My travels took me to Muingdoran last week that isolated headland near Doolough. The meadow grass was high with some fields blanketed by buttercups.
Walking across the marshy ground near the cliff edge, overlooking Blacksod Bay, I came across a beautiful single orchid in the tall grass.
It was a Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii). Its various shades of purple looking majestic against the greens and yellows of the grass.
This beautiful species can be found from Ireland as far east as Mongolia, the Altai Mountains and across northern Asia.
MAYO.ME 