Earlier in November, The Heritage Council announced the winners of 2015 National Heritage Week Photography Competition, themed “Ireland’s Industrial and Design Heritage.” The competition celebrates Ireland’s industrial past within 2015 European Heritage Days, which took place between 22nd and 30th August.

Every year, The Heritage Council encourages visitors of the event to join the competition by sending photos that best capture the idea of the event. This way, the participants help in promoting European common heritage and highlighting some of the most remarkable moments at the event itself. The best photographs were chosen by Irish Times journalist Arminta Wallace and photographer and author Michael English (Jeannie Johnston).

The overall winner for the year 2015 is Jaana McEntee with her photo of a moment at Fingal Vintage Harvest Festival at Skerries Mills, Co. Dublin. Besides McEntee, several other participants won prizes as Adult Runners Up, while additional winners were chosen among youth and junior participants. 

As Adult Runners Up, Mike Halward, Yvonne Stynes and Brenda Molloy were awarded for their unique contribution to the contest. Halward’s “Lucky Day” was taken at Bunratty Castle and Forge, depicting a moment of forging a horseshoe in a traditional setting. Stynes focused on a single emotion and caught the excitement of her son Ronan at the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks. Molloy’s “Minting a Coin,” which was taken in Bandon, West Cork, shows a part of the atmosphere behind minting a coin using traditional tools.

Among youth photographers, the winner was nineteen years old Eoin Devine O’Grady with a photo taken at the Native Irish Cobs event, Co. Longford. The Junior Winner was nine year old Rachel Buckley, while Sofia Fox (11), Aurelia Rozanzka (7) and Patrick Lynch (9) were chosen as Runners Up.

All the winning photographs could be found on the official Facebook page of Heritage Week.