The Meteor

Dr. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

I was impressed by barrister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill when I met her a couple of years ago, and later did an author portrait for her award-winning book “The Politics of Judicial Selection in Ireland”.

Since then she’s had a meteoric rise in politics - first she was elected to Dun Laoghaire council last May as a replacement for Maria Bailey, then yesterday she was elected to the Dail on her first attempt, despite the nationwide voting trend against Fine Gael. Although my political beliefs are a considerable distance away from those of her party I wish her the very best in her new position - Fine Gael needs people like her, and hopefully she’ll help them evolve towards a more inclusive ideology.

You can see more of my portraits of leaders in this gallery.

The Whistleblower

Dr. Tom Clonan photographed in Dublin, January 2020.

Tom Clonan is a very interesting character. He’s a former Army officer and whistleblower, who produced a damning report about the mistreatment of women in the Defence Forces. I photographed him recently for his upcoming Senate Election campaign, which he’s undertaking on behalf of children and young people in Ireland with disabilities. You can read more about the campaign here.

There are more of my portraits of leaders here.

Families

A bumper album of different kinds of families, for the season that’s in it.

There are more photographs of friends and family here.

I also do private commissions, if interested please feel free to get in touch.

I Can See Liam Now

I’ve been working on a series of portraits of artists-in-residence commissioned by the Centre Culturel Irlandais, and after making one today of Liam Ó Maonlaí we recreated the first photograph we did together. It was for a poster for the Hothouse Flower’s first single, released in 1987, which was neither yesterday nor the day before. He’s still looking great.

Tangled Roots & Twisted Tales

I’ve known Ed McGinley for a long time, even before I photographed his band The Dixons in the 90’s. It’s great to see his latest album Tangled Roots & Twisted Tales described as a “slow-burning pleasure” in a recent Irish Times review. You can buy it here.

Ed McGinley in NCAD, Dublin.

There are more of my portraits of performers here.

Portrait of a QRGP*

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Did a few headshots of model Paul Kerr after working on a shoot last week in Dublin. He’s dead on and great to work with - check out his model page here.

*Quite Ridiculously Good-looking Person

SHOT / REVERSE SHOT

I had a great time photographing actor/singer/ budding photographer Nicky Kavanagh, even when she turned it back onto me.

Intimacy

So much of what makes a good portrait comes from a feeling of intimacy between photographer and subject. I didn’t have to try very hard with these two old friends, just turned away for a moment to load the camera and when I turned back they were naked. I love the passion in the picture.

These two beauties...

Alicia Ni Ghrainne and Michael Kinirons outside Baltimore, West Cork.

…are getting married in Baltimore today, and I’m very sorry I can’t be there. Wishing them much love and happiness together.

Selfie

Via Aindreas de Staic

Via Macdara Smith

KWOO

Kwoo photographed in Dublin, May 2019, using this filter.

Kwoo photographed in Dublin, May 2019, using this filter.

Last time I was back in Dublin I did some portraits of my neighbour Kwoo. She’s a poet, animator, performer, resident DJ for The Demented Goddess and all-round interesting person. You can follow her on Twitter here, and hear her mixes here.

Caoimhe photographed in Dublin, May 2019

Caoimhe photographed in Dublin, May 2019