The winners of the hedgerow photo competition organised by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) and Hedgerows Ireland have been announced.
Entrants to the competition were asked to submit a photo of any aspect of Ireland’s native hedgerows to celebrate the hedge itself or the wildlife living there.
There were almost 600 entries and the judges were “hugely impressed” by the originality, artistry of the images submitted as well as the variety of the subjects chosen.
Michael O’Brien has been announced the winner in the under-18s category for his photo of his father Paudie’s cows browsing on a lush hedgerow on the family farm in Firies Co. Kerry.
The first prize in the over-18s category has been awarded to Eilis Gleeson who created an “evocative portrait” of her father Tim Gleeson walking down a boreen in Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry.
There was a formal prize giving at the ICMSA annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday (Monday, December 2), where the first prize winners of the two categories received their cheques.
The six cash prizes were sponsored by the ICMSA for two age categories, under and over 18s, with €500 for first prize, €250 for second price, and €125 for third prize in each category.
Presenting the cheques, Drennan said the ICMSA was delighted to sponsor the competition, and that, in addition to their “critical role” in enhancing biodiversity, the heritage and practical roles of hedges could not be overstated.
“The massive volume of entries to the competition showed the appetite of the public and the growing appreciation and awareness of the critical role and indispensability of our rural hedges,” Drennan added.
Moore thanked the ICMSA for its support and sponsorship of the competition, which he said was a “really positive partnership”, whereby an environmental group collaborated with a major farming organisation to promote native hedgerows.
The secretary of Hedgerows Ireland added that native hedgerows are “arguably our most important landscape feature, especially in intensively managed farmland”.