Let Your Love Flow

Anne with Cian Cardiff, Brian Keeley’s grandson

f there’s one thing we’ve learnt from the late, great photographer Brian Keeley it’s that you never know when the moment will strike.

Keeley in action OCT16

That man would spend hours (and we mean hours) just sitting and waiting for that perfect moment, when light – and the moment – was just right.

Which may explain why Brian Keeley took so many remarkable shots down through the years.

And it’s also the reason that Anne McInerney won our latest Greystones Rocks photography competition. Her winning shot, In Flow, captured magic in a split second.

In Flow by Anne McInerny/365seaswimforme

When the light – and the moment – was just right.

And the joy and spontaneity of the shot reflected not only that kick to the senses that jumping in the water around here can spark but also a sense of Greystones itself. Who wouldn’t want to be young and wild, down at the Cove, leaping straight into that refreshing, exhilarating and ice cold water…?

And like many a great photograph, it was just a spur of the moment shot. Having given herself the challenge of swimming every day for a year – in part to aid recovery from a chronic illness – Anne gradually became intrigued and then inspired by fellow Cove regular Niall Meehan. Discovering his spectacular shots on Instragram introduced the young mother to two new sensations – photography and, as it happens, Instagram.

“After that, I just started taking shots pretty much everyday,” says the woman behind @365seaswimsforme. “And with In Flow, I was just getting out of the water, glanced up and instantly, instinctively snapped as this kid made the leap.

“I’m super-critical of my work, and feel I haven’t quite got there yet, but, this shot comes close. I do really love this one…”

And does much of Greystones, In Flow winning the Greystones Rocks: Brian Keeley Award 2020 (sponsored by the mighty McGovern Estates) by a very comfortable margin. Which is why we needed Brian’s grandson, Cian – also a talented snapper – present for today’s shindig.

“The whole family is delighted that Brian’s name will live on through this annual award,” says Cian. “More importantly, his photographs will continue to go out there. That much of that work is now archived on the Guide too was something that he was very proud of. He loved that they were available to people, and for free. Hopefully it’ll inspire others to take up a camera just as it did with me

“I wouldn’t be working as an ornithological surveyor today if it wasn’t for my granddad hadn’t inspired me. And just as Anne was inspired by Niall Meehan, I’m sure her work is now inspiring others too…”

You can check out Anne’s wonderful work on Instragram here, check out Cian’s fine feathered photos on Twitter here, and gawp at the full gallery of Greystones Rocks 2020 entries right about here.