Tipperary based Hedgerows Ireland announces winners of national photographic competition

The winners of the Hedgerows Ireland photography competition were announced recently.
Almost 600 people entered the competition.

The venture was a successful collaboration between the Tipperary based Hedgerows Ireland group and the ICMSA (Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association) who provided generous sponsorship.

The prize giving was at the ICMSA AGM at the Radisson Blu hotel in Limerick.
The cheques for the first prize winners of €500 were presented by Denis Drennan ICMSA President to Michael O’Brien age 12, first prize winner in the Under 18 category for his photo of his Dad Paudie’s cows browsing on lush hedgerows on the family farm near Firies in county Kerry.

Eilis Gleeson, a secondary school teacher, carried off first prize in the over 18 category for an evocative portrait of her Dad walking down a boreen on his farm at Gneeveguila, also in county Kerry.

At the ceremony, Denis Drennan referred to the critical role of hedgerows in enhancing biodiversity and Alan Moore from Hedgerows Ireland praised the many entrants to the competition- for their originality and their celebration of the many aspects of our native hedgerows including their flowers, fruit and wildlife.

He said that there was a notable cluster of photos of children picking blackberries along with many images of birdlife and pollinating insects feeding in hedges and ditches. Hedgerows Ireland hope to repeat the competition next year.