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Dan Cronin, West Cork, Macroom (2026)

18/06/2026

Faces of Macroom — David from the Tidy Towns 📸🌳

I ran into David the other day while he was busy keeping the footpaths of Macroom looking pristine with the Tidy Towns crew. 🚶‍♂️ Just seeing him out there working to keep the footpaths clean made me think how looking after a whole town is a massive job in itself. It’s a constant cycle of daily upkeep—the sweeping 🧹, the weeding 🌱, and looking after all those small details that keep the main streets and corners presentable for everyone. ✨
I started chatting to him and told him all about the project and what I'm trying to do with it, and I was really happy he was so welcoming and allowed me to take his photo. 📷 We ended up chatting away for a good bit after that 💬, and it was just brilliant to take a few minutes out of the day to stop, connect, and have a proper conversation with him right there on the street. 🤝
Thank you for the chat, David! 🌳🧹🇮🇪👋✨

17/06/2026

Faces of Macroom: Gary & Darragh — Bank of Ireland 🏦

I called into the Bank of Ireland branch here in Macroom a while back to mention the project. 🏦 While the rest of the team were on the go, I had a great chat with a member of staff who wasn't keen on being in the frame. 🙅‍♀️ Since the branch was so busy that day, I told her I'd head away and call back down another time. 👋
When I called back in the other day, I met Gary and told him all about what I was doing. 🗣️ He was more than happy to be involved, and since there was no rush at all, we waited a bit while Darragh finished up what he was doing. ⏳ Eventually, Gary called Darragh over, and the second he looked at me, he knew straight away who I was and why I had called in. 👀 He even mentioned he’d actually been hoping to run into me out on the street sometime. 🚶‍♂️
Honestly, when everyone knows what's going on, the ease of the shoot just works so well. ✨ The lads were great craic, and right before the shot was taken, that same member of staff remembered me from before. Even though Gary tried his best to persuade her, she still opted to stay out of the frame, which I completely respect. 👍 The laughter from all of us really connected us right into this brilliant moment when I framed the lads. 😂

A big thank you to Gary and Darragh for taking a quick minute out of their day to stand for a frame. 🏦💼👋😊

16/06/2026

Faces of Macroom — Connie O’Leary 📸🏙️

I was up walking along the footpath this morning when I saw Connie coming towards me. 🚶‍♂️ What shocked me was seeing other passersby walking on the inside, leaving Connie to struggle right beside the busy road with his walker, which is actually a child's buggy. 🛒🚗 As soon as I came close, I told him to move to the left so I could walk on the roadside edge and shield him from the traffic. 🛑 When we stopped and started talking, his very first words to me were, "Are you a photographer?" 📸🤔
I told him I was and explained that what I'm doing is creating an archive of the Faces of Macroom for a future documentary, and I asked would he mind if I took his photo. 🎞️ Connie then turned around and asked how much the photo was, and I straight out said with a smile, absolutely nothing, no cost whatsoever. It's a project for me to showcase the value of the people in Macroom. 💎✨
So he happily allowed me to take his photo and we just chatted away for a while, then we parted ways and I went off doing my own thing. 👋 After an hour or so, I was walking back down the street and I saw Connie again. 👣 Thankfully, this time he was safely on the inside of the footpath! 🙌 We stopped again and had a good old chat, having a great time talking away and sharing a few laughs. 😂 Connie turned around and said we are like old friends now! 🤝❤️ Simple street awareness and looking out for a neighbor can open the door to a wonderful connection and brighten up your whole day. ☀️💬

Thank you Connie! 😊🙏🏼🌟📢🎈💬✨🧔🏼‍♂️

15/06/2026

Part 2 of the Macroom Lions Club Family Fun Day 🎡☀️

Here is the rest of the collection from a great afternoon down at the Castle Grounds. It was brilliant tracing the action and catching so many familiar faces enjoying the day out.
Have a look through, find your neighbors, and feel free to tag and share.

