Bushmills under the lens at collaboration event

Bushmills under the lens at collaboration event

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has launched the #BlackBushStories collaboration series, celebrating those who have gone against the grain to follow their passion and become champions in their chosen field.

A collaboration with Belfast photographer Ronan O’Dornan will see the talented documentarian host a mobile photography masterclass at House Belfast on June 21 in association with #BlackBushStories ambassador and acclaimed bartender Paul Rocks, who will offer a tasting session on some of Bushmills’ best-loved whiskeys.

Former art teacher Ronan threw himself into a career in photography following a serious car accident last year which pushed him to make the most of every day and pursue his passion for capturing people, moments and experiences in images.

Ronan is now one of the country’s most exciting new talents, attracting commissions from big brands that see him travel all over the country to capture Ireland’s untold stories.

The ‘Black Bush and Photography’ interactive event will see Ronan teaching fellow-enthusiasts how to take great photos on their smartphones with tips and tricks that can be applied straight away, and how to tell stories through images.

Alongside a tasting session, guests will also be treated to specially-created Bushmills Black Bush drinks throughout the night.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has also collaborated with Ronan to launch an all-Ireland social media competition whereby budding photographers are encouraged to find an Irish story that moves them and upload their photographs to social media using the hashtag #BlackBushStories. The photograph could be a city, a person, a landscape, a moment or anything else that captures their imagination. A winner from each county in Ireland will be picked and will receive a bottle of Black Bush. The overall winner will receive a Sony Xperia XZ2 smartphone and trip to the The Old Bushmills Distillery, including an overnight stay at the Bushmills Inn.

A series of collaborator events will be held across the country’s leading venues over the coming months. To register for ‘Black Bush and Photography’ and for more information on the photography competition, visit blackbushstories.com.

To join in the conversation and keep up to date with the #BlackBushStories series, follow Bushmills Irish Whiskey on social media on Facebook @BushmillsIRL and Instagram @Bushmills_IRL.