The late Timothy Murphy documented life in Castleisland over several decades from the 1960s onwards. ©Photograph: John Reidy
No more than a hop, skip and jump from the modernity of Castleisland’s Main Street there’s something there to remind us of our built heritage. This old up and down sash window on the Spout Lane facing gable wall of Mossie Curtin’s Paint and Wallpaper Shop is one of those reminders. ©Photograph: John Reidy 13-8-2025
Con Curtin (left) pictured with Margaret Mitchell, Mike Mitchell, Joe Kearney and Jimmy Mitchell enjoying an impromptu tea-break during renovations at the former joinery workshop at Upper Main Street Castleisland. I didn’t get the name of the obliging, posing workshop dog. ©Photograph: John Reidy 7-9-2010
In conjunction with National Heritage Week, August 16th to 24th 2025 Castleisland Community Museum CLG is organising its second photographic competition in honour of the memory of Timothy Murphy.
The competition will run beside the museum’s request for members of the public to drop old photographs into its base at No. 42 Main Street – beside Tom McCarthy’s Central Bar – as revealed here two weeks ago.
The late Timothy Murphy captured and chronicled every aspect of life through the lens in Castleisland in his lifetime.
Autumn Winter Theme
Local photographers are being invited to submit images on the theme of autumn / winter in celebration of Ireland’s cultural and natural heritage.
The photographs will be taken from now until the end of December and local photographers will know that the time frame involved includes events that lend themselves to being captured digitally or on film – in colour or black and white.
In fact black and white loving photographers are being encouraged with a special prize which will be included in the overall competition.
Opportunities Abound
Photographic opportunities abound between here and the end of the year: An Ríocht AC’s series of road races; the Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival; Halloween; Castleisland Horse Fair on November 1st; Whatever the weather brings; Christmas celebrations and ‘The Blitz’ are all included in the frame of time involved.
Photographs of children or images with excessive use of Photoshop with artificially green grass and blue skies will not be accepted.
Great Photography in the Black and White Era
Remember that great photography lived and thrived in the black and white days and long before Photoshop arrived on the scene.
The winning entry, colour or black and white, will be presented with the Timothy Murphy Photographic Memorial Shield and there will be two runners-up prizes and a juvenile award. Traditional camera or phone pictures will be accepted.
Brief descriptions of the images and names will be required. The decision of the adjudication panel will be final and non negotiable.
Images can be emailed from now on to: castleislandmuseum@gmail.com
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.