ver the last few years, we’ve been trying to highlight
the fact that we’re particularly blessed in this small corner of the world with many great artists, whether it’s painters, or musicians, photographers, writers and
whatever you’re having yourself.Â
And over that time, we’ve come to love one particular breed of artist more and more.
The artist who often doesn’t see themself as an artist.
Which is how art should be, in many ways. A passion, a hobby, an affair behind life’s back. One such artist is Brian Keeley, an
incredible Greystones photographer who, he tells us, doesn’t want to be considered a snapper worthy of shining a spotlight on. Despite the fact that his work has been bowling people over for years.
When we contacted Brian directly about taking part in our regular A Kick Up The Arts
column – wherein artists pick three of their own personal favourites and three from artists that inspire them – he was quick to argue that he didn’t belong in such company. Happy to work alone and find his own way in the shadows, Brian stated, “I’m not attached to any club or group. I am not inspired by another photographer – I don’t even know any other
photographer whose work I could look at for inspiration.”
For Brian, the inspiration mainly comes from nature – “the colours, patterns, shapes intrigue me” – and the resulting work is purely for his own satisfaction. It was after joining the Guinness company in 1955, at the tender age of 14, that Brian found himself, five years later, getting a job in their photographic department.
And a beautiful obsession was born, one that would return with a vengeance forty years later, as the digital age made Brian’s teenage passion accessible and affordable once again.
Photography – and Greystones – is lucky to have Brian Keeley back, as these stunning images prove. 
We’ve chosen many of our favourites here, but you can find even more Keeley beauties on our photo gallery site here. Oh, and just to show how much the town appreciates the man’s work, Brian is the patron saint of our annual Greystones Rocks photography competition…

Under The Moon MON18NOV19 Brian Keeley

Escape Fri 29MAR19 Brian Keeley

Harbour Sunset 19MAY19 Brian Keeley

Moonbird 15MAY19 Brian Keeley

Swan Lout 20MAY19 Brian Keeley

See Moon Sun 24MAR19 Brian Keeley

Sunset 6APR19 Brian Keeley 2

Sunset Thurs 28MAR19 Brian Keeley

Sunset Tues 9APR19 Brian Keeley

Mad About The Gull 17DEC18 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Sunrise 3DEC18 Brian Keeley

Hear Me! Hear Me! 12NOV18 Brian Keeley

Walk This Way Sat 23JUNE18 Brian Keeley

A Bird In The Hand 5MAY18 Brian Keeley

Flying High 8MAY18 Brian Keeley

On Golden Sea Weds 30MAY18 Brian Keeley

Paul Heaton Pays A Visit SAT26MAY18 Brian Keeley

Sunset Birds SUN9APR18 Brian Keeley

Over The Moon 25FEB18 Brian Keeley

Moon sets over the Sugar Loaf Thurs 1FEB18 Brian Keeley

Moondance Thurs 25JAN18 Brian Keeley

Moonset Birds Fri 3FEB18 Brian Keeley

Moonset Sat 3FEB18 Brian Keeley

Supermoon Weds 31JAN18 Brian Keeley

Glossy Ibis Fri 26JAN18 Brian Keeley

Meadow Pipit THURS7DEC17 Brian Keeley

Ron Seal Jnr THURS21DEC17 Brian Keeley

Bad Moon Rising Wed 29th Nov 2017 Brian Keeley

Sunrise WEDS20DEC17 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Friday 27OCT17 Brian Keeley

Beach Flyover Sat 16SEPT17 Brian Keeley

Cruise Liner Mon 11SEPT17 Brian Keeley

Eye Of The Seagull 6AUG17 Brian Keeley

Harbour Sunset Weds 23AUG17 Brian Keeley

Sunset Sunday 6AUG17 Brian Keeley

Yacht Tues 15AUG17 Brian Keeley

Blue Tit Fri 1SEPT17 Brian Keeley

Sunset Sunday 6AUG17 Brian Keeley

Moonrise 7th July 2017 Brian Keeley

Sunset 7th July 2017 Brian Keeley

Harbour Sunset Thurs 25MAY17 Brian Keeley

Harbour Thurs 18MAY17 Brian Keeley

Moon Tues 9MAY17 Brian Keeley

Passing Ships Thurs 25MAY17 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Thurs 11MAY17 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Bird Mon 10APR17 Brian Keeley

