In Photos dot org

Last year Ray D’Arcy and his team asked thousands of people all over Ireland to send in photographs to Today FM on October 1st. It was a huge success with over 20,000 photos sent in and eventually whittled down to 2,000. I had a few photos included which you can see in the US Book category on my blog.

30,000 copies of the US Book were sold, and yesterday, Childline were presented with a cheque for 306,000 Euro. That’s a great achievement and hopefully similar projects involving the public will happen again!

How did you celebrate your 30th birthday? I still am! I’ve hit the ripe ol’ age of 30 years and it’s come in the best year of my life. The last few days have been very exciting and ending my 20’s by going to the Us book launch party was the perfect end of one decade and the start of another even better one. The party doesn’t end yet, roll on the weekend!

Ray and Jenny

Ray and Jenny

Ray and Jenny

It was long speculated that Ray and Jenny were an item, and people wondered, “why aren’t they together?” Last summer they announced that yes, there is a romantic link and it was plain to see last night!

Dave and Deirdre

Dave and Deirdre were another couple invited to the party because they contributed in a big way to the book - Dave came up with the name!
There’s a camera phone picture of Dave in the front of US, taken by Deirdre, but here they are in a slightly clearer picture! We had a greattime chatting to the two of them and I signed their copy of US. I wonderif that’ll be worth something in the future?
There is some noise in the photo because light was terrible and I shot at 3200 ISO. I should have used the flash but them’s is the way!

Donncha and Dermot

Dermot Heaslip is the chief designer behind the book. It was his idea that “US” be called “US” because, well, the book is about us isn’t it?

He was responsible for designing the book, and laying out the photos. When you look through it, it’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the organisation. It can be as simple as displaying baby photos on a double-page spread or the complexity of surrounding clothes and shoes with pictures of people and activity.
He did a great job!

Jacinta and Ray

My fiancée, Jacinta, has been a huge fan of Ray D’Arcy’s for years and if it’s possible, she was more excited about going to the book launch than I was!
Sometimes it’s not a good idea to meet your heroes or people you admire because they’ll only disappoint you. Ray’s easy-going and confident manner from his radio programme comes across as soon as you meet him and we were not disappointed!
Nice guy and a gentleman.

Ray thanking people

Ray thanked several people, although he forgot to thank Pat Balfe which he rectifed the day after on the radio! I was flabbergasted when he mentioned me, i’m sure I went red, but I know I had a big smile on my face!
I had a great chat with Pat, but unfortunately didn’t get a decent photo of him.

Quenten Fottrell, Jacinta and Donncha

I had the pleasure to meet the not so world weary Quenten Fottrell! I didn’t recognise him at first but he introducted himself and we spoke at length and I even signed his copy of US for his niece!
He’s an interesting character, has a lot to say, and a good listener, although I think he was collecting material for a future article.. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Ray signing US

Ray spent a large part of the evening signing books!
I still don’t know why I didn’t buy a copy and ask people to sign it. Oh well!

Jenny, Jacinta and Mairead

Jenny and Mairead are part of the team that make up the Ray D’Arcy show.
I didn’t see Will anywhere! Sorry Will, Jenny and Mairead are much easier on the eye but I would have got a snap if I had seen you!
They were as friendly as Ray, and quickly posed with Jacinta as we were the last out the door!

Us, the photographic record of Ireland on October 1st, 2005 went on sale yesterday and I bought my copy today!
I’m really impressed with what they did and I’m certain that it’ll sell out in no time at all. I think my favourite image is the black and white photo taken at a retirement home where the photographer’s grandmother is living. His father is leaning down, touching his forehead to his mother’s while the rest of the room blurs to insignificance.

I went through the book counting my images, and came across 8 of them! Here’s the ones that made the cut:

• Us on the Tower
• Sharing
• Into Town
• My Garden
• Morning Sun
• Yellow Flower

Plus two which I thought I had posted but seem to have disappeared! I’ll post them later!

Ray D’Arcy is going to be on The Late Late Show plugging the new US “photos of Ireland” book!
How do I know? Well, I was in the kitchen this afternoon taking a break with a cup of tea and a sandwich, talking to Jacinta and I got a call on my mobile.

I wasn’t expecting a call, and it was a private number so imagine my surprise when the voice at the other end said, “Hi this is Ray D’Arcy.” I was incredulous and didn’t believe him, but yes, it was Ray from Today FM!

It seems that a couple of my photos made the cut and will appear in the new book! There’s also a small chance that one of them will be shown on national television tomorrow night.

Am I excited? I’m very happy

Chatting and Shopping

Two girls pictured on Patricks Street, October 1st 2005.
This is one of the US photos I forgot to post!
Minor US trivia: It was mislabeled in the US book as Sharing.

Crowded Cork

Patricks Street, Cork. October 1st 2005
This is one of the US photos I forgot to post!

He’s late!

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Broken bike

Tags: Cork, Cork Photos, Urban, Us

Broken bike on Patrick’s Street

Tags: Cork, Cork Photos, Urban, Us

How are you?

Tags: Canon 20D, Cork, Cork Photos, Ireland, Irish photos, irishblogs, People, Photos, Sigma 18-200, St Patrick's Street, Street, talking, telephone, Urban, Us