Midland Simon to benefit from ‘Westmeath Photos' exhibition

The midland branch of the Simon Community is the beneficiary of a fundraising photo exhibition by the ‘Westmeath Photos’ Facebook page.

The exhibition, titled The Twelve Days of Christmas, is open now at Esquires in the Harbour Place Shopping Centre, and it runs till January 6.

Pat Murphy, admin of ‘Westmeath Photos’, was joined by photographers, Agnes Moore, Trish Fox, Emer Hyland and Suzanne Waldron, plus Manish Basu, representing Esquires, and Brian Fagan representing Midland Simon, for the launch at lunchtime on Tuesday.

The other photographers whose work is in the show are Chelle Mendoza (two photos), Deimante Kar, Ash Murtagh, John McKenna, Des Maguire, Mary Kieran, and Karon Marie Ni Bhealatuin.

Pat started ‘Westmeath Photos’ last year as a distraction from Covid-19 and it now has around 6,000 followers, in 80 countries.

Prompted by the photo competition that Esquires Café ran earlier this year, as four of the top photos were by members of ‘Westmeath Photos’, Pat decided to do something similar, on a charity basis.

He asked members of the page to choose their favourite photos and then people voted on a shortlist of 30, which was further reduced to the 12 that are in the exhibition.

Midland Simon collection boxes are available at the exhibition for people to donate when they view the photos.

The prints are for also sale, and anyone interested in buying them can contact the photographers directly, or via ‘Westmeath Photos’ on Facebook.

Pat’s photo is the prize in a raffle, and he will choose the winner from suggested captions for it – submit your entry in one of the donation boxes, with your name and contact details, or via ‘Westmeath Photos’.

Pat took the photo on his iPhone 12 at a man-made lake beside Reynella House, between Delvin and Turin.