‘Taking only photos, leaving only footprints.’

That’s the mantra of the talented photographer behind the @AbandonedWestCork Instagram feed.

We can’t get enough of the eerie, oddly beautiful photographs in the collection, every one shot inside the abandoned halls of West Cork’s empty convents, schools, stately homes, cottages, factories and businesses and posted with a thoughtful caption explaining the back story to each location.

Amongst the broken crockery, ravaged books and rotting furniture, old photographs, ancient cereal boxes, rusty tins of shaving cream and forlorn combs and hairbrushes remind us that these places were once inhabited by real people.

You can browse the feed for yourself here. These are eight of our favourite posts from 2018:

1. THE LAST CHRISTMAS

 

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The living room from an #abandoned cottage in #westcork . It never fails to surprise me when you see a cottage that from the outside looks like nature has taken over and then you walk inside to see this. Whoever abandoned this house did so near Christmas as the decorations were in a box on the table along with some Christmas booze. . . . . #abandonedwestcork #abandonedireland #abandoned_junkies #abandonedbuildings #abandonedplaces #derelictireland #derelict #decay #wildatlanticway #ruralireland #ruralexploration #rurex #abandonedfurniture #ireland #urbexplaces #urbex #forgottenplaces #forgottenireland #forgotten

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Nov 13, 2018 at 12:29am PST

2. FORGOTTEN FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

 

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I’m sure some of you have been asked, if your house was on fire and you could save one thing what would it be? (After people and pets are out). For me it would have to be photo albums. Before the advent of digital photography, your photographs are the only thing that can’t be replaced. I know you can’t take any of it with you when you die but it does sadden me when I see photos like these left behind. . . . . #abandonedwestcork #abandonedireland #abandonedplaces #abandoned #abandonedphotos #forgotten #forgottenpeople #forgottenplaces #derelictireland #derelict #decay #rurex #urbex #urbexplaces #urbexphoto #leftbehind

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Nov 18, 2018 at 2:44am PST

3. LORETO CONVENT YOUGHAL

 

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A few up close more personal items from the Loreto Convent in #youghal . If you can be bothered the nuns prayer (picture 2) is definitely worth a read. . . . . . #abandonedconvent #abandonedireland #abandoned #abandonedplaces #catholicchurch #ireland #countycork #wildatlanticway #urbex #rurex #urbexplaces

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Nov 23, 2018 at 5:23am PST

4. AN ABANDONED MANSION

 

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For me finding this place was a real treat. The #georgian decorative plaster work in this house was second to none in any house I have looked at so far. . . . . #abandonedwestcork #abandoned #abandoned_excellence #abandonedireland #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #derelictireland #derelictplaces #decay #urbex_utopia #ruralexploration #ruralireland #rurex #irishexplorer #ireland #urbex #decorativeplaster #buildingsofireland #countycork #wildatlanticway #westcork

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Nov 24, 2018 at 1:48am PST

5. TIME CAPSULE

 

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Hidden in plain sight. Whoever last lived here got out of bed, brushed their teeth, had a cup of #barrystea and left never to return. Food still in the cupboards, full moneybox, unopened post, a half drunk whiskey from the night before. This house is the perfect time capsule. (The living room of this house was posted in a previous post) . . . . #abandonedwestcork #abandonedcork #abandonedireland #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #abandoned #timecapsule #irishruins #irishexplorer #ireland #irishhistory #derelictplaces #derelictireland #derelicthouse #derelict #decay #westcork #countycork #wildatlanticway #urbex #urbexplaces #ruralireland #ruins #rurex #youcanttakeitwithyou #naturetakesover #naturetakesback

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Nov 29, 2018 at 12:09am PST

6. A MORTUARY HOSPITAL

 

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#abandonedwestcork . Inside the #abandoned #mortuary hospital. An unbelievable amount of people died in this building. If there is such a thing as #haunted buildings this would be one of them. #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #abandonedireland #ruins #decay #ghosts

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:47pm PDT

7. BELLEVUE HOUSE

 

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Bellevue House was built in the mid 18th century. It had a revamp around 1860 and is now another fine example of an historical building of interest being left to rot. I felt very torn leaving this building. There were two 19th century hardback musical score books for piano and voice. In them were arrangements I have never come across before. They should be in a museum or donated to the school of music, but instead they are soon going to be exposed to the elements and rot. It’s moments like this where I have to question is taking only photos the right thing to do?😥 I am going to do another post on this building because there is more to show including upstairs the most amazing tin bath I have ever seen. . . . . . #abandophiles #abandonedireland #abandoned #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #irishhistory #ireland #irishexplorer #derelictireland #derelict #decay #ruralireland #rurex #ruins #countycork #georgianhouse #ig_cork #urbex_utopia #urbex

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Oct 21, 2018 at 3:31am PDT

8. DE LA SALLE BOARDING SCHOOL

 

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I can’t decide if this gets tag as #abandonedboardingschool or #abandonedfilmset so I’ll tag it as both. These are a small selection of rooms from the ground floor of the Ballyvourney De La Salle boarding school (Coláiste íosagáin) that was used as the film set for “Song for a raggy boy”. . . . . . . #abandonedireland #irishhistory #abandonedschool #abandoned #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuildings #derelictireland #derelict #decay #catholicchurch #abandophiles #urbexplaces #urbex #rurex #countycork #wildatlanticway #ireland #boardingschool #filmset #songforaraggyboy #aidanquinn

A post shared by AbandonedWestCork (@abandoned_westcork) on Oct 25, 2018 at 12:02am PDT

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