Local father and daughters are finalists in 'Ireland’s Greatest Friendship' competition

Deirdre McGahon Mulvey from Mullingar is celebrating after learning that a photograph that captured a moment between her, her father, Tom McGahon, and sister, Maria McGahon Kearney, was named as a finalist in the Fisherman’s Friend Search for Ireland’s Greatest Friendship competition.

Fisherman’s Friend had asked people to celebrate their friendships ‘through the lens’ and share photos that captured their friendships and what that bond means to them.

Out of hundreds of entries, Deirdre’s friendship photography captured the hearts of the judges, which included the editor of Irish Country Living, Amii McKeever; photographer and managing director of Fennell Photography, Chris Bellew, and Fisherman’s Friend regional business manager, Jon White.

“We are thrilled to be running this competition for the third year, celebrating friendship through the art of photography – that moment caught in time that makes you smile,” said Mr White.

“This last year has been particularly challenging for everyone – however, it has also demonstrated the immense community spirit within Irish communities and we know that friendships have played a key role in this.

“It has been a privilege to judge this competition, in partnership with the Irish Farmer’s Journal, and to celebrate and recognise Ireland’s Greatest Friendships. The quantity and quality of the entries was impressive, depicting an incredible diversity and range of interpretations of friendship and what it means to people from across Ireland. Deirdre’s photo stood out for all the judges and she is a very worthy finalist.”

The winner of Ireland’s Greatest Friendship was Anna Cronin and her son Bill Harrington, from Cork.

Fisherman’s Friend’s search for Ireland’s Greatest Friendship launched in November 2020 in association with the Irish Farmers Journal.

For more details on this year’s event and to see the full range of finalists, visit Fisherman’s Friend Ireland Facebook Page at Facebook.com/FishermansFriendIreland.

Deirdre wrote about her photo: ‘This photograph captivates our Dad Tom McGahon farming with his daughters Deirdre and Maria on our family farm in January 2021. We are and always have been great friends.’

This year’s winners and finalists in the Fisherman’s Friend Search for Ireland’s Greatest Friendship were:

• Winner: Anna Cronin, Cork

• Runner-up: Tanya Gaine, Kilkenny

• Runner-up: Marc Ahearne, Tipperary

Finalists:

• Catharina Ward, Cork

• Sharon Mowat Driscoll, Limerick

• Deirdre McGahon Mulvey, Westmeath

• Aisling Whooley, Cork

• Majella Asple, Wexford

• Audrey Hastings, Cork

• Jennifer Mackintosh, Waterford

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