Photographs by Noreen Duggan Photography
One of the main highlights of the 2023 Clancy Brothers Music and Arts Festival was the Eco Slow Fashion Photoshoot with Noreen Duggan photography, coordinated by Linda Fahy, Tudor Artisan Hub Arts Collective, Carrick-on-Suir. Shooting Locations included the Tudor Artisan Hub Art Galleries, Seán Healy Park - Standing Stones, the Rive Suir Blueway and the Ormond Castle.
Seven young emerging models - Lorenzo Gulinati, JaYde Maher, Mia Gaffney, Cloideach Walsh, Goda Jakonytė, Mollie Crawford and Sam Fehilly travelled from Kilkenny and Waterford to Carrick-on-Suir to showcase a collection of fabulous RELOVED vintage clothing and accessories promoting a sustainable lifestyle focusing on exploring creative reuse of clothing - upcycling, repairs, alterations and visible mending, reducing what goes into our landfill! This is a spin-off from the #mendingmatters programme the Hub hosted for the Bealtaine Festival in the library.
Clothing and accessories modelled included preloved vintage clothing owned or sourced by the models along with hand-made, hand-painted, repurposed, upstyled, visible mended clothing by Renée Ní Gig, Sophy Crawford, Mary McGrath, Mia Carney, Sheila Wood and Linda Fahy...all had participated in the #MendingMatters project – Bealtaine Festival 2023.
The photoshoot created quite the head-turning stir in Carrick on Suir on Sunday June 4th…as the public gathered to see what was happening. Linda was so captivated by the group of emerging models, their professionalism, energy, charisma, tranquil aura, calm composure, how they naturally collaborated so well as a group, their passion for sustainable fashion and was eager to do a feature on them to find out more about these young creatives…and the amazing photographer who has the talent to professionally and respectfully connect so well with her subjects and portray their individual personalities on the inside as well as the outside. “Taking that photograph for me is about seeing the person, the whole person, not just about what is on the outside, but what is on the inside, their strengths and emotions creating something special in that moment. You create a relationship with your sitter that lasts forever.” -Noreen.
MEET THE SLOW FASHION SHOOT MODELS
Goda Jakonytė - My name is Goda and I’m 20 years old. I was born in Lithuainia but grew up in New Ross, Co. Wexford. I have been living in Waterford for about 10 years now. I am currently working as a barista in Cafe Nero and aiming to achieve a photography and modelling career. I’ve always had a passion for photography and fashion. I love photographing people and making them feel good about themselves. For a similar reason I love modelling. It helps improve my confidence and my mood. I just finished the Photography and Digital Media course in Waterford College of further Education. This course has broadened my knowledge of Photography so much! But also helped me grow as a person. The teachers are fabulous, so helpful. I recently also joined the Prima Model team in Waterford, which is run by the wonderful Katherine. She aids women and men of all groups to model and pursue their modelling career. She has helped me to pursue this dream of modelling. Credits to Katherine!!
Mollie Gaffney I am Mollie and I am 21 years old. I am from Tramore in Co. Waterford where I live with my mam and sister. My family has always encouraged and inspired me to push myself and to be my best self. This has been the case since I was a child. In 2008, when I was 5 years old, I was involved in a project called “The Lost Child” by the internationally-renowned artist Gottfried Helnwein. My face was on a giant billboards - a photo realistic art installation displayed on the North Quays in Waterford City. Since then, I have always loved art and being creative, which is why I was so keen to be involved in the eco photoshoot in Carrick On Suir. I love to support local brands and recycle clothes and fashion so it was really exciting to be part of the shoot
JaYde Maher - I am Jayde, a 22 year old from Kilkenny. I’ve been living and working in Waterford for just over a year now. I’ve always had an interest and passion for fashion, in particular slow fashion and vintage clothes. After graduating with a degree in Journalism, I started to find out more and more about the ins and outs of fast fashion and the detrimental effects it has on our planet as well as the people on it. This just made me even more determined to support small businesses, vintage shops, and those doing their bit for the environment. I’ve been modelling since aged 15 and always try to work with people who have the same care for the earth that I do. I am also a News and Sports Journalist with Beat 102 103 and try to highlight sustainability, climate change issues, and eco fashion through my work.
