Our cat Emma and her favourite Book!!

This is model Cathy Henning. Cathy worked with us as part of a lighting workshop at Nigel Fleming’s Studio recently.

This is Paddy Berry a traditional singer from Co Wexford, Ireland. Born and raised in Scar, Duncormick, he now lives in Drinagh, on the outskirts of Wexford Town. Paddy is a well known performer of local Wexford ballads, as well as a songwriter and song and folklore collector. He has made an undaunted contribution to the revival of traditional music, song and dance in Ireland over the past fifty years.

Paddy is a revered member Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann for nearly five decades and has been involved in various cultural education initiatives. His labour of love has been recognised by fellow musicians and also earned Paddy a special lifetime achievement award the president of Ireland, Mary McAleese, in 2003.

Paddy Berry was at the Geordie Hanna traditional singing weekend in Derrytresk Co Tyrone

These two gentlemen taught me at St Joseph’s Coalisland back in the 1970’s Martin Boyle (left) was my form teacher for five years and Eamonn McNally taught french and history. They earned their money!!!

This is Niamh Parsons, Mary Dillon and Tiona McSherry who are collectively known as “Sí Van” They are amongst the best traditional/folk/roots singers in Ireland and have been singing as a group since meeting an a Fleadh in Dungiven in 2011. They performed at the final night of the Geordie Hanna singing weekend in Derrytresk Co Tyrone.

This is Ciaran Hanna a very talented whistle, flute and concertina player and member of a great traditional music band called “Reel It In” Ciaran comes from a long line of musicians. His father Jim (a school friend of mine) is a piper and his grandfather Geordie Hanna was a renowned traditional singer. This picture was taken at the final night of “The 25th annual Geordie Hanna singing Festival” held to honour Ciaran’s grandfather. 

This is Gerry Cullen a member of the singing group The Voice Squad who performed at the 25th anniversary Geordie Hanna traditional singing weekend held in Derrytresk Co Tyrone. Gerry is the bass of The Voice Squad

Though group singing, especially in harmony, is not part of the Irish music tradition, The Voice Squad have a considerable repertoire of Irish traditional songs and have always sung unaccompanied.

They have been compared to English family groups of similar style, such as ‘The Watersons’ and ‘The Copper Family’. ‘It is the union of the distinct tenor voices of Fran and Phil plus the bass of Gerry, along with their own particular arrangements of good songs, that has made them one of the most distinctive unaccompanied singing groups of recent times.’

This is model and law student Kim McConville at an autumn off camera flash shoot that was held out at Brantry Lough Co Tyrone recently. It was a great opportunity to work with other photographers and pick up a few lessons on this kind of work. It was organised by a Nigel Fleming from Dungannon.

This is “The Shard” in London which when it’s finished will be the tallest building in Europe at 1083ft tall.  It’s called the Shard because it will look like a shard of broken glass, a tall thin glass pyramid.

This is one of two Public Pianos in St Pancras Train Station in London where people are encouraged to sit a play a tune.