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Photography Competition of Heritage Sites

Boyne Valley Tourism and the Office of Public Works held a photography competition to raise awareness of the heritage of the Boyne Valley. The following three photographs by Michael Fox of Boyne Valley Tours were selected for the Boyne Valley Tourism 2007 calendar.

Lia Fáil standing stone on the Hill of Tara silhouetted against a low Samhain sunrise, with circular paving and frosty grass in the foreground. Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) on the Hill of Tara.

Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) on the Hill of Tara, illuminated by the rising Samhain sun. Now standing on the King's Seat or Forrad, the stone once stood in front of the entrance to the Mound of the Hostages. According to legend, on the inauguration of a worthy high king the stone would roar its approval.

Rainbow arcing over Newgrange's white quartz facade and grass mound under a stormy sky on winter solstice morning. Winter solstice at Newgrange.

Photographed on the morning of the winter solstice at Newgrange on 22 December 2002. A rainbow heightened the experience of those on the outside, as the fortunate few on the inside, selected by lottery, experienced the illumination of the passage and chamber.

Equinox sunrise beam lighting carved motifs on the Cairn T backstone at Loughcrew, including sun symbols, a flower-like circle and a comb or ladder mark. Equinox sunrise at Loughcrew Cairn T.

Equinox illumination at sunrise in Cairn T at Loughcrew. The backstone of the chamber is lit by a beam of light at sunrise on the spring and autumn equinoxes.

Competition and calendar

The judges were Loreto Guinan, Heritage Officer, Meath County Council, and Con Brogan, photographer for all OPW heritage sites. Peter Cunningham won the overall prize sponsored by Meath Tourism, for his photograph of the Nanny Cottage at Laytown. At the prize-giving ceremony, Clare Tuffy, OPW and manager of Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, announced: "All winning photographs will be included in a spectacular 2007 calendar, which we are currently working on and will be available for sale at each of the tourist offices in Co. Meath in the future."

White thatched Nanny Cottage on a rocky cliff above the sea at Laytown, winning photograph by Peter Cunningham.

The photography competition was sponsored by Newgrange Farm, Rathbeggan Lakes, Navan Races, Puddenhill Activity Centre, Lir Chocolates, Bus Éireann, the Heritage Officer, Meath County Council and the Brú na Bóinne Tea Rooms.

Peter Cunningham won the overall prize sponsored by Boyne Valley Tourism, for his photograph of the Nanny Cottage at Laytown.

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