My week as a Cuirt celebrity photographer
Photographer John Jennings kept a behind-the-scenes diary of his week photographing the litterati at the Cúirt Literary Festival.
Monday 19th April
On Monday morning, we had our Orientation Meeting in the Town Hall Theatre at 10.30am; we were given instructions and walked around all the nooks and crannies, including the emergency exits and the Green Room (cool). Then we were given our Cúirt badges, these were to let people know we were working for Cúirt and it had emergency numbers on the back in case we got lost. When this meeting was over the photographers had to walk all the way over to the arts centre to talk about which events we would be covering.
Tuesday 20th April
Anne Enright
On Tuesday, I was on for the official Launch in the Museum. So in I went, first I spotted Padraic Breathnach eyeing up a biscuit in the cafe area, so I introduced myself, flashed my Cúirt badge and got a nice picture. I didn’t realise how tall the man was until I met him, so I had to stand back to get the whole man into the picture. Then I spotted a really tall man in a cowboy type hat and who was beside him, but local literary royalty Kevin Higgins. I approached the two men and politely asked if I could photo them both for the Cúirt archives, they agreed and I took a nice friendly photo as Kevin quipped, “I suppose we’re both old enough to be archived.” Happy with my success, I went inside and saw Fred Johnston having a chat with Brendan O’hEaghra by the museum reception. I invited them both for a photo; Fred said he really wasn’t dressed for a photo, and I told him he was “grand”, this is a nice photo. Then I went outside for some air, there were a lot of people around and I was wearing my big jacket. It was then I spotted a familiar looking writer strolling around the museum grounds, it was famous local writer Marcella Morgan. I asked and she agreed to a photo. In the first photo she had her eyes closed so we took a close up and this is a very nice photo indeed. Happy with this, I went inside and skulked around for a bit, then I heard a lot of laughing and mischief. I looked inside the window and saw who I thought was Julian Gough and Jessie Lendennie having fun with a photographer. So I stood back and waited for my chance, I thought ok, he’ll be done and I will swoop in and get a photo of the two. The photographer left and I went in, “Hi, Julian” I said, then he said “I’m not Julian, I’m Julian’s brother Desmond, but don’t worry, that happens a lot.” I asked for a photo with him and Jessie, but she had been distracted with another photographer, so I waited a bit and eventually, got the two of them free. But, just as I was about to take the photo, Rita-Ann Higgins showed up and they all started talking, and then, a man who I thought was another photographer turned up, and I thought, will I ever get this photo ?
So, I plucked up some courage and marshalled everyone into the photo and I even said to the man with the camera, who I thought was a photographer, “You can be in the photo too,” to which he replied, “I’m Richard, Julians father”. A few laughs and an embarrassed apology later I got a nice group photo of Desmond, Rita-Ann, Richard, and Jessie. Then of course, they made me take the same photo with their cameras, taking note that I wasn’t used to a viewfinder and had to use the screen to see the photo. On the way out I spotted Anne Enright sitting with a friend in the sun. I got a nice photo and because of the brightness of the day, if you look at the Ann Enright photo closely you can see my reflection in the Museum window. Finally, I got around to Roddy Doyle, which was an achievement in itself. I asked him for a photo, and he said, “I don’t know what you’re asking me for a photo for, you’ve (the photographers) been photographing me all day, it’s like asking for retrogressive planning permission.” There were also some musicians playing music at the event and I took a snap of that too, a very bohemian photo, I think.
above: Marcella Morgan
Wednesday 21 April
Today I was at the Launch of the MA in Writing in NUIG anthology, Three Times Daily in Bar No. 8.
When I arrived at 5pm, the doors were locked and there was no way to get in. So I tapped gently on the glass window, waved my Cúirt badge and entry was granted. I arrived inside to meet a bunch of relaxed people, and when I announced that I was the photographer for the Cúirt archives, they did everything in their power to be helpful and to make me feel comfortable. Half the class was away, but I got a nice snap of most of the class sitting on the couches in the bar, then I snapped the remaining students as the night went by. I was introduced to their Professor Adrain Frazier and I got a nice photo of him and then I sat around “waiting” for John Kenny (the editor) to show up, not realising that he was sitting at the bar behind me already. One of the helpful students introduced us and I got a nice photo of him sitting in an armchair reading the book. Also some of the students played a little trad and they sat inside the window playing away. I thought this was a nice scene, so I took a photo of that too.
Thursday 22 April
Two events today.
The first was Over the Edge Showcase in the Town Hall Theatre. I arrived at 2pm nice and early, camera in one hand, page form the Cúirt book in the other. Popped my head in the door and who was in Charlie Byrnes festival books store, but, a bunch of Over the Edge writers. Quickly I got a nice shot of Susan Millar DuMars and Tom Lavelle who posed for me. Then as we waited for the others we had a little joke about my poets “hitlist” and they spotted I crossed out the picture of each poet after I took my photo “shot” Then Geraldine Mitchell arrived and just as I was about to take a photo of her Aine Tierney arrived and I got them all together. I noticed that Susan introduced the two poets and surprised I said ,“Have you two never met” and they hadn’t. Apparently there are different Over the Edge meetings and sections. Then I said “But, I thought you were all one big happy club,” to which Susan responded “We, will be after tonight !! “ Laughter all round. Job done. I also got a few nice shots of Charlie Byrnes festival bookshop in the Town Hall Theatre.
The MA in Literature and Publishing class at the ROPES launch
The second event was the launch of ROPES for Cystic Fibrosis. This was a difficult event because there were so many writers in the book and so many students in the MA class. Suddenly there was a big fuss in the corner. It was Julian Gough. Quickly I ran over and got first place in the photographer queue, and I got a nice shot of Julian (below) holding the ROPES book in a funny pose. When the excitement was over I went around and talked to everyone and took a few good photos.
Friday 23 April
Friday was a strange one. I went in looking for photos of one event and ended up getting photos of another. I arrived early at 2pm in the Town Hall Theatre looking to get a photo of the lovely Julie Feeney for Sunday Miscellany, but I didn’t have any luck. However, because I was there at 2pm, I met the crowd coming out from Prose by Pat Boran and Rupert Thompson. So, I got a photo of Rupert Thompson with Maureen Kennelly ad James C Harrold and I made Rupert put his arms around both of them. Then I spotted Pat Boran talking to his neighbour, so I got a nice shot of them. Then Paul Fahy from Galway Arts Festival Fame appeared and two of his lovely friends appeared also. There was a lot of excitement, so I took their photo; this is a really nice photo.
Sunday 25th April
Turned up for the Richard Bausch event in the Druid Lane Theatre, really early, because I was never there before and I wanted to check the place out. The staff were nice and friendly and helpful. Then at around 2pm I was informed that Joyce Carol Oates was replacing Richard. Excited I waited and I got a great snap of Joyce Carol Oates and her husband Charlie by the door of the Druid Lane Theatre. A great finish to a great festival.
Of course I didn’t mention me running home and uploading the photos onto my pc, converting them to Jpegs and then uploading them to my Facebook daily, and putting them in the right order, but that’s the daily chore of the celebrity photographer. Also, I’m an award winning filmmaker, but, no one took MY photo.
http://www.facebook.com/john.jennings1
by John Jennings
Left: Joyce Carol Oates and her husband
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