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Tag Archives: John Kelly

Uncovering the hidden Clare

Clare is a complicated county. A place of tradition and inspiration, of discipline and recklessness, of old habits and new beginnings. Editors Anne Jones and Peadar King set out to explore the dichotomy that resides within the Banner in their book, ‘The Art of Place: People and Landscape of County Clare’. The book features personal accounts of 31 Clare artists, who were either born in Clare or moved to the county. Later this week, this discussion will be brought to a live audience at the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point where two of the featured artists, Ennis painter Mick O’Dea and Miltown Malbay singer-songwriter, Tim Dennehy, will be in conversation with Peadar King. “When we were thinking about that book, I was particularly conscious that a lot of the narrative that has come through [about Clare] over the last few decades has been written by people involved in the GAA or from parishes. If you look at those particular narratives, …

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Another award for Clare Champion’s John Kelly

FOR the third year in a row Clare Champion photographer John Kelly has won the Local Ireland Media Award for Best Photograph of the Year. It’s a huge achievement for the talented Mullagh man who has for many years been known as one of Ireland’s best press photographers. Speaking about the image that won him the 2022 honour, he said it was taken in Doolin on a wintry evening as he awaited a subject. “The picture was actually taken while I was in Doolin one stormy evening. I was waiting for somebody to turn up to another job. As I was waiting I saw the waves were very big, so I went out and shot the waves and the sunset.” He says that the best photographs are often found by chance. “It’s in the little gaps of doing the ordinary work of the day that you see the extraordinary and those opportunities come along, in my experience.” Ray Ryan of …

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Champion photographer John is one of the Legends

SOMETIMES raw and always authentic, John Kelly’s photographs capture Clare in all its glorious, local detail.  His pictures have a universal quality too. They celebrate humanity in all its forms and colours. They bear witness to moments and events that are truly extraordinary. They also find the magic in ordinary people going about their ordinary lives. From the intense stare of a rain-soaked Davy Fitzgerald, grappling with a defeat to Tipperary; to the serene faces of pilgrims at St Brigid’s Well in Liscannor, John Kelly’s interest lies in revealing what is going on beneath the surface.  A multi-award winner, John has been honoured many times by his peers. He has been personally singled out for praise by some of the greats of photojournalism including the UK’s Martin Parr and, most recently, by acclaimed portrait photographer, Peter Adams. As part of the Australian’s 40-year mission to track down some of the world’s best photographers, Peter came to Ireland to interview John …

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Scene set for Mountshannon Arts Festival

MOUNTSHANNON Arts Festival gets underway this Thursday, May 26, showcasing a wealth of talent and creativity in music, visual art, literature and more.  The theme of ‘Community’ is at the heart of this year’s event, which will involve performances, workshops and exhibitions, running until Sunday, June 6. As always, the festival’s focus will be on erasing the boundaries between artists and audience. Events range from Full Circle Playback Theatre, a songwriting workshop, Origami workshops, a community art installation and the inaugural Mountshannon Maracatu, a family-friendly community parade.  Mel White, Chair of the Volunteer Committee said the return to full, live, in-person activities is particularly welcome after the pandemic restrictions. “We are so excited for this festival after two years of lockdown and we have been supported by the local community in every way,” she said. “We have brought together an eclectic mix of actors, musicians, artists  and creative writers to create an experience like no other this year. We would …

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Trinity puts ‘Champion photographer in the picture

MULTI-AWARD-WINNING Clare Champion photographer John Kelly has scooped yet another top prize, having won the Energy at Any Age photography exhibition, hosted by Trinity College Dublin. The exhibition was organised by Age-Friendly Trinity. Around 50 guests attended the welcome reception and cast their votes for their favourite image, with John’s The Old Man and the Sea taking the People’s Choice Award. His winning entry was a photograph of Paddy Hanrahan collecting seaweed for use as fertiliser for his garden near Cappa, Kilrush. John outlined that when they put out the call for entries, he immediately thought of a number of the photographs that would fit the bill. He was delighted to get the call that they had accepted three into the exhibition. “That one of them had been chosen as People’s Choice Award at the opening, that was an extra bonus,” he said. The same image was a third-prize PPAI winner in the 2015 portrait section. Also selected for the …

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Get snapping for Ennis Rotary

BUDDING photographers are being encouraged to showcase their skills by taking part in a photography competition, run by Ennis Rotary Club, with the support of The Clare Champion. Young people, aged between seven and 18, have the chance to win some picture-perfect prizes, while the overall winner will compete in the Rotary International All-Ireland final. Participants are being asked to submit an image based on the theme ‘My Best Friend’. Judging the competition will be award-winning Clare Champion photographer John Kelly, commercial and wedding photographer Paul Corey and Chris Copley, a member of the committee of Ennis Camera Club. The competition is now open, with April 6 the closing date for submissions. According to organisers, they have already been blown away with some of the entries that have been received. However, it is not too late to get involved. Photographs for the competition must be entered in digital format and winners will be printed and presented at an awards night …

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Are you a budding photographer?

A PHOTO opportunity with a difference is being offered to the young people of Clare thanks to both Ennis Rotary Club and The Clare Champion. The two organisations and several other sponsors have joined forces to offer the talented youth of Clare an opportunity to excel and be recognised for photography. This is the first year of what is hoped will become an annual competition for those between the ages of seven and 18 living in County Clare. The budding young photographers are asked to submit an image based on the theme ‘My Best Friend’. Judging the competition will be award-winning Clare Champion photographer John Kelly, commercial and wedding photographer Paul Corey and Chris Copley, a committee member of Ennis Camera Club. The competition is now open, with submissions closing on April 6. The competition is a first for Ennis Rotary Club, according to its president Michael Shepherd. “For many years Rotary has held a youth leadership competition and the …

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‘Waves as high as two-storey house”

As storm Eleanor battered the West Clare coastline this afternoon (Tuesday), Clare Champion photographer John Kelly visited a few locations to capture images of its power. Standing at a distance, John described how waves “as high as a two-storey house” were crashing over the harbour wall at picturesque Liscannor. The  waves were also crashing high above the prom and seawall  at Lahinch, with water gushing through the alleyways and onto the Main Street. It was the same scenario at inlets, beach resorts and small harbours south of Lahich and north of Liscannor. Earlier in the day, Clare County Council warned  members of the public to avoid exposed coastal locations from this evening (Tuesday) through to tomorrow morning (Wednesday) due to forecast stormy conditions. The storm, named Eleanor under the Met Éireann / UK Met Office storm naming system,is moving in off the Atlantic and will move across the country this evening. Southwest to west winds of mean speeds 65 to …

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