Library hosts AIB Press Photographers Association of Ireland exhibition

NENAGH library is delighted to host the AIB Press Photographers Association of Ireland Exhibition for the next three weeks with staff acknowledging it is quite a coup to have this prestigious exhibition and anticipating huge interest amongst members of the public.

Launched in the Civic Offices in Nenagh on Wednesday last, by An Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, Cllr Gerard Darcy, the event drew a large audience of both staff and elected members of the council including CEO, Joe MacGrath and Nenagh Municipal District Administrator, Rosemary Joyce. Both current and outgoing Presidents of the Press Photography Association of Ireland, David Branigan and Paul Sherlock respectively, were also in attendance.

Professional photographers such as Pádraig Ó’Flannabhra and Michael Molamphy mingled with camera enthusiasts from local clubs as they marvelled at the different images on display in the civic offices concourse.

Press photographers, Bridget Delaney and Oran Ducie and local journalists, Peter Gleeson and Simon O’Duffy, were invitees on the night and cast a professional eye on the images as they critiqued them.

Rosemary Joyce then moved proceedings into the nearby chamber room which was ideal for showcasing Mark’s presentation, allowing him to show his images on large screen and talk us through them. Introducing Mark to everyone, President of the PPAI, David Branigan, pointed out that as difficult as it is to win this competition, against such talented photographers, Mark is not just the winner for 2023 but is a six time winner of this award.

With that he handed over to Mark, who talked easily about each photograph, moving quickly from image to image, all the while adding little details and nuggets of information to illuminate, explain or give context to the images we were looking at. Fascinating to listen to, his presentation was by turns, sombre, sad and frightening, sometimes quirky and often humorous. He then took questions from the audience before graciously remaining on afterwards to chat with individual members of the audience.

All those who spoke on the night paid tribute to the man responsible for bringing this exhibition to Nenagh. Michael Molamphy’s vision in realising that a town such as Nenagh should have the opportunity to see this exhibition up close and his tenacity and hard work in persuading all involved of the worth of his idea was acknowledged and thanked by one and all on the night. Both Michael, a professional photographer himself, and outgoing president of the PPAI, Paul Sherlock, could feel justifiably proud of themselves to see their efforts finally come to fruition.

Finally, librarian Margaret Ryan, on behalf of the library, also added her thanks to Michael. Because of course, the library in Nenagh is open to everyone and with a dedicated exhibition room just off the main floor, it is the natural home for such exhibitions. That being the case, staff are very much hoping that people will make the effort to see for themselves this stunning exhibition, with its often searing images which will simultaneously evoke memories of events past and arouse strong emotions, as all good photographs do.

The PPAI Press Photographer of the Year Exhibition will be in Nenagh library until Thursday, August 3rd.