Home News Sport Southside snap of grinning gran scoops top prize

Southside snap of grinning gran scoops top prize

Thursday, 17 June 2010

A HEARTWARMING photo of a smiling Southside grandmother being pushed on a swing by her grandchildren has been selected for a nationwide campaign to publicise Positive Ageing Week. The image of Paula Dunne (69) and her grand children Ali (4) and Caleb (5) Murphy having fun in Tymon Park playground in Tallaght pipped competitors to claim first prize in a photographic contest by Age Action Ireland. Amateur photographer Joanne Dunne (34) from Bancroft in Tallaght said she was more surprised than anyone to hear that her photo had stolen the show. “I couldn’t believe it, we never thought we’d win!” she told Southside People. “I took the photo of my mother and my niece and nephew about a month ago. We often bring the kids down to the park to play, and my mother is actively involved with their lives.” “I think it won because it shows an older person in a positive light, and that’s the main aim of the Age Action campaign,” she added. The image will be posted on billboards across the country and used for ad campaigns during Positive Ageing Week 2010, which takes place during the last week in September.  It will also form part of a travelling exhibition that will tour 15 towns across the country over the summer. Another Southsider snapper claimed the runner-up prize in the contest with a lovely photo spanning three generations. Marie Stanley from Greenhills took the shot of her grandmother Brigid (88) and her own daughter Lucy Waine, who has just turned two.  “I was delighted to get the prize, and my grandmother is chuffed, she’s thrilled with herself,” said Marie. The amateur photographer said she only got into taking pictures when her husband bought her a camera and she joined a photography course shortly after Lucy was born  “I’ve since joined the Palmerstown Camera Club, and it’s a great hobby,” she added. Marie said the photo sums up the special relationship between her Brigid and her great granddaughter. “They’re great little pals and they see each other at least once a week. That picture was taken in my grandmother’s house, I was making the tea and my grandmother was holding the baby.” She added that the photo had a patriualr signgifne for the family as her grandmother has recently moved into a nursing home after a bad fall. “I still make sure my kids see her; she would have been a huge part of my life and I hope they will remember her too.” Another runner-up in the contest was Gianpaolo La Paglia, from Santry in Dublin, who captured an amusing street scene in Italy. The theme of this year’s competition was “Generations Together” and the winning images were chosen by a panel of judges chaired by former Irish Times Image Editor Dermot O’Shea. Age Action Chief Executive Robin Webster said the standard of entries has been consistently high since the contest was launched four years ago. “We hope that everyone who sees these photographs will realise that ageing is something to celebrate, not something to fear,” said Mr Webster. “The travelling exhibition will challenge negative public perceptions of ageing and will enthuse and inspire all who view it,” he added. Over 700 events will be held across the country to mark Positive Ageing Week (from Friday, September 24 to Saturday, October 2) which aims to recognise the contribution older people make to their communities.