The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARE Champion mascot, Daisy, will feature in an RTÉ calendar after a photograph taken by company director, Shelly Galvin beat off stiff competition to secure inclusion in this almanac.
A photograph of Daisy standing in a pumpkin patch is the October image for the ‘Today Show Animals in my Life Pet Calendar 2022’.
Shelly Galvin recalled she took this photograph during a visit to Ballycross Apple Farm in Bridgetown, County Wexford, in late September.
“I took a few photographs of Daisy standing on a pumpkin on the farm and sent them in to RTÉ.
“I am delighted that this photograph will be included in the Today Show calendar. It is a very nice feeling because I have not been taking photographs that long.
“I got an email to say I was shortlisted in the last batch, and then I got confirmation that my photograph was selected in the final 12.
“Daisy has been selected for the month of October. This calendar is used as spot prizes for the Today Show.
“This calendar will take pride of place in the Clare Champion office and at home. My husband, John gave me a new camera as an anniversary present. I have been taking photographs of Daisy in various locations on holidays and trips, which I am enjoying.”
The townland near the Ballycross Apple Farm was part of the large Tintern Abbey estate owned and managed by the Cistercian order of monks for hundreds of years.
This townland is of scientific interest in that it supports old woodland habitat featured on the 1840 Ordnance Survey map of the area. The woodlands in question are located on both sides of the entrance to Ballycross Apple Farm.
An RTÉ spokeswoman told The Clare Champion that it became “really difficult” to select the final 12 from the hundreds of entries. She said there was a “huge response” from their viewers.
“The main criteria used by judges for selection was that the photograph only showed the pet or animal.
“We love connecting with our audience, and The Today Show viewers love sending in photos of their pets or wildlife from their garden or animals from around the areas where they live to the show.
“It gave us the idea of putting the photos into a calendar. We had a huge response from our viewers and it was really tough to narrow it down.
“Last year we did our first Today Show calendar and it was a big hit with the viewers. It was really popular so this year we decided to do another one. We love including our audience and this was a perfect fit.
“This is the second year of the calendar, which is used as prizes and giveaways. They form a very popular part of our 50/50 quiz that airs just after 5pm. They are exclusive to the show,” she concluded.
