WATERFORD MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WIN ADULT AND JUNIOR CATEGORIES
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Wednesday 30th September: Winners of the 2009 National Heritage Week Photography Competition were announced today by the Heritage Council, coordinators of the week.
Waterford mother & daughter, Mary Jean Timmins and Caoimhe Timmins scooped up the first prizes in both the Adult and Junior Group, while Poppy Vernon from Dublin won the Youth Group.
Speaking about the competition, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council said, "We received over 500 images and the standard of photos was very high. It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and passion for heritage expressed through the eyes of people that took part in Heritage Week and attended events. The images entered in the competition truly illustrate the diversity of our heritage from natural, to built, to cultural heritage.
National Heritage Week was a fantastic success this year, with a significant increase in attendance figures reported throughout the week. I am delighted to announce that the dates for National Heritage Week 2010 have been set for the 21st - 29th August. For updates on plans for next year, log on to www.heritageweek.ie".
Prizes were divided into three categories of Adult (over 21), Youth (13-21) and Junior (7-12).
The winning photograph in the Adult Group entitled ‘Bubble Blowing’ was taken by Mary Jean Timmins at the Lifetime Lab Water Open Day in Cork. The Timmins family took full advantage of the many free events that took place during Heritage Week and travelled all around the Southeast in the last week of the children’s holidays. The winning picture, which illustrates the children blowing up a giant, colourful bubble, captures the enjoyment of the Timmins family outing to a Heritage Week event.
Poppy Vernon’s photo entitled, ‘Books of Common Prayer’ won the Youth Category and was taken at St Audoen's Church in Dublin. Poppy who is 17 and in her Leaving Cert Year is a photography enthusiast and hopes to study photography in college.
Winner of the Junior Category was Caoimhe Timmins, aged 8. Caoimhe’s photo of a Harris Hawk was taken at the Birds of Prey’ Rescue Centre in Ballycullane, Co. Wexford.
Prizes included an Irish Landmark Trust Weekend Voucher for a stay up to the value of €700, €300 gift voucher from Great Outdoors, ‘Do not handle with care’ Olympus Tough 6000 camera, €55 euro Family Heritage Card, €50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate and €50 Eason Book Shop Gift Certificate. Details of winners and runners up in each category are listed below.
Adult Category:
Taken By: Mary Jean Timmins, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Photo - 'Bubble Blowing' taken at The Lifetime Lab Open Day in Cork
We loved: The Bubble, the colours, the children learning about water.
Taken By: Brian O’Reilly, Dublin
Photo - 'Stairway To Heaven' taken at St Audoen's Church in Dublin
We loved:The light, the colours, the humour.
Taken By: Terry McParland, Waterford
Photo - 'The Bilberry Goat' taken at Bilberry Rock, Waterford
We loved:The light, the movement and the majesty of the animal captured as he stands on top of the hill billowing into the wind!
Youth Category:
Taken By Poppy Vernon, Dublin
Photo - 'Books of Common Prayer' taken at St Audoen's Church in Dublin
We loved: The light, the stillness, the atmosphere and the representation of education and archives.
Taken By: Davide Greene, Bere Island, Co. Cork
Photo: Bere Island Heritage Centre
We loved: The patiently waiting enthusiasts. Heritage Centres around Ireland do invaluable work in showcasing our heritage and are very much part of our landscape.
Taken By: Kevin Thatcher, Waterford
Photo: New bridge in Waterford, shot from Bilberry Rock
We loved: The light, the creative use of colour and a great shot of a newly built contempory structure that literally bridges the gap between the past and present. The new bridge is part of our heritage of the future and the picture was taken from Bilberry Rock in Waterford which forms part of our heritage from the past.
Junior Category:
Taken By - Caoimhe Timmins, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Photo - Harris Hawk; Taken at Birds of Prey Rescue Centre Wexford
We loved: The light, the close up of the hawk as it eyes its prey! A very opportune shot for a junior.
Taken By: Eleanor Fox, aged 7, Dublin
Photo - Dublinia; Taken at Dublinia in Dublin
We loved: The colours and the little girls enthusiasm as she lets her imagination run away and literally becomes part of Heritage Week.
Taken By: Cian Maloney, aged 9, Co. Galway
Photo - Barna Woods, Galway
We loved: The light, the atmosphere, and the way the photographer has captured the peacefulness and beauty of the scene (you can almost hear the leaves crunching beneath your feet)