Drogheda Independent

Photograph­y group excels

- BY ALISON COMYN

It boasts some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world, and now some of the most talanted photograph­ers in the region are winning awards for capturing its beauty.

It’s not just the honey that’s golden in Boyne Valley as local camera club, Boyne Valley Photograph­ic Club, proved at the Irish Photograph­ic Federation North East Regional round of the Photograph­er of the Year and the Nature Photograph­er of the Year.

In only its 2nd year, the club had a massively successful day with seven of their members collecting a total of 14 awards; seven Gold Medals, two Silver Medals, four Bronze Medals and an Honourable Mention. They even managed to win one of the raffle prizes!

Hosted by the Carrickmac­ross Camera Club on January 12th at the stunning Carrickmac­ross Workhouse, 11 different clubs in the North East region were represente­d on the day and the bumper entry was also the largest entry of all the regions in the country.

However, this didn’t deter Boyne Valley Photograph­ic club and righlty so, as the success of the members shows.

Ger Mulhall won three Gold Medals and a Bronze, Maria Lujza Polonkai won two Gold Medals and a Bronze, Vaidotas Maneikis won a Gold Medal and a Silver, Gary L’Estrange won a Gold Medal and a Bronze, Nuredin Gashi won a Silver Medal, Lisa L’Estrange won a Bronze Medal and Jean Gillespie Johnston received an Honourable Mention. Considerin­g that half of the medal winners only joined a club for the first time in the last 12 months and one of the medal winners only bought their first camera in the same time period, it is a huge testament to the natural talent these photograph­ers have and speaks volumes for the health of the club for years to come. Congratula­tions to all the medal winners and to the club on this wonderful success.

From here it is on to the National Finals which will be held in the Talbot Hotel, Carlow on February 16th and 17th, where members of photograph­y clubs from all over the country will fight it out once more for a share of the spoils. Will the members from Boyne Valley Photograph­ic Club be able to do it again? Why not pop along and see as the event is open to the public and promises to be a stunning weekend showcasing the top photograph­ers in the country.

If you are looking for a group of friends who also like taking pictures, the club meets every Thursday at 8.15pm in the wonderful function room of the Pheasant Bar and Grill, 86 Duleek Street, Drogheda and always welcome new members so feel free to call in, email them at boynevalle­yphotograp­hicclub@gmail.com or check out their facebook page, Boyne Valley Photograph­ic Club.

Best of luck to Boyne Valley Photograph­ic Club in the finals.

 ??  ?? Left: The Boyne Valley photograph­ers, Back, L to R: Club Chairman Darragh Collins, Dr Philip Scanlon, Melina Taylor, Noeleen McCormack, Seamus Byrne. Front, L to R: Nuredin Gashi, Lisa L’Estrange, Gary L’Estrange, Maria Lujza Polonkai, Vaidotas Maneikis, Ger Mulhall.
Left: The Boyne Valley photograph­ers, Back, L to R: Club Chairman Darragh Collins, Dr Philip Scanlon, Melina Taylor, Noeleen McCormack, Seamus Byrne. Front, L to R: Nuredin Gashi, Lisa L’Estrange, Gary L’Estrange, Maria Lujza Polonkai, Vaidotas Maneikis, Ger Mulhall.
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