Despite a wealth of entries coming in from budding photographers and artists to this year’s Charity Photo and Calendar Competition, in association with Irish Hereford Prime and the Irish Hereford Breed Society, eight clear winners emerged triumphant.
The judging process for this photo competition was twofold; public vote and independent judging panel. Entries were showcased on the Irish Hereford Breed Society’s Facebook page, with the four-category winners being chosen by public vote. Once the category winners were selected it was then over to the judges to crown an overall winner.
The coveted title of Overall Winner was awarded to a talented young lady from Co. Wicklow. 15-year-old Hannah O’Neill showcased her potential as a true budding artist with her beautiful drawing of a Hereford calf entitled “Cute as a Button”. The winning piece of art was entered by Hannah into the Creative Calves category; a new category for 2023 which was open to children and teenagers aged 16 and under who were encouraged to tap into their artistic abilities by putting forward a drawing, painting or sketch inspired by Hereford calves.
After first being shortlisted by the public, Hannah’s drawing was then selected by the panel of judges as the standout image of the competition. Aside from scooping an impressive €500 prize, the Wicklow teen will also see her winning portrait featured in the 2024 Hereford charity calendar.
The calendar – which will this year raise vital funds for the Children’s Health Foundation Ireland at Crumlin – will also feature winning submissions from the other three competition categories that were open to promising photographers of all ages and at any skill level: Herefords – The Natural Choice; The HEX Factor; and Hereford: An Environmentally Sustainable Breed. These categories called for entrants to submit an image of a Hereford animal in their natural environment or a shot of a Hereford farmer hard at work. Two triumphant entries were selected from each of these categories and awarded first and second place.
The 2024 Hereford Charity Calendar costs just €10 (including postage and packaging), with all proceeds going to the Children’s Health Foundation. Each calendar sold will mean more funds to help hundreds of sick children and their families daily at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.
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Winners:
Category 1/1st Place: Herefords The Natural Choice – “Grubs up” by John Cregan, Limerick.
Category 1/2nd Place: Herefords The Natural Choice – “Best time of year” by Padraic McKenna, Monaghan.
Category 2/1st Place: The HEX Factor – “Glad of their hairy coats on frosty mornings” by Lesley Lewis, Offaly
Category 2/2nd Place: The HEX Factor – “Ant & Dec doing what they do best” by Padraic McKenna, Monaghan.
Category 3/1st Place: Creative Calves – “Cute as a button” by Hannah O’Neill (Aged 15), Wicklow.
Category 3/2nd Place: Creative Calves – “Boo!!” by Bobby Morton (Aged 12), Armagh.
Category 4/1st Place: Hereford an Environmentally Sustainable Breed – “Between the trees” by Theola Heatrick, Monaghan.
Category 4/2nd Place: Hereford an Environmentally Sustainable Breed – “Reaping the rewards of mixed grazing” by Lesley Lewis, Offaly.