Thank you! 📸🎪🏃‍♂️🌾🎨✨👋🏼😊

14/06/2026

Macroom Lions Club Family Fun Day at the Castle Grounds 🎡☀️

I spent a fantastic afternoon down at the Castle Grounds for the Macroom Lions Club Family Fun Day, moving around the GAA pitch to capture the true pulse of the event. 🎡☀️
What really struck me during my chats with the volunteers was the massive amount of effort that goes into an afternoon like this. From the crew coordinating things on the field to the folks helping out right through the busiest parts of the day, there is a serious amount of unseen work keeping everything moving smoothly. 🍔🎟️
Watching the town come together, you realize how much these days depend on that shared local energy. By keeping back on the edges, I wanted to document people completely at ease—capturing the genuine laughs across the grass and the fantastic characters who make the area what it is, without anyone feeling the need to pause or pose.
It was brilliant to see such a massive turnout supporting the Defibrillator Appeal, raising vital funds to place life-saving equipment across the Macroom region. 💪❤️

A huge credit goes to the organizers and everyone who made it such a welcoming day.

Thank you! 📸🎈🏃‍♂️✨👋
Part 2 will up soon

13/06/2026

Faces of Macroom – One final frame at T.M. Cronin's 📸

I had to make one final call back into T.M. Cronin's. Having featured Eileen and Miriam, and then catching up with Dan separately earlier this year, the archive was missing the most important shot—the three of them together in one frame. 📸
It was brilliant to get them all on the shop floor at the same time last Thursday. While we were standing by the footwear display, Eileen shared a hilarious memory from a wedding years ago. She was trying to take a big group photo and went to wind the film forward, but something wasn't working right. Eventually, she opened up the back to see what was wrong, only to realize there wasn't even any film inside! 🎞️😂
It gave us all a massive laugh, and that exact relaxed, fun energy is what makes visiting this shop so special. There is always such a lovely warm welcome there, and you can be sure of a great chat and helpful advice along the way. They put an immense amount of hard work into keeping the business looking so well, and they mean so much to the Macroom community. It was an absolutely perfect ending to my visit to capture three beautiful souls, and it's moments like this I can treasure forever. 👔👗👟

A massive thank you to Eileen, Miriam, and Dan for their incredible kindness, the great chats, and for always being so patient with me. 🙏✨🤗🛍️🎉

You can check out their page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/17nFbF9Zws/ 📲🔗

12/06/2026

Faces of Macroom at the Sullane Centre 📸✨

Colette and I had a brilliant morning calling into the Sullane Centre on New Street in Macroom to spend some time with Chrissie’s art and craft class. The room was absolutely buzzing with creativity, great conversation, and Kingfishr playing on the projector screen in the background. 🎶🎨
Watching Ann, Mary, Nora, Pauline, and Margaret work away on their mosaics and textile pieces was incredibly inspiring. I learned from the center manager, Linda Hickey, that these Cork College of FET courses are built entirely around the core pillars of social inclusion, basic education courses, upskilling, and providing a clear pathway to gain employment. Knowing it's completely free, with all materials provided and no barriers to entry, explains why the atmosphere feels so welcoming; there’s zero pressure, just a great space to connect, chat, and learn. 🧵✨
Everyone was so generous with their time, looking up from their tables to share a laugh and proudly show what they were creating, from detailed textile portraits to vibrant mosaic hearts. Seeing a community hub like this thriving on New Street is fantastic. 🏠❤️
What really came alive across these frames was seeing that printed course list fully transformed into real human connection. Documenting the actual hands, detailed textures, and expressions behind the options on paper shows the true impact of these community programs. 📸📝

They run a fantastic variety of both certified and non-certified options here:

