On Sunday 19th May I had the great privilege of being able to photograph Rio 2016 Irish Olympic hopeful David O’Caoimh Wake Boarding at the Docklands Summer Festival here in Dublin, along with Slalom Water Skier Jonny Crawford. It was an amazing experience – one I’ll never forget. I was able to join the crew on the speed boat while David and Johnny were performing their acrobatics. I was sat on the back of the boat with my feet firmly wedged into place and had a crew member holding the strap of my life-vest to make sure I didn’t ‘bounce out of the boat’…. As we spun around the course I was flung from side to side, all the while trying to hold the camera, focus on my moving target and capture the action… oh and I was going backwards remember as the speed boat moved forwards, so had no idea what was coming next…. thank god I have good sea legs is all I’ll say! It really was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to do it again. the very best of luck David in your quest for RIO 2016 Olympics.

See this short video I put together from Sunday and the link to the photo gallery below. Enjoy!

See the full photo gallery here

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RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan launches

Heart Children Ireland’s annual fundraising initiative to raise funds for children with congenital heart defects 

Fundraising drive aims to raise €40K to purchase portable Oxygen Saturation Monitors to enable parents bring their baby home from hospital

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Heart Children Ireland, a voluntary support group for those affected by congenital heart defects, today launched their annual fundraising initiative withthe help of their charity ambassador RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan and four year old Eva Vidal

For further information on Heart Children Ireland, log on to www.heartchildren.ie

RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan supports fundraiser to raise much needed funds for

Heart Children Ireland to help children with congenital heart defects  

November 2012

Tiny Hearts Fundraising Group, on behalf of Heart Children Ireland, hosted their third annual ball in Darver Castle, last Saturday 17 November, with the help of their charity ambassador RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan. Heart Children Ireland is a voluntary, non-Government funded organisation that provides a support mechanism in Ireland for all who are affected by or living with congenital heart defects. The aim of the fundraiser was to raise funds for Heart Children Ireland and to also raise awareness of congenital heart defects.

A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and blood vessels which is present at birth. The condition accounts for the largest number of birth defects in Ireland, accounting for 1% of all live births per year. With improvements in surgery and intervention techniques, 95% of these children survive into adulthood. Heart Children Ireland recently acquired 18 Oxygen Saturation Monitors for the Cardiac Ward of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to help families of children suffering from a congenital heart defect.
 

For further information on Heart Children Ireland, log on to www.heartchildren.ie

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Joseph Casey, Lorna Stone Agnes Casey, Brendan Healy, Doreen Healy, Glen, Eileen Carruthers and Ann Briscoe enjoying the annual Tiny Hearts Fundraising Ball with RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, on behalf of Heart Children Ireland, raising much needed funds for those children with congenital heart defects.

Aidan and Mary Carvill (Owners of Darver Castle) enjoying the annual Tiny Hearts Fundraising Ball with RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, on behalf of Heart Children Ireland, raising much needed funds for those children with congenital heart defects.

Isabel Corrigan, Joanne Corrigan, Deborah Coyne & Olga Lewin enjoying the annual Tiny Hearts Fundraising Ball with RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, on behalf of Heart Children Ireland, raising much needed funds for those children with congenital heart defects.

For further information on Heart Children Ireland, log on to www.heartchildren.ie

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Brian Kennedy took time out to visit Crumlin Children’s Hospital on behalf of Heart Children Ireland to announce the acquisition of 18 new Oxygen Saturation Monitors for Crumlin Children’s Hospital and joins Holly in the photo below with one of the new machines. We got great coverage this week with this photo for Heart Children Ireland with it appearing exclusively in the Irish Times and also in the Daily Mail and Sunday Business Post. Details of press release are below the photo.

Brian Kennedy announces acquisition of 18 new

Oxygen Saturation Monitors for

Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin

Heart Children Ireland raised funds to purchase much needed equipment to enable parents
to monitor their baby at home rather than endure lengthy hospital stays

30^th October 2012

Brian Kennedy, supporter of Heart Children Ireland, a voluntary support group and registered charity for those affected by congenital heart defects, has announced the acquisition of 18 Oxygen Saturation Monitors for the Cardiac Ward of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

Oxygen Saturation Monitors are used to measure the level of oxygen in the blood and to check a patient’s heart rate. These battery operated portable machines, which cost €550 each, will be provided to parents of small babies suffering from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, enabling them to bring their children home instead of having to remain in hospital and liaising directly with the hospital in relation to their treatment.  The new machines will be prescribed to appropriate patients by the cardiac medical team and will be returned by the patient to the hospital.

A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and blood vessels which is present at birth. The condition accounts for the largest number of birth defects in Ireland, accounting for 1% of all live births per year. With improvements in surgery and intervention techniques, 95% of these children survive into adulthood.

Suzanne Treacy, Chairperson with Heart Children Ireland, explains the difference that having Oxygen Saturation Monitors will make for a family with a child suffering from a heart condition.

“Oxygen Saturation Monitors can really help the families of babies born with congenital heart defects as it enables them to monitor the child’s heart rate and the level of oxygen in their blood while they are at home. This means that instead of the child having to stay in hospital for lengthy periods of time, they can go home and live as normal a family life as possible.”

3 times Tour de France winner and legend Greg LeMond recently visited Ireland to support HADD – The Family Support Group for ADHD in Ireland. Greg, who also has ADHD took part in a number of events over the week including a Charity Cycle in Trim that went up over the Hill of Tara. I was privileged enough to have the opportunity to cover the cycle and press conference on behalf of HADD. I have included a few photos below. Fair play to Greg LeMond for giving up his time to come and support such a great cause.

Click here to see the full gallery:

Do you, or someone you know, have a Digital SLR camera and want to learn how to take control of the camera and produce great photos? How to stop using ‘Auto’ and understand the manual functions? To understand what Aperture, Shutters Speed and ISO really mean and how to bring the 3 together to get correct Exposure? Then this one day workshop is for you!

I currently have a fantastic Digital Photography training offer running in conjunction with the Dublin Photography School: 1 day workshop for only €75 (Save €50). See the attached flyer for more details. (Offer ends 31st Aug)

DublinPhotographySchool_PixillumePhotographyOfferDublin Photography School and Pixillume Photography Digital SLR Training Offer

Children’s Portraits is one of the most rewarding areas of photography I do. You just never know what is going to happen next which makes it great fun, but also very rewarding when you capture a moment like this. I took this image during a recent family portrait session. Every image truly does speak a thousand words, but I think every image speaks a different thousand words to each of us. This image just makes think its about to start raining again hence why I gave it the title ‘Oh not not more rain’….

What does this image say to you?

Some shots from a recent portrait shoot I did in a clients home that was great fun. It was a great day had by all and I discovered two brilliant models too! For your family portraits contact Sean at Pixillume Photography to arrange a portrait session.

 Family Portraits

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