Our regular site visitors will be aware that the 2015 Celtic Challenge was held in Kilkenny on the weekend of Sept 18th – 20th. The Celtic Challenge, when held in Ireland in recent years, has been hosted by SACC, in conjunction with the IPF (Irish Photographic Federation).

On Friday the visiting federation representatives, members of the SACC committee and Kilkenny Photographic Society (KPS) visited Hook Head peninsula in Co Wexford in the morning. The highlight of the visit was a tour of Hook Head lighthouse which is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world, dating back some 800 years. Many on the tour availed of the photographic opportunities afforded by the visit. Following lunch there was a visit to Woodstock estate near Inistioge village where many took further advantage of the great photo opportunities in this historic estate. On returning to Kilkenny, the visitors and their local hosts enjoyed a social evening in Bollards traditional Irish pub in Kilkenny.

On Saturday morning the visitors were taken to see and tour some of Kilkenny’s historical sites, including, Kilkenny Castle, Rothe House, St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower and the Black Abbey. The competition and judging took place on Saturday afternoon and there was a large attendance.  This year’s judge was Peter McCloskey FRPS APAGB who was very thorough in his analysis and gave feedback and commented on all the images submitted. The results were announced by IPF President Michael O’Sullivan during a celebratory dinner that evening in the Pembroke Hotel. Congratulations go to Scotland on again winning this year’s Celtic Challenge competition, successfully defending their title. Congratulations also to the winners of the three individual awards, all of whom were from Ireland:

• Judy Boyle won the best monochrome print title,
• Gabriel O’Shaughnessy receiving best colour print and
• Chris Ducker claiming best projected image.

You can find the full results and some of the winning images over on the IPF website:

Thanks and appreciation must go to the SACC Committee for organising a super event. The organising committee members were Niamh Whitty from the Cork Camera Group,  Richie Dwyer (SACC chairman), David Barrie, Liam Cahill,  Ned Mahon, and Eamon Wall from Kilkenny Photographic Society. A special word of thanks goes to Andy Magan, Kilkenny Photographic Society, for his great work in helping to make the weekend the success that it was. Also thanks to John Cuddihy who acted os our liaison with the IPF prior to and during the competition.

All who attended the competition during the weekend were complementary and positive in their comments and considered the event to be a resounding success.

Our thanks also goes to the following, in no particular order!  :

• Peter McCloskey for judging and providing insightful comments on all the images during the judging.
• The representatives who travelled from the competing federations.
• SACC committee members who organised and ran the event.
• The IPF for assistance and sponsoring content for our ‘goodie bags’ for the visitors.
• Members of the Kilkenny Photographic Society for their assistance with the Hook Head trip and throughout the weekend.
• Alan Doheny from Proof Brand and Design Agency for the gorgeous logo he produced for this year’s Kilkenny based event – check it out above!
• The management and staff of the Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny, who provided top class facilities and served up a great meal for the celebratory dinner on Saturday evening
• Thanks also to everyone who attended from near and far, including members from other IPF affiliated camera clubs, including Blarney, Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Mallow and Dublin.

If we’ve forgotten anyone, please accept our apologies and drop us a note to let us know; we’ll be happy to update this article!

Take a look at the successful Irish individual images and the Irish Panels on the IPF website.

Below is our gallery of images from the weekend, including the presentation of trophies at the awards dinner.