Art and Craft Skills 🎨 – Covers a variation of skills including drawing, mosaic, and textiles. QQI Certified. Join the waitlist for September 2026.
Basic Phone or iPad Skills 📱 – Wednesdays 12:00pm – 2:00pm. Learn to use your phone confidently. Beginners welcome. Starts September 2026.
Computer & Internet Skills 💻 – Beginner and Intermediate classes available on Mondays and Wednesdays (Morning and afternoon). Computers available for use. Start Date TBC.
Ceramics (QQI Cert Level 3) 🏺 – Wednesdays, morning and afternoon classes available. Materials provided. Starting September 2026 (Join the waitlist).
ESOL - English Language 🗣️ – Beginner: Mondays 7:30pm – 9:30pm / Intermediate: Tuesdays 7:30pm – 9:30pm. Starting September 2026.
Relaxation Techniques (QQI Cert Level 2) 🧘 – 10 weeks, Tuesdays 10:00am – 12:30pm. Starting September 2026.
Herbs for Health 🌿 – Practical course, 6 weeks, Thursday mornings 10:00am – 12:00pm. Start Date TBC.
Irish 🇮🇪 – Tuesday evenings, Beginners & Improvers welcome. Join the waitlist for Autumn. Start Date TBC.
Office Administration (QQI Cert Level 4) 📁 – Thursdays and Fridays 9:00am – 1:30pm. Starting September 2026.
Personal Development (QQI Cert Level 3) 🌟 – 10 weeks, Tuesdays 10:00am – 1:00pm. Sign up for September 2026.
Horticulture Studies (QQI Cert Level 4) 🌱 – 15 weeks, Tuesdays 10:00am – 4:00pm. Greenhouse facilities and free materials provided. Sign up for September 2026.
Additional Upcoming Courses at the Sullane Centre:
Women's Health Course – 4-week focus on health, wellbeing, and menopause. Starting October 2026 (Date TBC).
Mental Health Response Training – 4 weeks, Mondays 1:30pm – 3:30pm. Starting October 2026.
Container Gardening (QQI Level 3) – 10 weeks, Fridays 10:00am – 1:00pm. Starting Spring 2027.
Mat & Chair Yoga – Wednesday evenings: 6:00pm (Chair) / 7:00pm (Mat). Starting October 2026 (Start Date TBC).
Environmental Sustainability – Practical strategies, 6 weeks, Wednesdays 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Starting Spring 2027.
Design using Canva – 4 weeks, Mondays 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Starting November 2026.
Creative Writing – 6 weeks, Mondays 10:00am – 12:00pm. (Start Date TBC).
Spanish for Beginners – Introductory language course, Thursday mornings at 10:00am. (Start Date TBC).
Retail Sales Techniques (QQI Level 4) – 14 weeks, Wednesdays 9:45am – 1:30pm. Starting January 2027.
Spreadsheets / Excel (QQI Level 3) – 15 weeks, Tuesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm. (Start Date TBC).
Microsoft Word (QQI Level 3) – 15 weeks, Tuesdays 4:00pm – 5:30pm. Starting January 2027.
Accounts and Bookkeeping (QQI Level 4) – Tuesdays 6:00pm – 8:30pm. Starting September 2026.
Skills for Work: Customer Service (QQI Level 4) – 14 weeks, Wednesdays 9:45am – 1:00pm. Starting September 2026.
One-to-One Tutoring – Confidential, student-led adult literacy support in reading, writing, and numeracy.

For updates, enrollment details, or to see more of what's happening at the center, check out their page directly here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B4KCtakMz/ 📲💻

A massive thank you to Ann, Mary, Nora, Pauline, Margaret, Chrissie, and Linda for letting Colette and I spend the morning with them. 🙏✨😊

12/06/2026

👨‍🍳 Faces of Macroom: Greg (Greg's Take Away) 🐟🍟

Colette and I popped into Greg's Take Away after I got in touch with Greg via message. 📱 We picked a morning when I could call in when it was quiet, as he was delighted to be part of the Faces of Macroom project. 😊
When we arrived, Gosia was inside getting things set up for the day. 🍳 Since she’s already featured in the project herself, she gave us a lovely welcome and told us to please have a seat, saying Greg would be back soon. 👋 It was lovely just sitting there together, chatting away and watching the kitchen slowly come to life before the doors opened. ☕
After a moment or two, Greg came in. We shook hands and had a brilliant conversation altogether, catching up on their recent holiday to Portugal and how lovely the sun was over there. ☀️ Greg asked for a minute to get himself ready, and since we were in absolutely no rush, we happily waited away. ⏳ When he asked where he should stand, I told him the same thing I tell everyone—wherever you feel most comfortable. So we agreed on heading into the kitchen to get the shot. 🖼️
What I love about this photo is seeing Gosia in the background smiling away—it really was the perfect finishing touch. 🥰 It just shows the lovely atmosphere in there and how welcoming the two of them are every single day. ✨