Cloideach Walsh (Clo) - My name is Cloideach Walsh I am 23 years old and living in Kilkenny. I have just graduated from UCC in ecology and environmental biology and completed my research thesis with Fota Wildlife Park , which is in preparation for publication for zoo monitor. I love animals and am mostly interested in welfare and conservation. I am also interested in slow fashion, promoting the recycled clothes and reusable materials. I have always had an interest in modelling and this eco photoshoot is hopefully the start of that side of my life!
Lorenzo Gulinati - Also known as sevenorenzo was born in the capital and former centre of the World Rome, Italy on the 26th of January 1996. Entrepreneur and Co-Founder @ Sinister Valley, Waterford city’s very own reinterpretation of your favourite Rap/Hip-Hop crew. Covers music in his own original, abstract and vivid way, by cutting you with deep lyrics, smooth and audible voice and incredible and fascinating style with grateful flow and delivery over a selection on instrumentals from Electronic Swing to the Boom Bap and Lo-Fi. This young talent has it all and his main aim is to entertain with his way of making music for the audience’s pleasure.
Lorenzo has featured on shows across platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV and Irish National TV show ‘Kin’. He is also the face of business brands such as GoCar Ireland and Tullamore Dew for promotional advertising. The aspiring musician/actor currently hosts Open Mic events for the upcoming talents in the South East. This 27 year old is one to watch.
Mia Crawford - I am 19 years old, I love outdoors and adventures, I am a surf instructor in Freedom Surf School, I also work in the Ritz bar in Tramore. I love playing sports, art and painting, I love fashion and animals. I love to keep organised and clean.
Sam Fehilly- Right, now for that Bio "Sup. My name is Sam Fehilly, 28, I'm human but I go by "Freak" "Alien" and "Outsider". I've got ASD, but dumb*ss is good too...Metal Head/Rocker, Tattoo collector."
When asked how they are all connected??
They are a well-connected bunch. Between friends and family, the girls are all intertwined. Jayde and Clo are best friends. Mollie and Mia are sisters, as well as Clo’s cousin’s. Jayde is their other cousin’s girlfriend, and so is an adopted family member. Goda and Jayde are both recently signed to Prima Models, Waterford which is where they met. It was then revealed that Mia and Goda are best friends too! Such a small world! But there’s more - Lorenzo and Sam both have family from Italy. They bonded over this and their love of music. They even both attended the same gig in the last few weeks! Goda and Lorenzo also know each other. They have worked together in the past as Goda has just completed a photography course. Lorenzo has modelled for her. The two are also friends outside of modelling and Goda has supported Lorenzo in his music career. Lorenzo and Jayde have crossed paths in the past too. When Jayde was working with WLR News, she was out and about for Spraoi - an annual Summer festival that Lorenzo and his group Sinister Valley had been performing at. Jayde interviewed Lorenzo and his group and had them go live on air to chat about what they were doing at Spraoi.
The whole group connected over a love for the environment and their desire to protect it. This is why they got involved with the Eco-fashion shoot with the Tudor Artisan Hub and Noreen Duggan Photography.
Noreen Duggan Photography
I have always loved Photography, but only started to take it seriously when life circumstances changed a few years back and I found myself back in college studying photography, my love for it grew as I studied all the different genres. I found that I particularly love Studio work and Portraiture, I also love documentary photography. I love working with film and developing images in the Darkroom. I have travelled extensively and lived in a few different countries, I am now settled at home in Ireland and working towards developing my photography business with a series of photography/art workshops in my studio.
JaYde followed me on Instagram, I liked her look, asked her if she would like to model for me, we learnt a lot together regarding poses and lighting and ideas for shoots.
I have been involved with the Clancy Brothers Festival for a number of years as a volunteer and as the photographer in 2022 and 2023. I have also been involved with the Tudor Artisan Hub since 2015 and was hired as a recording photographer several projects, including the Mending Matters project for Bealtaine Festival 2023 and from there - Linda and I initiated the Slow Fashion Eco Shoot with young emerging models and incorporated into the Clancy Brothers Festival Programme. www.noreenduggan.ie
We would love to work more with Noreen Duggan Photography and this group of amazing young creatives!...watch this space!
