Greystones Rocks 2021

Mr Blue Sky by Rob Lawless

t’s one of our most popular annual competitions, and it’s not difficult to see why.

Give someone a camera, let them loose in picturesque Greystones, and there’s a very good chance magic will ensue.

Jody Connaughton

Having been won in its debut year by Michael Bialis’ The Perfect Storm, in 2018 by Louis Duffy-Barrett’s Harbour Noir, in 2019 by Liz Cusack’s Cove Gets A Slap and last year by Anne McInerney’s In Flow, the only downside to our annual Greystones Rocks photography competition is not being able to give every entry that 1st place rosette. 

Vish Gain

For GG’s #1 roving photographer, his number one this year was Vish Gain’s Midnight in Greystones [right], followed closely by Stick Your Oar In by Lisa McDonald and Between Showers by Susan Kyne.

For GG’s #1 nature photographer Phil McDarby, it was Swimrise by Jody Connaughton, Mr Blue Sky by Rob Lawless and Strawberry Moon Forever by Gerry Edwards.

Lisa McDonald

When it came to the public vote, it was pretty much a tie between Purple Reign by Vlad Bodarev and Lisa McDonald’s aforementioned boat’s-eye view of the town.

Which means that, hey, we’ve got a lot of winning entries on our hands here. But who takes the Brian Keeley crown for 2021, after the judges have weighted up all the merits and magic involved here? Bejiggers, it’s the melancholic Mr Blue Sky by Rob Lawless, the darkness on the edge of town captured here reflecting a shadow-filled year for Greystones, with that crack in the sky finally suggesting sunnier days ahead.

Rob’s photo also looks really feckin’ cool. And you can find plenty more where that came from on his Instagram page here.

You can also take a jump back to Greystones Rocks 2017 here, 2018 here, 2019 here and last year’s line-up here, to see just how tough this competition is. So much beauty, and skill, and each one a reminder of just how lucky we are to live here.

The late, great Brian Keeley

We’ve also got to give a shout-out too to our new sponsors for this 2021’s competition, McGovern Estates, putting people on the Wicklow map for years. And years. And then some.You can find out more about their dream homes right about here.

In the meantime, congrats to all the happy snappers of The Greatest Feckin’ Town In De Whole Wide World featured here. Mr Keeley would be proud.

Given the crappy year we’ve all had, it felt good to be reminded of the beauty that’s all around us, every day…

You can check out the full 2021 gallery in hi-res here, and previous Greystones Rocks competitions here.