Clare Camera Club salute founding members with competitions held in their memory

*Gerard O’Neill and Catriona Malone. Photograph: Michael O’Brien

PHOTOGRAPHERS in the Clare Camera Club applauded best in class with competitions held in honour of two founding members.

By celebrating two of their late founding members, the Clare Camera Club also encouraged a sense of ambition within its existing cohort to showcase their work and to be recognised by their colleagues.

Competitions were named in honour of Martin Connolly and Joan O’Neill, both of whom were founding members of the club.

Killaloe native Martin died in July 2021. An outstanding musician, he was known across the globe for making and fixing accordions. His work lit up the pages of The Clare Echo, serving as the first sports photographer with the paper, demonstrating his ability to capture the action behind the lens in print.

The Martin Connolly Memorial Competition was open to all club members and was claimed by Kilmihil native Gerard O’Neill for his superb action shot of Kilmaley’s Conor Cleary exploding past the challenge of Callum Hassett in the Clare SHC group stages this year. An accountant in Kilrush, Gerry’s photographs appear weekly in this paper greatly strengthening our sporting coverage and he is a constant presence on sidelines across the county.

He was presented with his award by Pauline Connolly, Martin’s beloved wife and Páraic McMahon on behalf of The Clare Echo who made a donation towards the prize.

Sixmilebridge based Joan died in April of this year. A native of Tampa in Florida, she was the loving wife of Gerard. Her work principally focused on the beauty of nature, the outdoors and animals, managing to demonstrate her eye for colour and multiple ways to make a photograph catch fire.

With a portrait of her father, Caitriona Malone was selected as the winner of the Joan O’Neill Memorial Competition. This was specifically for members who do not hold an accreditation with the Irish Photographic Federation. Caitriona was presented with her award by Joan’s devoted husband Gerard.

The Grove in Roslevan hosted Friday’s celebration ceremony. Based in Ennis, the membership of the Clare Camera Club consists of professional and hobby photographers and those who wish to improve their skills. Membership is open to those over the age of eighteen and who have an interest in photography.