Dromad Hire’s Gary Loughran Wins Top Prize at the IPF National Photography Competition 2024

Gary, who is a Key Account Manager at Dromad Hire is also a member and the treasurer of the Carrickmacross Camera Club was announced the overall winner and swooped up the coveted prize for Image of Year 2024 .

His winning photograph ‘Pannenhuis ‘  ( Metro Station Brussels ) caught the eye of the judges and won gold in the Urban category, Gary also picked up a highly commended accreditation for his image ‘Ornate’ in the same category on the night.

The Irish Photographic Federation is comprised of photographic clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland. It is a cooperative movement that is dedicated to helping Irish photographers advance the standard of their photography. It promotes awareness of photography as a highly satisfying artistic outlet and as a leisure pursuit.

The National Photography Competition took place in the Horse & Jockey, Thurles on Saturday 5^th of April celebrating the creativity and imagination of Irelands up and coming photographers with thousands of entries received from clubs all over the country. Judges had a difficult decision in narrowing down to the final six. 

Gary who is new to photography, took it up as a hobby during the pandemic and has achieved numerous acknowledgments for his work on a European Level. 

According to Gary “ It’s a great honour for me to not only win Gold for my entry into Urban category but actually get the overall Image of the year was such a remarkable achievement for me, one I couldn’t even dream of happening. My love for travel and architecture drives me to take adventures just my camera and I! The support I get from my club is phenomenal and it’s great to see a small club like ours doing so well. “

‘Ornate’ Gary Loughran ( Carrickmacross Camera Club ) Highly Commended                            Left to Right: John Butler IPF presenting Gary Loughran Carrickmacross Camera Club           ‘Pannenhuis’ by Gary Loughran ( Carrickmacross Camera Club ) Gold, Winner

Note to editors:

Dromad Hire Group is a fully independent & Irish owned company based on the east coast of Ireland. The company was founded in 1988 and has over 30 years’ experience in Plant & Tool Hire. In recent years Dromad Hire Group has successfully expanded into specialised Access Platform Hire, Access Platform Parts (IPS Ireland), Platform Service & Repair (PSR Ireland). In 2014 Dromad Hire became one of the first hire companies in Ireland to obtain ‘Safe Hire’ status and currently retains this standard to present.  ‘ UK & Irish Rental Company of the Year 2016 ’  ‘ Irish Rental Firm of the Year 2018  ’ ‘ Irish Plant Hire Company of the Year 2019 ’ ‘ Irish Plant Hire Company of the Year 2022 ’, ‘ Best Company to Work for 2022 ‘