Sinead runner-up in Irish Wildlife Trust competition
Castlelyons woman Sinead Hickey has been announced as a runner up in the 2020 Irish Wildlife Trust members Wildlife Photograph of the Year competition.
Sinead, who is also a member of the Fermoy Camera Club, secured the win after snapping a red squirrel as he pulled the husk off a nut.
According to Sinead, the photo was taken at the foothills of Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois from a photographer hide.
“I spent five or six hours there last September with another member of the Fermoy Camera Club and we got hundreds of photos. There were loads of birds and a pine martin but I just loved the picture of the squirrel.
“In the picture, you can see he’s peeling a husk and I had wanted an action photo and I caught the red squirrel at the very end of the day,” Sinead told TheAvondhu. Wildlife is a common feature in Sinead’s photography and has been brought to the forefront over the numerous lockdowns.
“I love nature and wildlife. In Fermoy Camera Club, we all have different interests but quite a few of us like wildlife. I think the lockdown has made us all more aware of wildlife. I live in Castlelyons and have bird feeders in my garden so I have lots of shots of birds taken over the lockdowns,” Sinead added.
The Irish Wildlife Trust members only photography competition was introduced this year with the only category in the competition being ‘Irish Wildlife’, which included animals, plants, fungi and any aspect of Irish Biodiversity.
The start of 2021 saw a panel of judges select a shortlist of images, which saw Sinead shortlisted and was announced in February.
Last week saw Andrea Hunt announced as the winner for her image of a bumblebee in mid-flight pollination. Sinead was announced as a runner up along with Neil Halligan.
“They do monthly photo competitions but it was their first time doing a Members Only Photo of the Year so I was absolutely thrilled. I was delighted to get the email,” Sinead said.
The Irish Wildlife Trust, which was founded in 1979, aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it.
Members receive a welcome pack, a quarterly magazine, access to wildlife information and Irish Wildlife Trust events, a monthly email newsletter and essentially support and participate in the charitable organisation.
“I have been a member with the last two years and the work they do is just fantastic. They highlight a lot of issues from biodiversity and conservation to wildlife,” Sinead added.