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By Michelle Crean

Five Kerry photographers proved that they’ve an eye for the perfect picture as they received prestigious awards for their work on Friday night.

Well known Killarney photographer Valerie O’Sullivan, _{Bryan O’Brien, Stephen McCarthy, Darragh McSweeney and}Jerry Kennelly all received an award at the annual Press Photographers Association of Ireland annual awards night in the Ballsbridge Hotel, with photographers from across the island of Ireland in attendance.

Awards were presented across nine categories;news, daily life and  people, nature and the environment, politics, sports action, sports feature, portrait, art and entertainment and reportage, alongside a dedicated award for multimedia.

Valerie was awarded 2nd in the Nature and the Environment category outstanding image of an ESB van arriving to Valentia Island Lighthouse during storm force Eleanor.

_{Bryan O’Brien from The Irish Times received the Multimedia Award, Stephen McCarthy from} Sportsfile received 1^stplace in the Sports Action category_{, Darragh McSweeney received 2nd in the Portrait category,} while Tralee man Jerry Kennelly received 3rd in the Portrait category. Photographers Julien Behal and Brendan Moran received Merits for the work they submitted.

The judging panel was chaired by former Picture Editor, The Irish Times, Dermot O’Shea, and included acclaimed Photographer and Photography Commentator, Eamonn McCabe and, Former Picture Editor, The Herald, Glasgow, Jim Connor. The multimedia award was judged by Michael Lee, RTÉcameraman and Philip Bromwell, RTÉ News video and mobile journalist.

“The fact that there was five photographers from Kerry that won is great,” Valerie O’Sullivan, told the Killarney Advertiser yesterday (Thursday).

Valerie explained that she planned her photograph - knowing that the storm was raging and cutting off power across country.

“I rang Ger Kennedy in The Moorings and asked what time the tide was turning and about the swell. I then went to Cromwell’s Point and was shooting away when an ESB van arrived. I mean what are the chances of an ESB van turning up to Valentia Island Lighthouse!”

And she added a big thank you toESB Networks, as well asFáilte Ireland, especially Brendan Griffin, who secured the sponsorship for the awards night.

ThePress Photographers Association of Ireland ‘Press Photographer of the Year 2019’ Exhibition, featuring 101prints, will be available to view at the RDS, Dublin Airport and a number of other locations throughout the country. See www.ppai.ie for exhibition tour updates.