From moving the dead zoo to St Bernadette’s relic: Dara Mac Dónaill’s Photographs of the Year
A selection of Irish Times visual journalist Dara Mac Dónaill’s photographs throughout the year and the story behind one of them
Suaad Alshleh, receives a first among student in RCSI, as approximately 350 Final Year Medical Students from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences received their Final Year Medicine results.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Suaad Alshleh, surrounded by her fellow students, reacts on hearing the news that she has achieved 1st class results in her final year of medical studies at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). It is an annual tradition running for almost 70 years for the results to be read out live to final year students from the stairs in the university.
To me this moment captures her unbridled joy and utter relief on achieving a lifelong dream. These emotions are also shared by her supportive classmates, who react with spontaneous applause and genuine delight. As a photographer, it is a privilege to be among people and capture their emotions on such memorable occasions. At this event I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
Suaad’s story is all the more interesting when her route to college is explored. As an 11-year-old she fled Syria with her parents, eventually seeking asylum in Ireland when she was 14.
She experienced many hardships, including living in direct provision, but she was still ambitious and determined to reach her goal and become a doctor. In a previous interview with Carl O’Brien in this newspaper Suaad was full of praise for the support she had received since arriving in Ireland. She has made many friends here and considers Ireland her home.
Edna O’Brien funeral to the burial ground on Holy Island, Co. Clare.
Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Moynalty Horse Chase, in aid of Castle Villa AFC Borora Juniors, in Moynalty, Co. Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
State Funeral of former Taoiseach, John Bruton at Rooske Cemetery, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
People queue for the Veneration of the Relics of Saint Bernadette to Our Lady of Victories Church, Ballymun Road, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Senator Michael McDowell, with Sen Ronan Mullen, Sen. Sharon Keoghan, Verona Murphy, TD, Noel Grealish TD and Gerard Craughwell , at the official announcement of Family Referendum results at the Central Count Centre, in Dublin Castle on Saturday. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
The Decant Team along with movers from William Tracey & Son (part of the Cronin Group,) remove a Lion at the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, as they prepare to transport from Merrion Street, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
The scene outside the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock. A number of fires have been lit at the site of the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock where work was due to begin this week. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
Gaisce Bronze and Silver Award participants taking part in the annual Gaisce Defence Forces Challenge, crossing Lough Rea, in Engineer RHIB, before a demonstration on camouflage and concealment followed by SERE Training, with a demonstration on shelter construction, lighting a fire using minimum equipment in a survival scenario, all taking place at the Defence Forces training area at Carnagh East, Co. Roscommon. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Viking Long Ships on the river Boyne at the Viking Festival, Boyne Valley Viking Experience has grown to become the largest Viking festival in Ireland. This year the theme is 'Norse-Irish Connections. Over 500 reenactors come to meet friends old and new, exchange stories & skills, sell their goods, fight on the battlefield and sail long ships on the River Boyne in the shadow of the famous Slane Castle, Co Meath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
President Michael D. Higgins with Chair of Holocaust Education Ireland, Prof. Thomas O’Dowd. (right) and Irish Holocust survivor Suzi Diamond (81) (center) with second-generation survivor Nichola Zinn-Collis and her daughter Molly (left) at the National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration and The annual ceremony honours the memory of all who perished in the Holocaust including six million Jews, and millions persecuted because of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations, or religious beliefs. The ceremony included readings, survivors’ recollections, candle-lighting, and music. It takes place on the Sunday closest to January 27 - the day Auschwitz concentration camp with liberated in 1945. The event at Dublin Royal Convention Centre was run by Holocaust Education Ireland (HEI) in association with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times
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