Greystones Rocks 2019

Cove Gets A Slap by Liz Cusack

t is, of course, a lethal combination, putting a bunch of beautiful, talented and firm-buttocked photographers all together in one beautiful, evocative and fairly picturesque town.

Which may explain why our 2017 and 2018 Greystones Rocks photography competitions were so jampacked with the kind of shots that would make John Hinde put his foot through a stained glass window.

To paraphrase that Chandler lad.

As 2019 came to a close, we called on Greystones’ great unwashed to go rooting around in the back of your drawers and deep into their idle computer files to unearth the pic that they felt best represented Greystones today. Or thereabouts.

We’re a sucker, as always, for those beautiful sunrises, and sunsets, and early morning silhouettes of The Bear and that dirty big anchor over by Greystones Sailing Club, but what we’re particularly partial to when it comes to local photoschnappens is the unexpected. Perhaps the hollow hulk of The La Touche Hotel, standing tall against that sinking sun. Or those random moments – a kid scoffing down some Sweeney chips, Johnny Pernod in full Mexican garb, or Elvis actually paying for a lunch – that truly sum up life in this town in 2019.

And you feckers didn’t disappoint, sending in pics covering all kinds of Greystones everything.  And after mucho consideration, our three resident photographers – Brian Keeley, John McGowan and, eh, Pablo – have finally picked the winner. It’s the mighty, mighty Liz Cusack and The Cove Gets A Slap. Boom!  A €50 voucher for the Greystones shop or eaterie of Liz’s choice is weaving its way through de dodgy Christmas post.

When it came to the public vote, it was a close call between Emma T’s Welcome To Greystones (featuring the bould Bonnie) and Julie Honan’s Pull Up A Bench, with the latter just pipping it to the post once we added in those social media votes. By people who don’t understand how computers work. Both will receive, eh, a year’s free subscription to The Guide.

As you can see here, there were some remarkable shots this year, with honorable mentions going to Odeta Botes, Lisa Hempenstall, Ruthie Spurling, Marc Diamond, Darragh Stokes, Cian Cardiff, Riona Baldwin and Rob Lawless…

Now, go check out the 2017 entries here, and the 2018 line-up here.