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Photo competition draws large entry

The third annual Tom Shanahan Memorial Competition which closed recently drew a record 91 entries from all over Fingal and, according to St. Brigid’s Photo club chairperson, Michael McGee, the overall standard of submitted photographs was the highest ever.

“To my eyes, the standard is extremely high,” he told Community Voice. “There are some fabulous photographs in there and competition for the overall prize will be very keen.

Last year contained some excellent photographs but also a few that mightn’t quite make the grade. This year, the entries are almost uniformly striking.”

Tom Shanahan died suddenly in 2004. He was one of the fortunate few who actually resided in the Phoenix Park, near the Ordnance Survey Office, where he worked and he was a founder member of the St. Brigid’s Photo Club over ten years ago.

Fingal County Council, in recognition of his endeavours over many years generously commissioned a bronze memorial in Tom’s memory which was presented to his widow Betty, who in turn presented it to St. Brigid’s Photo Club as a perpetual competition trophy. The Stag represents Tom’s love of nature and wildlife - and the habitat on the doorstep of his residence, where he and his family lived for so many years.

Described as “a very popular, talented and interesting character, with an irrepressible personality and, in the best possible meaning of the word, an irreverent cynic,” Tom was one of natures real gentlemen, whose life touched so many people in his many involvements in the cultural life of Dublin 15. It was decided that an annual photographic competition for all the photo clubs in Fingal would be an ideal way of commemorating him.

Entries this year flowed in from Lusk, Skerries, Swords and Malahide, although there were 30 entries by St. Brigid’s Photo Club alone. “I would dearly love for someone from our club to win the trophy this year,” said Michael. “This is the third year of the competition and we haven’t won it yet! Last year, I joked that the other Fingal clubs had come up to our standard but looking at this year’s entries, the competition will be very keen indeed.

“However, even if we are unsuccessful, I am still very proud to be part of a group that has produced such an august body of work.”

Judging of the competition will be by members of Clondalkin Camera Club to ensure utter impartiality and the winners will be announced at a presentation in Blanchardstown Library on Wednesday 30th January at 7pm. This event also marks the launch of an exhibition in the Library of all entries to the competition, which will be open to the public from the following day.

The Tom Shanahan Memorial Photographic Exhibition 2008 runs at Blanchardstown Library from Thursday 31st January to Friday 15th February.

Admission during normal Library opening hours is naturally free.

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