The Laois Hunt Ball took place in early February of this year and I attended it to take some photos.
The LaoisToday website hadn’t even gone live, and people weren’t quiet familiar with it yet.
It was one of the first events I attended as the LaoisToday photographer. I was home from college for the weekend, and I will admit I was very nervous going in. It also didn’t help that I went to the Castle Arms in Durrow first to find out that it was actually on in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel.
I am very much so an amateur photographer and still getting used to my role with LaoisToday – but even more so back then.
But to this day it was probably one the most enjoyable events I ever attended. I instantly felt at ease, and people were so eager to get their photo taken.
I knew some good friends of mine, and my godmother Mary Booth would be attending, so I was hoping they would be able to help me a little bit getting people together for photos.
Of course all of them were nearly the last ones to arrive – so I just had to battle on on my own!
Everyone was so curious to know what this new media outlet was going to be like, and when was the website going to go live to the public.
People took the time to stop and chat to me and I think looking back now they could sense my nerves. They probably felt pity on the girl in the blue jacket who looked completely lost.
My friend Jenny Byrne had been nagging me all week to attend the hunt ball as a guest. But between trying to take photos, first time working at an event as a LaoisToday representative and then the thoughts of going home to face my college assignments, I thought it was best if I gave it a miss.
But the welcome was incredible and the style even better.
Here’s looking forward to the 2018 Hunt Ball and hopefully know some more familiar faces.
The LaoisToday 2017 Annual is now on sale in bookshops and newsagents around the county – this is where you can buy it