They are back open today at 3pm, so definitely drop in if you're passing by! 🕒

You can check out their page right here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cte3nQPw6/ 💻

A massive thank you to Greg and Gosia for welcoming us in and for being such a brilliant part of the community. 🐟🍟🙌✨

11/06/2026

Faces of Macroom: Eleanor Healy – Eleanor’s Hairdressing Salon 💇‍♀️✨💈

Some places hold the memories of an entire community, and Eleanor's Hairdressing Salon is exactly that. 🏠 Calling in there today, I couldn't get over the instant wave of memories that flooded in before I even laid eyes on her—taking me straight back to the late 80s when my dad would bring us right here to get our hair cut. 👦✂️👨‍👦
We got talking about the front window, and she told me all about how the classic eye artwork that used to look out onto the street sadly got broken a while back. 🖼️👁️ She replaced it and put up this beautiful new hand-painted floral art instead, keeping that wonderful, welcoming character alive before you even cross the threshold. 🌸🦋🎨 The inside of the salon hasn't changed one single bit either—the layout, the warmth, and the familiar surroundings are exactly as they were when I was a kid. 🕰️❤️
A few seconds later, Eleanor came out to meet me. 👋 I introduced myself and told her all about the community archive project, and she was absolutely delighted with it and more than happy to be a part of it. 😊📸 Eleanor celebrated a monumental 50 years in business back in 2023, a staggering achievement built entirely on dedication, hard work, and real connection with people. 🏆💪 We chatted away about the past and she told me just how incredibly busy the salon used to be back then, with customers lined up right out the door waiting for a haircut or a perm! 👥💈 It was brilliant looking back over the old clippings from her opening in 1973 and talking about how this space has been a focal point for generations of local families. 📰🏢

Some things in life you just don't want to forget, and this is definitely one of them. 🔐💭 It was an absolute privilege to step back into a piece of my own history, honor those old routines with my dad, share a few laughs about the old days, and capture a portrait of a true town legend. 📸🌟✨

Thank you, Eleanor, for your immense kindness, for sharing your wonderful memories with me, and for welcoming me back into your shop with such open arms. ❤️💈✂️🌟🙌💐

10/06/2026

📸 Faces of Macroom — Seán Cremin 🏛️

Seán Cremin got in touch with me through Lisa Manning to see if he could be part of the 'Faces of Macroom' series, so we met up yesterday and headed into the library. 📚 On top of his studies at Coachford College and his part-time work at the Castle Hotel, Seán is an active member of Macroom Tidy Towns and an An Taisce Climate Ambassador. 🌍🌱
It was brilliant sitting down inside the building to learn about his new project, 'Every Plate Counts Ireland'. 🍽️ It’s a superb hospitality-led initiative aimed at encouraging diners to take leftover food home, helping to reduce avoidable food waste in our local dining spots. ♻️ He has already secured funding from Macroom Tidy Towns, a good number of local businesses are already committed to taking part, and he is visiting more spots over the coming days ahead of the upcoming launch. 🚀 His drive to combine hospitality with sustainability to help the community is fantastic to see. ✨
Afterwards, Seán treated me to a coffee back at the Castle Hotel, and we spent a good hour chatting away. ☕💬 It was great to share how the 'Faces of Macroom' and my broader 'Faces of Your Community' series first started out. These will always be completely voluntary initiatives, and I will never charge local people or businesses to be featured. 🎯 For me, it is entirely about keeping our local history alive by documenting the present for the future. 📜📸
Seán is deeply passionate about sustainability, hospitality, and community development. 🤝 He genuinely enjoys meeting people and working together to make a positive difference, and his ultimate goal with these projects is to encourage practical solutions that benefit both our local environment and the wider community.
🗺️ You can follow his journey and updates directly on his pages here:
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/1HQNJkcstA/
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/1GmnLaxH8y/

A huge thank you to Seán for the brilliant chat and the coffee, and thank you to everyone for following along and supporting the project. 🙏🌱🏛️☕✨

Dan Cronin, West Cork

18/06/2026

17/06/2026

16/06/2026

15/06/2026

14/06/2026

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

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