Blue Moon Fri 7APR17 Brian Keeley

Sunset Sun 9APR17 Brian Keeley

Rainbow Sunday 19MAR17 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Thurs 16MAR17 Brian Keeley

Harbour Rainbow Fri 10MAR17 Brian Keeley

Heron Gone Sun 26FEB17 Brian Keeley

Here Come The Birds Tues 14FEB17 Brian Keeley

Beach Tues 7FEB17 Brian Keeley

Crashing Waves, Approaching Train 21OCT16 Brian Keeley

Gulls For A Queue Fri 9FEB17 Brian Keeley

Wave Goodbye Mon 13Feb17 Brian Keeley

Wet Socks Mon 13FEB17 Brian Keeley

Early Morning Hike Sat 28JAN17 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Sat 21JAN17 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon SAT 7JAN17 Brian Keeley

Beach Walker FRI 6JAN17 Brian Keeley

Under A Blood Red Sky Tues 27DEC16 Brian Keeley

Robin Redbreast Christmas Day 2016 Brian Keeley

Cove Sunrise Sat 17DEC16 Brian Keeley

South Beach Love Sat 10DEC16 Brian Keeley

Spot The Dog 09DEC16 Brian Keeley

Cove Dawn 08DEC16 Brian Keeley

Yoga Bear 12DEC16 Brian Keeley

To The Edge Of The World Thurs 7DEC16 Brian Keeley

Wave Bye-Bye 30NOV16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Saturday 26NOV16 Brian Keeley

Stormy Waters Tues 22NOV16 Brian Keeley

Moonrise Tues 15NOV16 Brian Keeley

Kestrel Charlesland 14NOV16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Friday 11NOV16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Sunday 13NOV16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Tues 8NOV16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Friday 21OCT16 Brian Keeley

Free As A Bird Tues 11OCT16 Brian Keeley

Moonrise Weds 5OCT16 Brian Keeley

Alpaca Killoughter Lane, Newcastle Friday 1OCT16 Brian Keeley

You Lookin’ At Me? Sunday 25SEPT16 Brian Keeley

Sugar Loaf Sunset 28SEPT16 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Sunday 18SEPT16 Brian Keeley

Sugar Loaf Sunday 18SEPT16 Brian Keeley

Harbour Sunset Sunday 18SPT16 Brian Keeley

Ferry In The Mist Mon 4SEPT16 Brian Keeley

Sunset Harbour Tues 16AUG16 Brian Keeley

Shine On Monday 18th July 2016 Brian Keeley

Yacht Saturday 18JUNE16 Brian Keeley

Here Come The Girls 9JUNE16 Brian Keeley

Robin Sat 28th May 2016 Brian Keeley

Fishing Boat 24th Mar 2016 Brian Keeley

Sunrise Mon 7th Mar 2016 Brian Keeley

South Beach 29th Feb 2015 Brian Keeley

South Beach 9.30am Thurs 18th Feb 2016 Brian Keeley

South Beach Weds 3rd Feb 2016 Brian Keeley

When The Boats Come In Sat 30th Jan 2016 Brian Keeley

Fishing On The Horizon 30th Jan 2016 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Thurs 14th Jan 2016 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Friday 8th Jan 2016 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Mon 4th Jan 2016 Brian Keeley

Santa Train 6th Dec 2015 Brian Keeley

Ballygannon Sun 6th Dec Brian Keeley

Newcastle Church Brian Keeley

Greystones Harbour circa 1990 feat Tommy Grealy’s beloved boat Pic Brian Keeley

Bray Head 27AUG15 Brian Keeley

Rose 16AUG15 Brian Keeley

Robin Mon 28SEPT15 Brian Keeley

Early Morning Boat 13OCT15 Brian Keeley
2 comments
Love the photos!
Beautiful photos!