2026 (Moore Institute, University of Galway; 25/03/2026; M. O'Connell)
A pátrún at Mám Éan (Pass of the Birds) in the Maumturk Mountains, Connemara by WH Bartlett (1835). Realistic but with vertical exaggeration
Dr Edel Bhreathnach launches The Celtic World - A History [Publisher: Four Courts Press, Dublin] BY Professor John Waddell in Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, Galway. [19th Feb. 2026; M O'Connell]
View towards Quad (1845; first students 1849)
photographs taken from near where the N59 first meets the NE inner part of Killary Fjord. Wonderful reflections - the result of the exceptionally still conditions. Saturday, 31 Jan. 2026; Michael O'Connell
Approaching the pilgrimage site at Mám Éan from the south (Recess side). Limestone statue of St Patrick in front of a small stone structures with 'St Patrick's bed' in between (hidden by the structures) 1/02/20026; MO'C
Booleying in Ireland. A study of an ancient farming tradition in Achill, County Mayo BY Theresa McDonald Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2025 ISBN 1036447448, 9781036447441 331 pp; 10 Chapters + bibliography & index No. of illustrations: 116 – line drawings, photos incl. ‘old photographs’ cf. Lawrence Collection, archaeological drawings, graphs. Recent colour photographs No. of tables: 6 Front cover illustration: 'A Home in Achill’ 1905. Francis Sylvester Walker’s late nineteenth century watercolour of a booley house somewhere on Achill Island (© National Library of Ireland, 62911)
Photos taken 22.50+ h at the Beach at Grattan Rd., Salthill, Galway, looking SE over Galway Bay towards Marree & SE Burren. Michael O'Connell; 2026-01-19
Thick ash deposits near the Laachersee from a volcanic eruption dating to 12900 y ago, i.e. preceding the start of the Younger Dryas climatic oscillation - an exceptionally cold period that lasted about 1000 y & that was followed by the post-glacial (Holocene). Photos: Michael O'Connell; 2 Sep 2008
These 3 photos from road that goes from Kilnamore to Dysart O'Dea, near Magowna Towerhouse (largely hidden by trees & scrub (photos: M. O'Connell; 3 Jan 2026)
Graphical Abstract summarising the publication O’Connell, Michael and Wolters, Steffen. 2025. Holocene flora, vegetation and land-use changes on Dingle peninsula, Ireland, as reflected in pollen analytical, archaeological and historical records. Diversity, 17, 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070456
Spectacular folding in Carboniferous limestone & shale strata in beautiful Loughshinny. Photos by Emer, December 31, 2025